The AP Stylebook, a cornerstone reference for journalists, made a significant update to its guidelines on Friday, May 10, 2024. The change: ‘health care’ is now officially spelled as one word—‘healthcare.’
This decision has sent ripples through journalism circles, prompting immediate and visceral reactions from reporters and editors alike.
On Slack, a STAT staff member described their response with raw emotion:
“Crying, screaming, throwing up.”
Another colleague succinctly summed up their sentiment:
“ihateit.”
The STAT team acknowledged the collective struggle to process the change, stating:
“We’re clearly still digesting all our feelings, and we’ll let you know soon where we land.”
The AP Stylebook’s update reflects broader trends in language simplification, though it remains to be seen how widely adopted this change will be across media outlets. For now, journalists are grappling with the shift—and the strong emotions it has stirred.
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