QUESTION MARKS RULE - Use a question mark after a direct question. If you are quoting someone, place the quotation mark before the ending quote. You can also use a question mark after a half statement and half question. You DO NOT use a question mark if the sentence is NOT a direct question.  Examples: Will you be attending the meeting? He said, “Will you be attending the meeting?” You do want to go, don’t you? I asked if you would be attending.

EXCLAMATION MARKS RULE - Use the exclamation mark to show emphasis or surprise. Do not use the exclamation point in formal business writing.  Example: When she arrived, everybody screamed, “Happy Birthday!”

QUOTATION MARKS RULE – Marks of punctuation always go inside the quotation marks, including inside single quotes. When you are quoting something that has a spelling or grammar mistake, or a confusing statement, insert [sic] in italics and brackets. This means, “The way the original material was quoted.”  Examples: Mary said, “Please let me attend the meeting.” John said, “Mary said, ‘Please let me attend the meeting.’” He wrote, “I would rather attend then [sic] miss hearing the speaker.” This should be THAN, not THEN.

PARENTHESES – Words or Figures RULE - Use parentheses to enclose words or figures for clarification.  Examples: The registration fee is twenty-five dollars ($25). We need a teacher who can (1) go to Atlanta, (2) attend the conference, and (3) fly back to Chicago. Please read the report (Exhibit A).

APOSTROPHES – Omitted Letters RULE - Use the apostrophe where letters have been omitted from a word and is placed where the letter has been omitted.  Examples: She isn’t coming. (is not) Don’t leave the room. (do not) He’s a wonderful teacher. (he is) You’re going to have to complete a college degree. (you are)

APOSTROPHES – Possession RULE - Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show singular possession. Place the apostrophe after the s to show plural possession. Use the ‘ s after the second name only if two people possess the same item. Names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added to show possession; however, it is preferred.   Examples: The student’s notebook was left in the classroom. The students’ notebooks were left in the classroom. John’s and Mary’s homes will be sold. (separate ownership) John and Mary’s home will be sold. (joint ownership) Mr. Jones’s desk has a stack of papers.

APOSTROPHES – Singular/Plural Compound Noun RULE - With a singular compound noun, show possession with 's at the end of the word. With a plural compound noun, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe.  Examples: My father-in-law's truck is in the shop. My two sisters-in-law's children will not be there.

HYPHENS – Between Words RULE - Check the dictionary to determine whether a compound noun is two words, one word, or hyphenated. If you cannot find the word, treat the noun as separate words. Usage may vary so it is recommended to check a dictionary when unsure of the hyphenation of such words.  Example: Use a hyphen to join two or more words that is being used as a single adjective before a noun. a one-way ticket chocolate-covered raisins well-known writer If a compound modifier (compound adjective) comes after a noun, it is not hyphenated. The raisins were chocolate covered. The writer was well known.

HYPHENS – Prefixes Ex- Self- All- Suffix -Elect RULE - Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex- (meaning former), self-, all-. Use a hyphen with the suffix –elect, between a prefix and a capitalized word. The current trend is to omit unnecessary hyphens. Again, consult a dictionary when unsure of some hyphenated words.  Example: self-employed ex-wife all-American mayor-elect mid-1990s 2-year education one-week vacation A-frame African American Air Force all-city tournament attorney general blood pressure blue-green dress bull's-eye coordinate copayment database daughter-in-law English-speaking person ex-wife first-rate accommodations football grandmother grant-in-aid great-aunt half sister high-level officials I-beam Italian-American Italian-American club jack-in-the-box lifelike light year noncompliance salesperson secretary-treasurer self-addressed stockbroker T-square threefold up-to-the-minute V-formation vice president well-made clothes worldwide inflation X-ray

DASHES – En Dash – RULE - An en dash – is a little longer than a hyphen. It is used for periods of time in place of the word “to or through.” HINT: To get this mark of punctuation to appear on a computer, hold down ALT and type 0150 on the numeric keypad.  Example: Our employee benefits are effective January–December.

DASHES – Em Dash — RULE - An em dash — is the width of an m. Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing; it is best used for informal writing. The em dash may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses for emphasis, an interruption, or change of thought in informal writing. HINT: To get this mark of punctuation to appear on a computer, hold down ALT and type 0151 on the numeric keypad.  Example: You are the teacher—the only teacher—who offered me help.

ELLIPSIS MARKS (…) RULE - Use ellipsis marks if omitting a word, phrase, line, paragraph, or more from a quote.  Example: Original quote: “The accountability reports posted here provide consolidated information on a school's effectiveness based on multiple measures and student characteristics.” Rewritten quote using ellipses: “The accountability reports posted here provide consolidated information on a school's effectiveness...”

CAPITALIZATION Beginning a Quoted Sentence RULE: The first word of a quoted sentence should be capitalized. Examples: She said, “Please print two copies.” “Watch out for that car!” he yelled.

CAPITALIZATION Proper Nouns RULE: A proper noun should be capitalized. Example: Gwinnett County Public Schools Common Noun Proper Noun school Gwinnett County Public Schools teacher Mr. Jones city Lawrenceville

CAPITALIZATION Individual Titles RULE: Capitalize an individual’s title when it precedes their name. Do not capitalize the title if is a description that follows the name. Examples: President Brown Ms. Ann Brown, the president of the company, will be attending. RULE: In the inside address of a letter or signature line, capitalize an individual’s title if it follows their name. Examples: Sincerely, Mr. John Jackson, President John Jackson, President RULE: Capitalize an individual’s title if it used as a direct address. Examples: Will you be doing any more examinations, Doctor?

CAPITALIZATION Titles of Publications RULE: Capitalize the first and last words of publication titles including is, are, and be. Do not capitalize prepositions or words such as a, an, as, the, but, if, and, or, and nor. Example: What Color Is Your Parachute? Preliminary Report on the State Competencies

CAPITALIZATION Colons RULE: If a sentence ends with a colon, do not capitalize the first word of the list. Example: My favorite flowers are: roses, sunflowers, and daisies. RULE: Follow a colon after the salutation of a business letter. If writing a personal letter, a comma is acceptable after the salutation. Example: Dear Ms. Rodriguez: Dear Ann,

WRITING NUMBERS Compound Numbers RULE: Compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine should be hyphenated. Spell it out if it begins a sentence. Example: Fifty-five students were honored.

WRITING NUMBERS Numbers 1-9 RULE: Spell out numbers one through nine. However, if the sentence uses a combination of numbers, just be consistent. Examples: I would like eight students to volunteer. I would like 9 students from Norcross and 12 from Lawrenceville.