Punctuation in AP Style

          Without punctuation, you do not make a point.

1. Commas
    
   • Commas separate elements in a series, but are not used before conjunctions in a simple series nor when using a suffix for a name; e.g.

     The American flag is red, white and blue.
     
     We will listen to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his March 29 speech.

   • Use commas before the concluding conjunction when an integral element of the series requires a conjunction; e.g.

     I ate oatmeal, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast.

   • Use commas before the concluding conjunction in a complex series; e.g.

     The coach said we must consider whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude.

   • Use commas if the subject of each clause is stated, but not when the subject is the same for both clauses; e.g.

     The chancellor may hire Jones, or the chancellor may bring in another candidate.
     or
     The chancellor may hire Jones or bring in another candidate.

   • Use commas before coordinating conjunctions linking main clauses; e.g.

     The Democrats aim to impeach the president, but the Republicans plan to block the proceedings.

   • Use commas to set off introductory phrases and clauses; e.g.

     When the quarterback tired of the head coach, he transferred to another school.

   • Never use commas at the start of an indirect (a.k.a. paraphrased) or partial quotation. Never use "said that;" it's just said, e.g.

     Sitton said he loves "seeing the light bulb go on" in his students' heads.

2. Periods
    
   • End sentences and rhetorical questions with periods. Only use ONE SPACE after periods before beginning new sentences.
      
   • Use periods with abbreviations in states, time, months, etc.; e.g.

     7:07 a.m., Ark., Jan. 20

   • Do not use a space after a period when part of initials; e.g.

     T.S. Elliot, e.e. cummings

3. Quotation marks
    
   • When quoting, use punctuation within quotations; e.g.

     “You’re not going to make much money,” he said. “You got to do it because you love it.”

   • Use commas to introduce direct quotes; e.g.

     Sitton said, “We’re just taking baby steps on the way.”

   • Use commas inside quotation marks before sentence attribution; e.g.

     “With students, the hardest thing is when I want them to do well so much that when they feel they’re not doing well, it bugs me,” he said.

   • Use single quotes to indicate quotes within quotes; e.g.

     “When I heard Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. say 'I have a dream,' I started crying,” the young man said.

   • Use quotation marks when writing composition titles; e.g.

     Sitton's favorite books include Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge" and Umberto Eco's "The Island of the Day Before," each of which examines self-reflection and the decisions from this exercise.

     I received The Black Key's "Magic Potion" for Christmas, but purchased Miles Davis' "The Sorcerer" from Been-Around Records while going to Wal-Mart for Gov't Mule's "High 'n' Mighty" and The Black Crowes "The Tall Sessions."

4. Use dashes for an abrupt change of thought or to set off a series separated by commas; e.g.

   He listed the qualities - dedication, resourcefulness, tact, inquisitive nature, ability to get along with people  - needed by a good journalist.

5. Use parentheses sparingly (see AP rules); NEVER use [brackets].
   
   
6. Semicolons
    
   • Use semicolons to link independent clauses when coordinating conjunctions are not present; see previous sentence.
     
     
   • Use semicolons to separate elements when individual segments have commas within them; e.g.

     Survivors include wife Nadine Winfrey Kretzer Andrews of Springdale and her daughters Cherrie Miller of Springdale, Ark., Joyce Thuman of Red Oak, Texas, and Barbara Prenzlau of St. Joseph, Mo.; former wife Vivian Vanness Andrews Hemmert of Inola, Okla., and their four sons, Arlan K. Andrews Sr. Ph.D. of Corpus Christi, Texas, Roy A. Andrews of Corpus Christi, Texas, Aaron W. Andrews of Alpharetta, Ga., and Rick A. Andrews of Inola, Okla.; 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

7. Hyphens
    
   • Use hyphens for compound modifiers (a.k.a. compound adjectives) - two or more words expressing a single concept - preceding nouns; e.g.

     million-dollar story; day-to-day activities; spirit-enhancing objects; first-quarter touchdown

     EXCEPTIONS: don't use hyphens to link adverb very or adverbs ending in -ly; e.g.

     a very good time; an easily manipulated girl.

   • Use hyphens when a compound modifier occurs after a form of the verb to be; e.g.

     McGraw is two-faced.

8. Place a space before and after an ellipses when condensing a quotation, but do not use ellipses at the beginning or end of quotations; e.g.

   "I have always tried to do what was best for the nation ... However, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in Congress," President Nixon said.

9. Place a question mark inside quotations when a question is asked; e.g.

   Did you hear him say, "What right have you to ask about the riot?"

10. Colons
     
    • Use at end of sentence to introduce lists, tabulations, texts, etc. Capitalize the first word after a colon if it starts a full sentence or is a proper noun; e.g.

      He promised this: The more you practice, the better you will become and the sooner you will learn it.
      He pondered three considerations: time, money and feasibility.

    • Use for emphasis; e.g.

      He cannot stand one vice: laziness.

    • Use in time; e.g.

      She qualified at 8:31 p.m. with a personal best of 1:31:07.

11. Apostrophes
     
    • Always add 's to plural nouns not ending in s; only use apostrophe for plural nouns ending in s; e.g.

      Sitton's class; the churches' needs; states' rights; the United States' mission

    • Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when used in a descriptive sense; e.g.

      citizens band radio, a writers guide, a Teamsters request, a teachers college

    • Use apostrophes as place holders for missing letters; e.g.

      rock 'n' roll, '80s, Spirit of '76, 'tis the season

12. Exclamation Points
     
    • AVOID overuse, i.e. use a comma after mild interjections and end mildly exclamatory sentences with a period.
       
    • place inside quotations if part of a quote, outside if not. Do not use additional punctuation outside of a quote using an exclamation point; e.g.

      "Bingo! I won!" she cried on hearing the last letter-number combination.

13. ALWAYS use correct subject/verb agreement; e.g. It's not "The song remain ..." but "The song remains the same." (You get the drift.)