Associated Press style, or AP style as it is commonly referred to, is the journalism world’s standard for writing. This includes grammar and punctuation. It is a form of writing that can make all the difference in whether or not a news organization picks up a press release.

For example, for many years, the AP style for the term “website” was actually “Web site,” breaking it up into two words and capitalizing the “W.” The reasoning for this was mostly due to the fact that it was a shortened version of the term “World Wide Web.” However, as of 2010, the AP now uses “website” as it is more recognizable in that form.

Other changes as of 2010 included:

• A distinction between Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the corporate name of the discount retailer, and Walmart, without the hyphen, for the stores themselves.
• New entries now include terms that had previously been unaddressed such as: Alcoholics Anonymous, Bluetooth, Blu-ray, bondholder, Breathalyzer, flu-like and GED to name a few.

While it all may seem insignificant, it is important when composing a press release.

When someone who is unfamiliar with AP style writes a press release, they typically approach it the same way they write everything else, using standard business grammatical rules. The downside is that this writing style often lacks the subtle, yet necessary, nuances of AP style used by editors and reporters.

“Why is AP style important?” one might ask. The answer is very simple. Editors and reporters can receive anywhere from 10 to 200 press releases on any given day, and they are not likely to spend a lot of time rewriting a press release to accommodate AP style. In the news industry, time is an important commodity, and if a press release requires many revisions to meet the outlet’s standards, it will – more often than not – be relegated to the “round-file.”

Sending out a press release written in AP style significantly improves the chances for publication. It can be a win-win situation for all parties: The client gets their news out, and the media outlet has good, clean copy without using up valuable newsroom time.

So when your public relations specialist says “I’ve made these changes to reflect AP style,” the changes are in the best interest of the story you are trying to disseminate. Even if it doesn’t always match the punctuation, usage or abbreviation lessons you learned in grammar class.