AP style relaxes its rules on hyphenating compound modifiers

Since we left journalism, it seems like each update to AP style has been a microphone-dropping one.

Or, as we can now say, a microphone dropping one — if you think that reads clearly and unambiguously.

As the AP tweeted last week:

We updated our hyphen guidance this year to say no hyphen is needed in a compound modifier if the modifier is commonly recognized as one phrase, and if the meaning is clear and unambiguous without the hyphen.
One example is first quarter touchdown. pic.twitter.com/8AJc0zCwJm

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) August 28, 2019

The Digital Reader, who called this to our attention, is arguing in favor of the update, calling it a pragmatic rule that just accepts normal usage and reduces drama.

We’re open to hearing your objections, however, mostly since we don’t have skin in this game anymore!