How to Format Ages in AP Style
The Associated Press, one of the world's largest news gathering organizations, has a style guide that is used at many newspapers and by other writers around the world. Its purpose is to have consistent guidelines among news gatherers. The style guide states that ages must be written in a particular manner. In most cases, the guide says to use figures rather than writing the ages as words. But that's the general rule. As in everything, there are some exceptions.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Write figures for the ages of people and animals. For example, The boy is 4 years old. The dog is 2 years old. If the age is an adjective before a noun, use a hyphen. The 4-year-old boy wants his mother. My 2-year old dog ate my homework.
-
2
Write figures for objects. For example, the chair is 8 years old.
-
-
3
Write out an age when it starts a sentence. For example, Nine-year-old girls love to swim.
-
4
Write the age as a word if it's under nine when writing about a century. If the age is greater than nine, use a figure. Unless it's a proper name, also lowercase the word "century." For example, the event took place in the ninth century. The event took place in the 18th century.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If a person is less than 12 months old, refer to him as an infant. Children 17 and under are referred to as a boy, girl or teen.
References
- Brandeis University: Brandeis Web Style Guide -- Associated Press Style
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Associated Press Style
- The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law; Associated Press; 2009
