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. |
Acronyms and Other Abbreviations | When using an abbreviation or acronym that might be unfamiliar to your audience, fully spell the term on first use. Do not include the acronym/abbreviation in parentheses. Use the acronym or abbreviation on subsequent references only if the meaning will be clear to the reader. | When using an abbreviation or acronym that might be unfamiliar to your audience, fully spell the term on first use, and indicate its acronym or abbreviation soon thereafter. Typically, do this by immediately following the full term with the acronym or abbreviation in parentheses. |
| 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. |
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