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AP Style Checker

Paste or write in the free AP style editor, check AP style instantly, and review common Stylebook issues while keeping editorial decisions in your hands.

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What does the checker skip?

URLs, email addresses, code and some quoted material are excluded to reduce false positives. The checker catches common patterns, but important copy should still receive editorial review.

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Check AP Style Online for Free

Use the AP Style Checker as a free writing editor for news stories, press releases, blog posts and other professional copy. Paste your text to find common Associated Press style issues, then review each suggested correction before applying it.

What is AP Style?

The AP Stylebook is the definitive resource for journalists and content creators. It provides guidelines on spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage to ensure consistency and clarity in news writing.

How It Works

  1. Paste Text: Copy and paste your article or blog post into the editor.
  2. Analyze: Click the check button to scan for issues.
  3. Fix: Review highlighted suggestions and apply safe corrections while keeping contextual editorial decisions under your control.

Common Rules We Check

See the complete AP style rule coverage for implemented, partial and planned checks, or review these common AP style mistakes with examples.

Numbers

  • Spell out numbers below 10; use figures for 10 and above
  • Spell out numbers that start a sentence (except years)
  • Use figures for ages, percentages, dimensions, and temperatures

Dates & Times

  • Abbreviate months when used with specific dates (Jan. 15, not January 15)
  • Use "a.m." and "p.m." with periods and lowercase
  • Use "noon" and "midnight" instead of "12 p.m." and "12 a.m."
  • Drop ":00" in times (write "7 a.m." not "7:00 a.m.")
  • Unnecessary "on" before dates: Don't use "on" before a date or day when its absence wouldn't cause confusion
    • ❌ "The meeting will be held on Monday."
    • ✅ "The meeting will be held Monday."
    • ✅ "On Monday, we begin training." (OK at sentence start)
    • ✅ "John met Mary on Monday." (OK after proper name to avoid awkward phrasing)

Punctuation

  • Oxford Comma: AP style generally avoids the serial comma
  • Periods and commas go inside quotation marks
  • Use single space after periods

Gender-Neutral Language

  • Use inclusive terms for jobs and roles
    • ❌ policeman → ✅ police officer
    • ❌ fireman → ✅ firefighter
    • ❌ mankind → ✅ humanity, humankind
    • ❌ man-made → ✅ human-made, artificial

Style & Word Choice

  • Use "OK" not "okay"
  • Use "toward" not "towards"
  • Use "email" not "e-mail"
  • Use "website" not "web site"
  • Use "internet" (lowercase)

Note: This tool catches common style issues but is not a comprehensive grammar checker and cannot replace a human editor for contextual decisions.

Check your copy with the free AP Style Checker.