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Sorry AP, there is an accent in Pokémon

The AP thinks we should be spelling Pokémon as "Pokemon." The AP is wrong.

Christina Warren

on July 12, 2016

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Sorry AP Stylebook, but when it comes to Pokémon naming conventions, you're dead wrong.

In a tweet sent from the AP Stylebook's official Twitter account, the style and usage guide had this to say about how publications that use Associated Press style should write out Pokémon Go:

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I'm just going to say it, AP: You're wrong. Mashable generally adheres to AP style conventions (although we do have our own, too). And in this case, we're absolutely going to continue to spell Pokémon correctly -- with the acute accent mark. That is, after all, how it was intended.

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And a quick look on Twitter shows that we're not the only ones appalled that AP would try to de-accent Pokémon.

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Pokémon has been spelled with an accent mark since its inception. As Wikipedia points out (normally I wouldn't cite Wikipedia for anything, but somehow I think its knowledge of Pokémon is as accurate as any other resource), the name is a romanticized contraction of the Japanese name of the game, Pocket Monsters.

For roughly 20 years, we've been writing Pokémon with an accent, which is consistent with the product branding.

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That Wikipedia entry I referenced earlier? It even has the accent mark.

We can't understand what would compel the AP to spell Pokémon incorrectly. Maybe it's the laziness of hitting that accent key. (Pro tip: On a Mac, just press and hold the "e" key for an extra second and then press the number two key.) Maybe the stewards of style and usage just didn't know any better.

But now, they should.

What's next, AP -- spelling Beyoncé without the accent? But the AP would never disrespect Beyoncé that way. It's smart enough to know the Beyhive would pounce for that lack of respect.

Frankly, Pikachu deserves better.

Pokémon forever.

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Topics Pokemon