The stated goal of the AP Stylebook is “to be clear, fair and concise around the globe, no matter what the news is or where it happens.” Most of the entries — whether general terms, or those gathered in the pages dedicated to specific beats — are attempts at clarity, fairness, brevity or a combination.
When it comes to clarity, the stylebook points out words that are often misused. Disinterested, for example, means a person doesn’t have a stake in the outcome of an event, not that they are uninterested, which means they don’t care. The phase pore over means to look at something very closely, and shouldn’t be confused with pour over, which is a method for brewing coffee. And the stylebook also provides guidance for avoiding technical terms — for example, business buzzwords or obscure scientific jargon — which are meaningless to most readers.
In some cases, striving for clarity will also help ensure fairness. For example, the stylebook points out the legal distinctions between homicide, murder and manslaughter. Homicide is the general legal term for killing someone; both murder and manslaughter are types of homicide, but murder is intentional while manslaughter is not. Using the wrong word could change the severity of an accusation or conviction — grounds for a defamation lawsuit.
Other ways in which the stylebook addresses fairness include how and whether to describe a person as having a mental illness (if irrelevant to the story, leave the information out; if relevant, identify the source for the diagnosis). Also avoid stigmatizing terms such as addict, or Third World country
As for brevity, the stylebook has suggestions on how and when to abbreviate; avoiding unnecessary punctuation; and deleting redundant information. For example, never write at 7 p.m. this evening, since at 7 p.m. has the same meaning.