If you’re a copy editor, you likely use AP style for some projects and Chicago for others. Problem is, keeping track of where the two styles diverge can be a challenge. Here’s a guide to help you out.
| AP Stylebook | Chicago Manual of Style | |
| Academic Degree Abbreviations | Use periods in B.A., M.A., Ph.D. and other similar abbreviations. | Do not use periods in BA, MA, PhD, and other similar abbreviations. |
| Co- Prefix | Hyphenate words that begin with the co- prefix when indicating occupation or status: co-author, co-worker. Also hyphenate words like co-op and co-opt for clarity. Otherwise, do not hyphenate: coexist, copay. | In general, do not hyphenate words that begin with the co- prefix: coauthor, coexist, copay, coworker. Exceptions: co-op, co-opt. |
| Colon | Capitalize the first word after a colon if it begins a complete sentence or if it’s a proper noun. | In general, lowercase the first word after a colon, even if it begins a complete sentence. Exceptions: capitalize the first word if it’s a proper noun or if the colon is introducing a question, quotation, or series of related sentences. |
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