Award-Winning AP Style Guide
Tutors
Who needs tutoring?
FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
- YaleUniversity
- PrincetonUniversity
- StanfordUniversity
- CornellUniversity
Award-Winning AP Style Guide Tutors
Certified Tutor
I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate
Certified Tutor
Kate
I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Jai
I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rhea
I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Certified Tutor
Erika
I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Zachary
I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies...
Yale University
Bachelors, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Annie
I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.
University of California Los Angeles
Bachelors, Physiological Sciences
Drexel University College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, MD
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Sharon
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classro...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master of Science, Journalism
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
Matthew
I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer i...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Human Biology (concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science)
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
Tiffany
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +56 Subjects
I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.
Charles
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing
Pinelopi
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you :)
Earnest
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am comfortable with either setting. I'm confident that I can help you (or your student) achieve to the best of their ability, so please don't hesitate to get in touch!
Sami
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +19 Subjects
I am a Duke University graduate in Economics and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing an MBA degree at the Yale School of Management. I have worked in the financial field, both at a management consulting firm and a fortune 500 company. My hobbies include playing and coaching soccer. Hobbies: reading, writing, art, books, music
Quinn
Calculus Tutor • +17 Subjects
I am willing to address any issue with an open mind and I try to develop strategies that play to a student's strengths. I would like to think I am very approachable and personable, and I have had very positive experiences with many students in the past using this philosophy. Outside of academics, I love playing basketball and watching sports, as well as chilling with friends, listening to music, and keeping up with politics and current affairs.
MaryAnn
Calculus Tutor • +21 Subjects
I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to the nonprofit sector. Hobbies: reading, cooking, writing, books, music, art, travel
Samantha
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
I'm a first-year medical student and recent graduate from Duke University, where I studied Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions. From running a piano program at a nonprofit children's theatre to private tutoring in math, science, and standardized test prep, I enjoy helping my students become confident and self-sufficient learners! Hobbies: photography, travel, reading, music, writing, running, art, books, traveling
Samuel
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!
Tony
Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects
I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, English, history, and Mandarin Chinese part-time with a DC-based tutoring company. At Yale, I worked as a freshman counselor to provide academic and career advice to incoming freshmen. I have taken both SAT and MCAT test prep classes and am familiar with both tests as well as the preparation necessary to score well. My personal career goals include attending medical school to pursue either immunology/infectious diseases or psych/neurology, teaching biology at the university level, and working in public/global health with either the CDC or the WHO.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students typically find the most difficulty with AP Style's exceptions to standard grammar rules—particularly around numbers (when to spell out vs. use numerals), capitalization in titles and headlines, and the nuances of punctuation like the Oxford comma's absence in AP Style. Many also struggle with proper formatting of titles, organizations, and geographical references, which require memorizing specific conventions that differ from AP Language and Composition or standard English classes. A tutor can help you identify which rule categories trip you up most and develop memory strategies for the exceptions that break traditional grammar patterns.
AP Style (Associated Press Style) is a professional journalism standard designed for clarity, consistency, and brevity in news writing—it prioritizes readability for general audiences over grammatical "correctness." Key differences include: no Oxford comma, specific rules for numbers and dates, abbreviated state names, and streamlined punctuation. Your English class likely emphasized MLA or Chicago style, which have different conventions entirely. Understanding when and why AP Style breaks traditional rules helps you apply it confidently in journalism, PR, or writing courses that require it.
While AP Style does require learning specific conventions, the most effective approach focuses on understanding the *logic* behind the rules—AP Style prioritizes clarity and consistency for readers, which explains why it eliminates the Oxford comma and uses specific number formatting. Rather than pure memorization, successful students learn to recognize patterns (like how numbers are handled differently depending on context) and practice applying rules in realistic writing scenarios. A tutor can help you move beyond flashcards by showing you how to think through style decisions and build habits that make AP Style feel natural rather than arbitrary.
AP Style is primarily designed for news writing and journalism, so the rules you apply depend on your context—a breaking news article follows different conventions than a feature story, and academic papers or creative writing may not require AP Style at all. The key is understanding your assignment's requirements: if your teacher or publication specifies AP Style, you'll apply the full ruleset; if they ask for "journalistic style," you may use a subset; if it's a personal essay, AP Style may not apply. A tutor can help you analyze assignment prompts to identify which style guide is actually required and which rules are most critical for your specific writing goal.
Effective AP Style editing uses a systematic approach: first, do a full read-through for content and flow, then do a second pass focusing specifically on style elements (numbers, capitalization, punctuation, abbreviations). Many writers find it helpful to create a personal style checklist of rules they frequently miss, then scan for those specific issues. Using the AP Stylebook as a reference while editing (rather than trying to memorize every rule) is standard professional practice—the goal is accuracy, not memorization. A tutor can teach you a reliable editing workflow and help you build awareness of your personal style blind spots so you catch errors faster.
AP Style is the standard in professional journalism and newsrooms, so mastering it gives you a significant advantage in journalism classes, school newspapers, or writing competitions. Beyond the technical rules, learning AP Style teaches you to write for clarity and concision—skills that improve all your writing. In journalism courses specifically, AP Style compliance is often graded as heavily as content quality, so students who understand style conventions earn higher marks and develop habits that professional editors expect. Whether you're aiming for a journalism career or simply want to write more clearly, AP Style discipline strengthens your overall communication skills.
Professional journalists and editors reference the AP Stylebook constantly—memorizing every rule isn't realistic or necessary. However, you should be familiar enough with common rules (numbers, capitalization, punctuation, abbreviations) that you can apply them quickly without constant lookups. The goal is building enough fluency that AP Style becomes automatic for frequently-used rules while you confidently reference the book for edge cases. A tutor can help you prioritize which rules to internalize based on your writing focus and teach you how to use the Stylebook efficiently so you're not slowed down during the writing process.
While the AP Stylebook is comprehensive, it can feel overwhelming and abstract without context—a tutor helps you apply rules to your actual writing, identifies patterns in the mistakes you personally make, and teaches you the reasoning behind confusing conventions so they stick. Tutors also help you develop editing strategies, provide feedback on your journalistic writing, and help you understand when AP Style rules interact or conflict with each other. Most importantly, a tutor can accelerate your learning by focusing your study on the rules you'll actually use most, rather than trying to absorb the entire Stylebook at once.
Connect with AP Style Guide Tutors
Get matched with expert tutors in your subject