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npx skills add jamditis/claude-skills-journalism --skill newsroom-style
Enforces AP Style and newsroom conventions. Use when writing news, editing drafts, creating headlines, or tightening copy.
npx skills add jamditis/claude-skills-journalism --skill newsroom-style
Write like a professional journalist. Follow AP Style. Keep it tight.
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Spell out one through nine | "three witnesses" not "3 witnesses" |
| Use numerals for 10 and above | "15 people attended" |
| Always use numerals for ages | "a 5-year-old girl" |
| Always use numerals for percentages | AP allows the % symbol with numerals (5%) since 2019; some publications still spell out "percent" as house style |
| Always use numerals for addresses | "123 Main St." |
| Always use numerals for money | "$5 million" not "five million dollars" |
| Spell out first through ninth for ordinals | "first place" but "10th anniversary" |
Exception: Never start a sentence with a numeral. Rewrite or spell out.
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Capitalize formal titles before names | "Mayor Jane Smith said..." |
| Lowercase titles after names | "Jane Smith, the mayor, said..." |
| Lowercase titles standing alone | "The mayor said..." |
| No courtesy titles on second reference | First: "Jane Smith." Second: "Smith" |
| Use full name on first reference | "Jane Smith" not "Smith" or "Ms. Smith" |
Exceptions:
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| "said" | "stated," "remarked," "noted," "expressed" |
| Attribution after quote | Attribution before quote |
| At first natural pause | At awkward break |
Examples:
Bad: Mayor Smith stated, "We are committed to this project."
Good: "We are committed to this project," Mayor Smith said.
Good: "We are committed to this project," said Mayor Jane Smith, who has pushed for the development since 2022.
Months:
Times:
Days:
| Use | Instead of |
|---|---|
| more than | over (for quantities) |
| fewer | less (for countable items) |
| less | fewer (for mass nouns) |
| that | which (for restrictive clauses) |
| which | that (for nonrestrictive clauses) |
| said | stated, remarked, noted |
| about | approximately |
| because | due to the fact that |
Restrictive (essential, use "that"):
The bill that passed yesterday includes tax cuts.
(Which bill? The one that passed yesterday.)
Nonrestrictive (extra info, use "which" + comma):
The bill, which passed yesterday, includes tax cuts.
(We already know which bill; the passage is extra info.)
Most important information first. Answer the key questions:
Too long:
The city council, which has been debating the issue for several months and heard from dozens of residents at multiple public meetings, voted Tuesday night to approve a controversial new zoning ordinance that would allow high-rise buildings in the downtown area.
Better:
The city council approved a zoning ordinance Tuesday that allows high-rise buildings downtown, ending months of debate.
Hard news lede:
A fire killed three people in Northeast Philadelphia early Tuesday.
Feature lede:
The last time Maria Rodriguez saw her mother, she promised to bring her to America.
Question lede (use sparingly):
What happens when a city runs out of money?
Before (informal notes):
Yesterday the Mayor said that he was "very excited" about the new $5,000,000 project that will create over 100 jobs.
After (AP Style):
Mayor John Smith said Tuesday he was "very excited" about the $5 million project, which will create more than 100 jobs.
Before:
The meeting started at 9:00 AM on Monday, October 14th, 2024.
After:
The meeting began at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
Before:
5 protesters were arrested at the rally.
After:
Five protesters were arrested at the rally.
Before:
Smith stated that he believed the project would be "important."
After:
Smith said he believed the project would be "important."
Different publications have their own style guides that override AP Style. Common variations:
Always ask about house style before writing for a new publication.
Based on the Associated Press Stylebook. Check the current AP Stylebook (apstylebook.com) for updates and edge cases.