AP Style Guide! - SoylentGreene

porting on nuclear energy, include
the definitions of appropriate
terms, especially those related
to radiation.
core The part of a nuclear reactor
that contains its fissionable
fuel. In a reactor core, atoms of
fuel, such as uranium, are split.
This releases energy in the form
of heat which, in turn, is used to
boil water for steam. The steam
powers a turbine, and the turbine
drives a generator to produce
electricity.
fission The splitting of the nucleus
of an atom, releasing energy.
meltdown The worst possible
nuclear accident in which the reactor
core overheats to such a degree
that the fuel melts. If the fuel
penetrates its protective housing,
radioactive materials will be released
into the environment.
rad The standard unit of measurement
for absorbed radiation.
A millirad is a thousandth of a
rad. There is considerable debate
among scientists whether there is
any safe level of absorption.
radiation Invisible particles or
waves given off by radioactive material,
such as uranium. Radiation
can damage or kill body cells,
resulting in latent cancers, genetic
damage or death.
rem The standard unit of measurement
of absorbed radiation in
living tissue, adjusted for different
kinds of radiation so that 1
rem of any radiation will produce
the same biological effect. A millirem
is a thousandth of a rem.
A diagnostic chest X-ray involves
between 20 millirems and
30 millirems of radiation. Each
American, on average, receives
100 millirems to 200 millirems of
radiation a year from natural
“background” sources, such as
cosmic rays, and man-made
sources, such as diagnostic X-
rays. There is considerable debate
among scientists over the safety
of repeated low doses of radiation.
roentgen The standard measure
of X-ray exposure.
uranium A metallic, radioactive
element used as fuel in nuclear
reactors.
numerals A numeral is a figure,
letter, word or group of
words expressing a number.
Roman numerals use the letters
I, V, X, L, C, D and M. Use
Roman numerals for wars and to
show personal sequence for animals
and people: World War II,
Native Dancer II, King George VI,
Pope John XXIII. See Roman numerals.
Arabic numerals use the figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0.
Use Arabic forms unless Roman
numerals are specifically required.
See Arabic numerals.
The figures 1, 2, 10, 101, etc.
and the corresponding words —
one, two, ten, one hundred one,
etc. — are called cardinal numbers.
The term ordinal number
applies to 1st, 2nd, 10th, 101st,
first, second, tenth, one hundred
first, etc.
Follow these guidelines in
using numerals:
LARGE NUMBERS: When
large numbers must be spelled
out, use a hyphen to connect a
word ending in y to another word;
do not use commas between
other separate words that are