pacing

Each mark of punctuation is followed by one space. (Two spaces may follow a period
ending a sentence; however, if used the practice should be consistent throughout the
paper.) Exceptions No space is required after

• opening parenthesis:
Departing flights (except those already noted) are temporarily grounded.
• opening quotation mark, and comma or period before a closing quotation mark
The captain remarked, “The space is inadequate.” I agreed. All other punctuation marks are followed by one space.

Apostrophe (')

Use an apostrophe

1. to show ownership or possession. Add an apostrophe and an s ('s) to words that don't end with an s:

somebody's car (the car belonging to somebody)
the men's locker room (the locker room of the men)
a month's rent (the rent of a month)

Add only an apostrophe after the s to words that already end in s.

twelve days' pay (that is, the pay for twelve days) the students' tests (that is, tests belonging to the students)

2. to form contractions.

Show omission of letters with apostrophes:

Could not = couldn't; he is = he's; they are = they're; cannot = can’t

Colon (:)

1. Use a colon after a complete sentence that introduces a list.
The breakfast menu contained the clients’ favorite foods: bran muffins, bananas,
pancakes and maple syrup, and bacon and eggs.

If the introduction is not a complete sentence, no punctuation is needed:
Dieters preferred low fat breakfast foods such as strawberries, unbuttered whole
wheat toast, unsweetened cereal, and applesauce.
2. Use a colon on the reference list, to separate publisher location from name.
Hebring, R. J., Jr. & Vang, C. (2002). Collective wisdom, diverse experience:
Managers’ real stories (3rd ed.). New York: Random House

Commas

The following four comma rules will enable you to punctuate most sentences correctly.

1. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so*, yet, nor, for)
if it joins two sentences.

• Ellen thought the movie was exciting, and Fred liked it more than any he had
seen that year.
• Fred and Ellen saw a movie and went out to dinner afterwards. (No comma
needed because and is not joining two sentences.

* (when so means therefore or as a result, but not when it means so that)

2. Use a comma after introductory expressions.

An introductory expression is a word or words that lead up to the main part of the
sentence.

• Frankly, I have had enough of this cold and rainy weather.
• When our bakery closed down, Jan had to make her own bread.
• Confused by the freeway signs, Ralph got hopelessly lost in Chicago.

3. Use commas to separate three or more items in a series.

Use a comma after each item, including the one before the conjunction (and or or).

• Protestors wore black pants, red shirts, and green sashes.
• Students can study before class, after school, or on Saturday afternoon.

4. Use commas to set off words and phrases that interrupt the sentence if those
words are not essential to the purpose of the sentence.

• Michelle took her seat at the table and, much to everyone's surprise, blew her nose on the tablecloth.