The 5 Essential AP Style Rules On Ages: Stop Making These Hyphenation Mistakes

Mastering the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook’s rules for ages is a cornerstone of professional journalistic writing. As of late 2025, the core principles remain focused on clarity, consistency, and precision, particularly when dealing with numerals and the ever-tricky subject of hyphenation. Errors in this area are among the most common mistakes a copy editor flags, yet the rules are surprisingly straightforward once you understand the logic behind them—specifically, whether the age is functioning as a noun or a compound adjective.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the five critical AP style rules you must follow when reporting or writing about someone's age, ensuring your content adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Understanding these nuances will instantly elevate your writing and establish your topical authority on style and usage.

The Foundational Rule: Always Use Figures (Numerals)

The single most important rule in AP style regarding ages is absolute: always use figures (numerals) for ages. This guideline applies universally, from a one-year-old baby to a 105-year-old centenarian. This is a clear departure from the general AP rule for numbers, which often requires spelling out numbers one through nine.

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• Correct: The woman is 35 years old.
• Incorrect: The woman is thirty-five years old.
• Correct: The 4-year-old dog won the prize.
• Incorrect: The four-year-old dog won the prize.

This consistency ensures immediate readability and is designed to make numerical information stand out clearly in a news context. The only exception to this rule is at the beginning of a sentence, where AP style generally advises spelling out the number or restructuring the sentence to avoid starting with a figure.

The Hyphenation Divide: Adjective vs. Noun

The majority of AP style errors related to ages stem from improper hyphenation. The rule is based entirely on grammar: you use a hyphen when the age acts as a compound adjective modifying a noun, or when the age is used as a substitute for a noun. You omit the hyphen when the age follows the noun or is used in a standard predicate position.

Rule 2: Hyphenate When the Age is a Compound Adjective

When the age phrase comes directly before a noun and describes that noun, it becomes a compound adjective, and hyphens are mandatory. The structure is typically [figure]-[unit]-old [noun].

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• Example: A 12-year-old girl was rescued. (The age describes the girl.)
• Example: The company hired a 30-something manager. (Used as a noun modifier.)
• Example: The museum displayed a 2,000-year-old artifact.

Rule 3: Omit Hyphens When the Age Follows the Noun

If the age phrase is used after the noun—often in the form of [noun] is [figure] years old—no hyphens are used. The phrase "years old" is not modifying the noun; it is completing the predicate.

• Example: The girl is 12 years old. (No hyphen.)
• Example: The artifact is 2,000 years old. (No hyphen.)
• Example: The boy, 7 years old, won the contest. (No hyphen, even when set off by commas.)

A common journalistic shortcut is to set the age off with commas after a person's name, especially in obituaries or brief mentions. In this case, the age is still not hyphenated: "The victim, 45, was identified by police."

Handling Age Ranges and Noun Substitutes

Beyond the basic adjective/noun distinction, AP style provides specific guidance for age ranges and for using ages as standalone nouns. These rules are crucial for maintaining consistency in statistical reporting and general news stories.

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Rule 4: Use "to" for Age Ranges, Not a Hyphen

When expressing a range of ages, AP style dictates using the word "to" instead of a hyphen or dash, unless the range itself is part of a compound adjective. This avoids confusion with the hyphenation rules for compound adjectives.

• Correct: The program is open to children ages 5 to 10.
• Incorrect: The program is open to children ages 5-10.
• Correct: The event targets the 18-to-25-year-old demographic. (Here, the range is functioning as a compound adjective, so the hyphens are necessary.)

The key here is clarity. The use of "to" makes the range unambiguous for the reader, which is a core tenet of the Associated Press Stylebook.

Rule 5: Hyphenate When the Age is a Substitute for a Noun

When the age phrase stands alone, substituting for a noun (often the person or thing itself), it must be hyphenated. This is most common when referring to groups or categories.

• Example: The race is for 3-year-olds. (The phrase stands in for "3-year-old children/horses.")
• Example: The 10-year-old won the spelling bee. (The phrase stands in for "The 10-year-old child.")

Crucially, AP style also has a specific rule regarding the plural form: do not use an apostrophe when making the age phrase plural. The correct usage is "3-year-olds," not "3-year-old's" or "3-year-olds'." This detail is often overlooked but is essential for proper punctuation and maintaining journalistic standards.

Advanced AP Style Entities and Common Pitfalls

To further enhance your command of AP style, consider these additional entities and scenarios that frequently trip up even seasoned writers:

• "Old" Omission: You can often omit "years old" for brevity, especially in subsequent references or when the age is set off by commas: "The dog, 4, is a poodle." or "The 4-year-old poodle."
• Decades: When referring to decades of life, use numerals and hyphenate only if it's a compound adjective: "The man is in his 40s." (No apostrophe for the plural decade). But: "The 40-something man was seen..."
• Consistency: The overarching goal of the Associated Press Stylebook is consistency. Once you choose a style for ages within a single article, stick to it rigorously.
• Contextual Relevance: AP style advises only using an age if it is relevant to the story. Avoid including ages gratuitously, as it can sometimes be perceived as irrelevant personal information.

By internalizing the distinction between a compound adjective (hyphenated) and a descriptive phrase following a noun (not hyphenated), you can confidently navigate the most complex age-related sentences. These five rules—always use figures, hyphenate adjectives, omit hyphens after the noun, use "to" for ranges, and hyphenate noun substitutes—are the backbone of accurate, clear, and professional journalistic writing.