New and in style: The Associated Press publishes the 58th edition of its AP Stylebook

Anna Jo Bratton is the editor of the Associated Press Stylebook. (Photo courtesy of AP)

Every change that we make goes through not only our Stylebook committee, which is six people, but experts within the AP. Sometimes change will come from one of our departments or bureaus. They’ll suggest language, and then we’ll work to edit or rewrite. It goes through all these layers, [and] we try to run it by outside experts.”

Associated Press Stylebook Editor Anna Jo Bratton

The Associated Press Stylebook’s 58^th edition hit bookstores and e-shops this spring, with a new round of entries on topical issues ranging from artificial intelligence to K-pop. The AP Stylebook is like a living document, always evolving. For example, per AP, “healthcare” is now written as one word. And there are other changes in its pages requiring some unlearning of rules memorized in j-school. But there’s a method to the madness — a thoughtful, collaborative conversation that unfolds in and outside of the AP — before changes or updates are made.

“Every change that we make goes through not only our Stylebook committee, which is six people, but experts within the AP,” said Associated Press Stylebook Editor Anna Jo Bratton. “Sometimes change will come from one of our departments or bureaus. They’ll suggest language, and then we’ll work to edit or rewrite. It goes through all these layers, [and] we try to run it by outside experts.”

Bratton took on the role roughly a year ago as the newest chapter of her AP career, which started back in 2007 as a Nebraska-based politics reporter. She went on to edit for the newswire’s west region before coming to New York City. All the while, Bratton eased into her current position after serving on the Stylebook committee for a decade.

AI first appeared in the Stylebook back in 2023, but the new edition ventures deeper into the burgeoning technology with general guidance and key terms. The section also adds information about data centers and definitions for slang, like “AI slop” and “vibe coding.” She said the chapter will likely best serve non-tech reporters who are writing for a general audience.

The 58th edition of the Associated Press Stylebook published this spring, with enhanced guidance on artificial intelligence and K-Pop

“Now with AI, people are more grounded,” said Bratton. “More reporters have some knowledge, and there are tech reporters who know so much more than I do. All of our guidance on AI comes from people who are experts … so, whatever we can do to share not just what the definition is, but tips for how to cover things ethically and clearly, are really valuable.”

The Stylebook now offers a standalone entry for the "Native Americans, Indigenous people/peoples” section, which was previously found in the race-related coverage chapter. AP attributed the change — announced at April’s ACES: The Society for Editing conference — to the need for expansive guidance on sovereign tribal nations and their citizens, beyond just racial identity.

While putting together the K-pop entry, Bratton enlisted a music writer on the South Korean cultural export lest she draw the wrath of BTS and BLACKPINK fandom. Originally, she planned on describing it as a “genre.” After talking with her expert, Bratton ultimately rewrote the excerpt to highlight the broader global phenomenon. But journalists can be quite protective too.

“When I was in journalism school, I memorized parts of the Stylebook, and now some of those rules have changed,” said Bratton. “People still complain about ‘more than’ and ‘over’ — now we say it’s okay to say ‘over,’ and in my head it will never change. I will always try to edit it out of a story. I always have to look things up. I definitely do not have it memorized now.”

Tandy Lau is an award-winning journalist currently based in Jersey City. He currently works as a staff reporter covering public safety for the New York Amsterdam News in Harlem. He can be contacted at tandylau1995@gmail.com