AP Stylebook

We recommend not using mental health terms to describe unrelated issues. Don’t say that an awards show, for example, was schizophrenic.

The term birth defect is OK in broad references such as "lessening the chances of birth defects." Don't use it when referring to a person or a group of people with a specific condition. Instead, be specific about the condition and use only if relevant to the story.

VIP is OK in all references for "very important person." The plural: VIPs. While we're at it: RSVP is OK in all uses as the abbreviation for the French "repondez s'il vous plait," meaning "please reply." We hope VIPs RSVP, but that combination hurts the eyes.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States’ highest civilian honor. It is given to people who have made meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the U.S., to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

We use two words, no hyphen, for game day. The players look forward to game day. The commissioner said he expects a record game day crowd. Use one word only if part of a formal title or other name.

R&B is acceptable in all references to the music genre rhythm and blues.

Adverse means unfavorable: He predicted adverse weather. Averse means reluctant, opposed: She is averse to change.

The terms favorite, underdog and upset should be used only based on actual odds offered by a sportsbook. The favorite is the team or player oddsmakers say is most likely to win, and the underdog is most likely to lose. An upset is when an underdog beats a clear favorite.

Hyphenate up-to-date as a compound modifier before a noun: We bring you the most up-to-date news. Otherwise, no hyphen: Stay up to date with Stylebook Online. My calendar is up to date.

Two people look at each other. More than two look at one another. Either phrase may be used when the number is indefinite: We help each other. We help one another.

We use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. We always spell out all similar words such as alley, drive, road, terrace.

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THC is OK in all references to tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound that gives marijuana its high. CBD is OK for cannabidiol, a compound in cannabis that does not cause a high and is often sold as a dietary supplement or included in creams and other personal care products.

When you're writing about college sports, you can use NCAA in all references. NCAA stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, but our guidance says you don't need to spell that out. We believe readers recognize it, just as they know FBI or CIA without the full name.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Note that we do not spell out one through five in this unit of measurement, but instead use the numeral.

When you turned your clock back this weekend, daylight saving time ended. Not savings. No hyphen. We are now in standard time. Capitalize Eastern Standard Time, Pacific Standard Time, etc., but lowercase standard time when standing alone.

With many states still counting their mail-in ballots, this is a reminder to distinguish between votes counted and votes cast when reporting results. We have more guidance on elections terms in our Topical Guide: http://apne.ws/bSmxScn

Voters in all 50 states technically are not voting for a president, but for a slate of electors who are pledged to support one of the presidential candidates in a later vote. Voters can cast their ballots on or before Election Day, but voting stops when polls close.

We've made it faster and easier to request a trial for any of our digital subscriptions. If you've been meaning to check out Stylebook Online or one of our automated style-checking tools, now is the time: http://apne.ws/gQxDt2j

Capitalize Electoral College, lowercase electoral vote(s) to describe the process by which the U.S. selects its president. Each state gets as many electoral votes as it has members of Congress, and the District of Columbia gets three. Our Topical Guide: http://apne.ws/l536kpH

Capitalize Communist, Conservative, Democratic, Liberal, Republican, Socialist, etc., when they refer to a specific party or its members. Lowercase these words when they refer to political philosophy. Lowercase the name of a philosophy in noun and adjective forms unless it is the derivative of a proper name: communism, communist; fascism, fascist. But: Marxism, Marxist; Nazism, Nazi. More details are on our Topical Guide: http://apne.ws/uoPvzpZ

When writing about ordinary members of a political party, it's rank and file as a noun, rank-and-file as an adjective, such as rank-and-file voters. Our Topical Guide on elections terms is available here, no login required: http://apne.ws/Iu7UKmJ

The terms poll watchers, poll monitors and citizen observers are interchangeable. They can be partisan or nonpartisan. Hyphenate as an adjective: poll-monitoring procedures. No hyphen as a noun: They are expanding poll monitoring. Do not use the term voter protection workers.

Webster's New World College Dictionary is the Stylebook's primary dictionary. It covers numerous terms we don't list in the Stylebook. Add Webster's New World Online to your AP Stylebook Online subscription and get both resources in one place. http://apne.ws/UfUaZQg

In swing states, voters have vacillated between Republican and Democratic candidates in the last three or four presidential elections. Our Topical Guide on election terms is available to all users, with no login required: http://apne.ws/ak1s4Lo

Is it the west wing or the West Wing when referring to the White House? Is it oval office or Oval Office? Stylebook editor Paula Froke will answer your questions on the style of the presidency in our #APStyleChat this month. Join us today at 3 p.m. EDT.

An overvote occurs when a voter votes for too many candidates in a given race. An undervote is when a voter doesn't vote for every office on the ballot. Our Topical Guide on elections terms is available to all here: http://apne.ws/lP0QzGF

When do you capitalize president? What about first lady? Stylebook editor Paula Froke will answer your questions on the style of the presidency in our #APStyleChat this month. Join us on Tuesday at 3 p.m. EDT.