| A | B |
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| Use an apostrophe as a symbol for feet in billings or tabulations or as a symbol for minutes. (The quotation mark may be used as a symbol for seconds and inches.) | Example: 12' x 16' 3'54" 8'6" x 10'8" |
| Use an apostophe as a symbol to indicate the omission of letters or figures (as in contractions). | Example: can't wouldn't Spirit of '76 |
| Use an apostophe to form the plural of most figures, letters, and words used as words rather than for their meaning: Add the apostrophe and s. In market quotations, form the plural of figures by the addition of s only. | 6's A's five's ABC's Century Fund 4s |
| Use an apostrophe to show possession: Add the apostrophe and s to (a) a singular noun and (b) a plural noun which does not end in s. | Example: a man's watch women's shoes boy's bicycle |
| Use an apostrophe and s to a proper name of one syllable which ends in s. | Example: Bess's Cafeteria Jones's bill |
| Use an apostrophe ONLY after (a) plural nouns ending in s and (b) a proper name of more than one syllable which ends in s or z. | Example: boys' camp Adams' home Melendez' report |
| Add the apostrophe after the last noun in a series to indicate joint or common possession of two or more persons; however, add the possessive to each of the nouns to show separate possession of two or more persons. | Example: Lewis and Clark's expedition the manager's and the treasurer's reports |
| Use a colon to introduce an enumeration or a listing. | Example: These are my favorite poets: Shelley, Keats, and Frost. |
| Use a colon to introduce a question or a long direct quotation. | Example: This is the question: Did you study for the test? |
| Use a colon between hours and minutes expressed in figures. | Example: 10:15 a.m. 12:00 4:30 p.m. |
| Use a comma (or commas) after (a) introductory words, phrases, or clauses and (b) words in a series. | Example: If you can, try to visit Chicago, St. Louis, and Dallas. |
| Use a comma to set off short direct quotations. | Example: She said, "If you try, you can reach your goal." |
| Use a comma before and after (a) words which come together and refer to the same person, thing, or idea and (b) words of direct address. | Example: Clarissa, our class president, will give the report. |
| Use a comma to set off nonrestrictive clauses (not necessary to the meaning of the sentence), but not restrictive clauses (necessary to the meaning). | Example: Your report, which deals with the issue, is great. |
| Use a comma to separate the day from the year and the city from the state. | Example: July 4, 2003 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Use a comma to separate two or more parallel adjectives (adjectives that could be separated by the word "and" instead of the comma. | a group of young, old, and middle-aged persons |
| Do not use commas to separate adjectives so closely related that they appear to form a single element with the noun they modify. | Example: a dozen large red roses a small square box |
| Use a comma to separate (a) unrelated groups of figures which come together and (b) whole numbers into groups of three digits each (however, POLICY, YEAR, PAGE, ROOM, TELEPHONE, and most SERIAL NUMBERS are shown without commas). | Example: During 2001, 1,750 cars were insured under Policy 806423. page 1042 Room 1184 (213) 825-2626 |
| Use a dash for emphasis. | Example: The icy road--slippery as a fish--was a hazard. |
| Use a dash to indicate a change of thought. | Example: We may tour the Orient--but I'm getting ahead of my story. |
| Use a dash to introduce the name of an author when it follows a direct quotation. | Example: "Hitting the wrong key is like hitting me." --Armour |
| Use a dash for certain special purposes. | Example: "Well--er--ah," he stammered. |
| Use an exclamation mark after emphatic interjections. | Example: Wow! Hey there! What a day! |
| Use an exclamation mark after sentences that are clearly exclamatory. | "I won't go!" she said with determination. How good it was to see you in New Orleans last week! |
| Use a hyphen to join compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine that are keyed as words. | forty-six fifty-eight over seventy-six |
| Use a hyphen to join compound adjectives before a noun which they modify as a unit. | Example: well-laid plans six-year period two-thirds majority |
| Use a hyphen after each word of figure in a series of words or figures that modify the same noun (suspended hyphenation). | Example: first-, second-, and third-class reservations |
| Use a hyphen to spell out a word or name. | Example: s-e-p-a-r-a-t-e |
| Use a hyphen to form certain compound nouns. | Example: WLW-TV teacher-counselor AFL-CIO |
| Use parentheses to enclose parenthetical or explanatory matter and added information. | Example: The amendments (Exhibit A) are enclosed. |
| Use parentheses to enclose identifying letters or figures in lists. | Example: Check these factors: (1) period of time, (2) rate of pay, and (3) nature of duties |
| Use parentheses to enclose figures that follow spelled-out amounts to give added clarity or emphasis. | Example: The total award is five hundred dollars ($500). |
| Use a question mark at the end of a sentence that is a direct question; however, use a period after a request in the form of a question. | What day do you plan to leave for Honolulu? Will you mail this letter for me, please. |
| Use quotation marks to enclose direct quotations. | Example: He said, "I'll be there at eight o'clock." |
| Use quotation marks to enclose titles of articles and other parts of complete publications, short poems, song titles, television programs, and unpublished works like theses and dissertations. | Example: "Sesame Street" "Chicago" by Sandburg "Laura's Theme" "Murder She Wrote" |
| Use quotation marks to enclose special words or phrases, or coined words. | "power up" procedure "Murphy's Law" |
| Use a semicolon to separate two or more independent clauses in a compoun sentence when the conjunction is omitted. | Example: Being critical is easy; being constructive is not so easy. |
| Use a semicolon to separate independent clauses when they are joined by a conjunctive adverb (However, consequently, etc.) | Example, I can go; however, I must get excused. |
| Use a semicolon to separate a series of phrases or clauses (especially if they contain commas) that are introduced by a colon. | Example: These officers were elected: Lu Ming, President; Lisa Stein, vice-president; Juan Ramos, secretary. |
| Use a semicolon to precede an abbreviation or word that introduces an explanatory statement. | Example: She organized her work; for example, putting work to be done in folders of different colors to indicate degrees of urgency. |
| Use an underline with titles of complete works such as books, magazines, and newspapers. (Such titles may also be keyed in ALL CAPS without the underline.) | Example: |
| Use an underline to call attention to special words or phrases (or you may use quotation marks). NOTE: Use a continuous underline unless each word is to be considered separately. | Example: |
