Which practice is correct for using dates in AP style?

• A. Use numerals for dates
• B. Spell out the month name and day
• C. Use numerals for dates; abbreviate month to three letters
• D. Always use numeric year; no month names

Answer: (A)

Dates in AP style are written using numbers, which keeps them quick to read and uniform across copy. In practice you present the month as a short form (Jan., Feb., etc.) and the day and year as digits, for example Jan. 12, 2024. This approach makes dates easy to scan and prevents ambiguity, especially in crowded headlines or briefs. Spelling out the month and day slows reading and is less concise, while omitting the month drops important temporal context. So using numerals for dates is the most consistent, readable approach in AP style.