My 2011 AP Stylebook arrived, not quite as early as the initial promise, not quite as late as the second promise.
Many articles in the book are changed, but none of the ones relating to metric usage. I updated my analysis and recommendations slightly from the first draft in May, and have sent it to the three editors with a short cover letter. An updated copy is attached ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: John M. Steele <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net> To: USMA <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Sat, June 11, 2011 11:48:39 AM Subject: Track & Field -- Confusing, Incorrect AP reporting NCAA Track & Field championships are going on, so there are lots of examples. I just picked one. In general, "real" newspapers with AP affiliation will only report the field events in converted feet & inches, even though the NCAA measures only in meters. School newspapers (and teams) generally report the metric results. In events like pole vault and high jump, where the bar is progressively moved, the result is especially confusing. I picked this story only because it details every jump attempt. http://www.newstribune.com/news/2011/jun/11/neuenswander-takes-fourth-pole-vault/ As you read the various heights, you have to ask: *Why would anyone pick such crazy bar heights? *Why is there absolutely no rhyme or reason to the progression of bar heights? The answers are: *They don't. The heights are really metric. *Reporters are innumerate. There are two mistakes in the numbers reported. The figure reported as 13-½ should be 13-1½, and 14-¼ should be 14-1¼ Of course to find the truth, you have to ignore the news and the reporter and go to NCAA results. http://www.ncaa.com/content/di-outdoor-track-field-live-results There you learn the true progression of bar heights was Starting Height: 3.90 -4.00 -4.10 -4.20 -4.30 -4.35 -4.40 -4.45 (meters to two decimals) Is that not easier to follow? They use 10 cm increments initially to clear the field, then switch to 5 cm increments. PS: For anyone following my AP Stylebook notes, delivery of my 2011 copy has been delayed a month to early August, so my letter to AP on their metric errors will be delayed until shortly after that.
Metric Errors in the AP Stylebook.doc
Description: MS-Word document
