Ask AP: Political ads, e-mail's hyphen

Miss Ida M. Fuller, 76, of Ludlow Vt. holds her social security check for $41.30 in this Oct. 4, 1950 file photo. A reader-submitted question related to Social Security checks and the stimulus package is being answered as part of an Associated Press Q&A column called "Ask AP." (AP Photo)

"We are The Associated Press, and we approve this Q&A column."

You won't normally see this sort of statement on a news story. But the wording may remind you of political ads you've seen on TV during the presidential campaign -- and maybe you've wondered why such an affirmation is necessary.

Curiosity about this common campaign practice inspired one of four reader-submitted questions being answered in this installment of "Ask AP," a weekly Q&A column where AP journalists respond to questions about the news.

If you have your own news-related question that you'd like to see answered by an AP reporter or editor, send it to newsquestions@ap.org, with "Ask AP" in the subject line.

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Will those on Social Security receive checks from the proposed stimulus package?

Jim Donohue

Atlanta

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Beginning this spring, more than 130 million people will get rebates from the government in amounts from $300 to $1,200. This includes checks for low-income senior citizens who live solely on Social Security benefits, though they must file an income tax return for 2007 to qualify.

Elderly people who pay no taxes but receive at least $3,000 in Social Security benefits will get rebates of $300, or $600 for couples.

Seniors who earn enough to pay taxes on dividends, interest or other income will get rebates equal to the taxes they paid, with a maximum of $600 for singles and $1,200 for couples.

Adjusted gross income caps of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 apply, so wealthier seniors whose income exceeds those thresholds will get $50 less per $1,000 they make over the limits. That means those with income of $87,000 or more for individuals and $174,000 or more for couples will receive no rebate.

Julie Hirschfeld Davis

Associated Press Writer, Washington

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Why do politicians have to say, "I am ----, and I approve this ad"? It is redundant, since they would not appear in it if they did not approve it.

Jose Alvarado

Pacifica, Calif.

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This is one of the requirements of a campaign finance law passed in 2002. The idea is that the statement gives viewers and listeners a clear understanding of who is responsible for the advertising.

Before the law, candidates could run ads, particularly attack ads against an opponent, without having to reveal themselves except for a small-print disclaimer at the end of the commercial. Supporters of the law believed an oral statement by the candidate would make it less likely that they would run negative ads.

Jim Kuhnhenn

Associated Press Writer, Washington

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As electronic mail became widespread, it came to be referred to as "e-mail." Many users soon began to drop the hyphen (fewer keystrokes). Now, "email" is searched on Google nearly six times as much as "e-mail." Is there a plan to switch "e-mail" to "email" in an upcoming version of the AP Stylebook?

Tim Bergerhofer

Kansas City, Mo.

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Call us stubborn, or sticklers for clarity, but AP sees no compelling reason to replace e-mail with email.

Why do we stand on e-mail? That spelling is the first choice of major dictionaries, including AP's primary spelling reference, Webster's New World College Dictionary Fourth Edition. It is also the preference of many newspapers. And e-mail is consistent with other hyphenated, electronic age terms such as e-book, e-commerce, e-shopping and e-business (which would look odd without hyphens).

You're not the first to propose dropping the hyphen. But the arguments of one fewer keystroke and search engine statistics don't convince us that e-mail would be enhanced by excision.

David Minthorn

AP Manager for News Administration

"Ask the Editor" columnist, APStylebook.com

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What ever happened to the inquest regarding the death of Anna Nicole Smith's son? I've heard it was scheduled several times, but never heard any follow-up.

Joyce Faust

Meriden, Conn.

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The inquest has been proceeding fitfully since November.

The cause of Daniel Smith's death isn't really in question. The doctor who performed the autopsy has testified that the son of the late reality TV star was killed by a combination of methadone and the antidepressants Zoloft and Lexapro, confirming the findings of a private pathologist hired by Smith's family.

The inquest is taking place to determine the official cause of death. Jurors can recommend that Bahamian authorities pursue criminal charges if necessary.

The hearing was put on hold in December, and again in late January, while the court tried to secure testimony from witnesses in the U.S. It is scheduled to resume in March.

Tosheena Robinson-Blair

Associated Press Writer, the Bahamas