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11/27/2007: "AP Stylebook Update"

We were notified of a new and important update to the AP Stylebook today. Following is the exact notification.

An AP Stylebook entry has been updated:

Editor's Note: A change in AP style that figures should be used for inanimate objects as well.

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ages

Always use figures for people, animals and inanimate objects: The girl is 15 years old; the law is 8 years old; the 101-year-old house. When the context does not require years or years old, the figure is presumed to be years.

Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun.

Examples: A 5-year-old boy, but the boy is 5 years old. The boy, 7, has a sister, 10. The woman, 26, has a daughter 2 months old. The race is for 3-year-olds. The woman is in her 30s (no apostrophe).

See also boy; girl; infant; youth and numerals.

See comma in punctuation guidelines.