# Pitfalls of Chicago style? Chicago vs. A.P. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278 "2007-07-18T16:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/1 "2007-07-18T16:41:16Z")
It has been some time since I have worked with Chicago style and now I’m faced with an assignment that uses Chicago instead of A.P. or Bluebook. I’ve got the massive tome in front of me, but I’m wondering whether anyone has pointers on “don’t miss this quirk of Chicago” style or some major differences between Chicago and A.P., for example. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/2 "2007-07-18T21:15:35Z")
Biggest thing is the serial comma: Chicago Manual uses is; AP does not.` ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/3 "2007-07-18T21:56:31Z")
Yep, serial comma is the biggest one. AP Style also insists on hyphenating teen-ager, although most newspaper stylebooks overrule that quirk. It also has some odd rules on the usage of apostrophes. For example (and I don’t have the Chicago Manual of Style at hand to compare, so somebody please check for me), AP Style says: > [@](#): > > SINGULAR COMMON NOUNS ENDING IN S: Add _'s_ unless the next word begins with _s_: _the hostess’s invitation, the hostess’ seat; the witness’s answer, the witness’ story._ It also adds only an apostrophe for singular proper names ending in “s,” so it’s “James’ book” instead of “James’s book.” ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/4 "2007-07-19T04:34:12Z")
Chicago Style says to spell out numbers up to ninety-nine. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/5 "2007-07-19T16:47:57Z")
Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely read up on those points. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/6 "2007-08-14T23:33:52Z")
I’m going to jump on/revive this thread. Are there any websites or books (or whatever) that compile neatly the differences between Chicago and AP? ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/7 "2007-08-15T08:02:42Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Yep, serial comma is the biggest one. AP Style also insists on hyphenating teen-ager, although most newspaper stylebooks overrule that quirk. [/QUOTE] The 2005 AP Stylebook doesn’t hyphenate teenager. The entry says, “No hyphen is a change in AP style,” so it most likely changed with that edition. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/8 "2007-08-15T08:21:59Z")
[QUOTE=Miss Purl McKnittington] The 2005 AP Stylebook doesn’t hyphenate teenager. The entry says, “No hyphen is a change in AP style,” so it most likely changed with that edition. [/QUOTE] Finally! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/9 "2007-08-15T19:53:27Z")
I am somewhat disappointed this thread was not about pizza. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/10 "2007-08-15T19:55:52Z")
I am somewhat disappointed this thread is not about a new gangster-themed side-scrolling videogame from Activision. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitfalls-of-chicago-style-chicago-vs-a-p/412278/11 "2007-08-15T21:00:34Z")
What does Chicago say about Web site/website?