docs: def ap_state(value, failure_string=None):
      """
      Converts a state's name, postal abbreviation or FIPS to A.P. style.
      
      Example usage:
      
          >> ap_state("California")
          'Calif.'
      
      """
      try:
          return statestyle.get(value).ap
      except:
          if failure_string:
              return failure_string
          else:
              return value