'Fake AP Stylebook' Well Worth a Peek

It's not the likeliest of Internet sensations, but the Fake AP Stylebook on Twitter is well worth the buzz it's getting, writes Mark Peters. Anyone who's been tormented by such rulebooks on language, or by sanctimonious grammarians, will rejoice. And laugh. Typical rule: "When referring to someone with a Ph.D. as 'doctor' immediately follow it with 'but, you know, not a REAL doctor.'" No wonder it's got 70,000 followers and a book deal in the works.

Peters offers other examples in Good magazine:

• There are differences between "pass," "enact," "approve" and "adopt," but remember: your readers don't care.
• Instead of "economic downturn," try financial melancholy, moneystorm, global bummer, The End Times.
• "Xerox" is a trademarked name. Use "butt duplicator."

(More English language stories.)