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AP Style for Dates, Times, Months, and Years

1. Why AP Style for Dates, Times, Months, and Years Matters

A writer who ignores AP Style formatting creates inconsistency, confusion, and credibility issues.

A writer who follows AP Style produces clean, professional, newsroom‑ready writing across every Total Apex vertical.

Correct formatting improves:

  • Clarity
  • Professionalism
  • Readability
  • SEO
  • Mobile scanning
  • Editorial consistency
  • Contributor confidence

Every Total Apex contributor must master AP Style for dates, times, months, and years because these elements appear in every single article — news, sports, gaming, entertainment, lifestyle, and guides.

2. AP Style Rules for Dates

A. Use Numerals for Dates

Always use numerals — no “first,” “second,” “third.”

Correct

  • Jan. 5
  • March 12
  • Oct. 31

Incorrect

  • January fifth
  • March twelfth
  • 31st of October

AP Style never uses ordinal suffixes (st, nd, rd, th) in dates.

B. No Comma Between Month and Year

When a month and year appear alone, no comma is used.

Correct

  • January 2024
  • June 2025

Incorrect

  • January, 2024

C. Use a Comma When the Day Is Included

When the full date appears, use a comma after the day.

Correct

  • On Jan. 5, 2024, the update launched.

Incorrect

  • On Jan. 5 2024 the update launched.

3. AP Style Rules for Months

A. Abbreviate These Months When Used With a Date

  • Jan.
  • Feb.
  • Aug.
  • Sept.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Dec.

Examples

  • Jan. 5
  • Sept. 14
  • Nov. 22

B. Spell Out These Months Always

  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July

These months are never abbreviated.

C. Spell Out All Months When Standing Alone

Correct

  • The update launched in September.
  • The finale airs in October.

Incorrect

  • The update launched in Sept.

4. AP Style Rules for Times

A. Use Numerals for Times

Always use numerals except for noon and midnight.

Correct

  • 7 p.m.
  • 6:30 a.m.
  • noon
  • midnight

Incorrect

  • 7:00 PM
  • 12 noon
  • 12 midnight

AP Style uses lowercase a.m. and p.m. with periods.

B. Don’t Use :00 for Even Hours

Correct

  • 7 p.m.
  • 10 a.m.

Incorrect

  • 7:00 p.m.
  • 10:00 a.m.

C. Time Ranges Use an En Dash (–) or “to”

Correct

  • 7–9 p.m.
  • 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Incorrect

  • 7 pm – 9 pm

D. Put the Time Before the Day

AP Style prefers time → day → date.

Correct

  • The event starts at 7 p.m. Friday.
  • The patch goes live at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Incorrect

  • Friday at 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 9 at 6 a.m.

5. AP Style Rules for Years

A. Use Numerals for Years

Always use numerals — no spelling out.

Correct

  • 2024
  • 1999

B. No Apostrophes for Decades

Correct

  • the 1990s
  • the ’90s (use a leading apostrophe)

Incorrect

  • the 1990’s
  • the 90’s

C. Use Commas Around Years in Full Dates

Correct

  • He was born on May 5, 1998, in Ohio.

Incorrect

  • He was born on May 5 1998 in Ohio.

6. Common AP Style Mistakes (and Fixes)

1. Using ordinal dates

❌ January 5th  

✔️ Jan. 5

2. Using capital AM/PM

❌ 7 PM  

✔️ 7 p.m.

3. Abbreviating months incorrectly

❌ Sept. when standing alone

✔️ September

4. Using commas incorrectly

❌ January, 2024  

✔️ January 2024

5. Adding :00 to times

❌ 8:00 p.m.  

✔️ 8 p.m.

7. AP Style Across Total Apex Verticals

News

  • The studio confirmed the delay on Jan. 12.
  • The event begins at 9 a.m. Monday.

Sports

  • The game starts at 7 p.m. Friday.
  • He joined the team in March 2023.

Gaming

  • The patch goes live at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15.
  • The update launched in April.

Entertainment

  • The finale airs at 8 p.m. Sunday.
  • The show debuted in 2019.

Lifestyle

  • The sale starts at noon Saturday.
  • The trend began in the early 2000s.

AP Style keeps every vertical consistent.

8. Final Takeaway for Total Apex Writers

AP Style for dates, times, months, and years is essential for clean, professional, newsroom‑ready writing.

Total Apex AP Style Essentials

  • Use numerals for dates and years
  • Never use ordinal suffixes
  • Abbreviate only specific months with dates
  • Spell out months when standing alone
  • Use lowercase a.m./p.m. with periods
  • Use “noon” and “midnight”
  • Avoid :00 for even hours
  • Use commas correctly in full dates
  • Avoid apostrophes in decades

Mastering these rules ensures every Total Apex article — across news, gaming, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle — is polished, consistent, and editorially flawless.