Punctuation

Apostrophe - Missing Letter:

Use an apostrophe to denote letters missing from a contraction:
                                         
                         would not-won't

                         do not-don't

                         it is-it's

        NOTE: Be aware of the difference between "it's" (a contraction of "it" and
                  "is") and "its" (the posessive form of the pronoun "it"):

                         It's a busy bee that always finds its honey.
 
An apostrophe should not be used to denote the letters missing from an abbreviation:
 
                        dept., capt., asst., etc.

You may use the apostrophe for the first two digits of a year:

                         1989 or '89

                         The 1970's or The '70's

The apostrophe may be added to figures, signs, and symbols to denote the plural form, but the trend is to omit it when clarity of meaning will not be sacrificed:

                         ABC's-ABCs

                       1970's-1970s
                             -BUT-
        Don't change P's and Q's to Ps and Qs.

Apostrophe - Possession:

Add apostrophe "s" ('s) to denote possession for singular nouns:

                         the boy's room (one boy—his room)

                         the mouse's pad (one mouse—its pad)

                         waitress's uniform (one waitress—her uniform)

Add an apostrophe "s" ('s) to denote possession for plural nouns if they do not end in an "s":

                         women's rights (some women—their rights)

                         men's clothes (some men—their clothes)

Add an apostrophe (s') to denote possession for plural nouns if they end in "s":

                         the girls' room (some girls—their room)

                         the dogs' fleas (some dogs—their fleas)

An apostrophe should be used to show possession of abstract values or concepts:

                         Linda's integrity

                         John's habits

An apostrophe is never used to denote possession for words that are already possessive:

                         theirs, ours, hers, his, its

        NOTE: Be aware of the difference between "it's" (a contraction of "it
                  is") and "its" (the possessive form of the pronoun "it"):   

                         It's only following its instincts.                        

An apostrophe is used to denote possession for an indefinite pronoun:

                         someone else's, anyone's, somebody's

Add an apostrophe "s" ('s) to denote possession for proper nouns ending in "s":

                         Ross's expeditions

                         Hess's trial

        NOTE:  Some writers and editors still prefer to add only the apostrophe 
                   when the proper noun ending is, or sounds like, an "s", but the trend is  
                   toward adding the apostrophe and the "s".

If the subject is the object of an action, the possessive case should be replaced by an "of" phrase:

                         the hanging of Patrick Henry 
                                           -NOT-
                         Patrick Henry's hanging

The possessive case for an inanimate object should normally be expressed by an "of" phrase:

                         the surface of the table
                                       -NOT-
                         the table's surface

If an inanimate object is personified, the rule does not apply:

                         the sea's cruelty

                         time's relentless march

Inanimate objects referring to time can also be exempt from the rule:

                         a day's work, a week's pay, a year's crops

Brackets - Enclosing Words:

Use brackets to enclose words and phrases that are needed to clarify, but are not part of the original quotation:

                        "The point of the meeting [October '88] was to close the deal."         
                        "We gave it all we had; [but] we gave ground steadily."

Use brackets to enclose sic  following an error in quoted or copied matter:

                        "The horses galoped [sic ] across the meadow."

        Note: No punctuation is needed before or after brackets, unless the
                 punctuation would clarify the meaning of the sentence. No 
                 punctuation is ever added to a quotation.
                                        
Colon - After a salutation:

Use a colon after the salutation at the beginning of a letter:

                         Dear Mom:
                         My Esteemed Colleague:
                         Valued Customer:
                         Gentlemen:

Colon - Before an Explanation:

Use a colon before a lengthy explanation or an illustration:                             

                         For two basic reasons, country boys are less inclined to
                         become involved with drugs and crime: Firstly, they have
                         chores and responsibilities that make it impossible for 
                         them to find the time to get into trouble; and secondly,  
                         they are not crowded together like experimental rats in a 
                         lab.

                         Do not be fooled by claims of indestructibility: Many of  
                         the units we bought in the first quarter of this year
                         were in the trash by October.

Use a colon between two independent clauses to restate or emphasize the same idea:

                         The rusty old tub appeared to be sinking at the dock: It 
                         was taking on water and listing badly.
                                
                         Her scores were among the highest in the county: She
                         simply outclassed the rest of the local students.

Colon - Beginning a List:

Use a colon to introduce items in a series that are set up by a formal phrase suggesting that a list is to follow: 

                         In addition to your kayaks, you will each need to bring the
                         following items: food, a sleeping bag, spare clothing,     
                         extra paddles, toilet articles, and fishing gear.

Do not use the colon when the list is introduced without a formal phrase:

                         In addition to your kayaks, you will each need to bring 
                         food, a sleeping bag, spare clothing, extra paddles,    
                         toilet articles, and fishing gear.

Do not use the colon when the list is part of a prepositional phrase and/or when the list is closely connected to the verb:

                         After endless interviews, a background check, several 
                         training sessions, and two months of part time work, I 
                         finally got the job.
                                                                  
                         Every employee was provided health insurance, stock in 
                         the company, sick leave, paid vacation, and a new car.

Colon - Between Hours and Minutes:

Use a colon to separate hours from minutes, and minutes from seconds, when expressing time numerically:

                         10:17:20 (Ten seventeen and twenty seconds) 

Colon - Capitalization After:

Capitalize the first word after a colon only when it introduces a complete sentence:

                         After three weeks in Central America, he had the following to  
                         show for his diplomatic efforts: He had a broken windshield, a   
                         sunburn, a depleted wallet, and some colorful weavings.
                                                               -BUT-
                         After three weeks in Central America, he had the following to  
                         show for his diplomatic efforts: a broken windshield, a 
                         sunburn, a depleted wallet, and some colorful weavings.

Colon - Introducing a Quotation:

Use a colon before a long or formal quotation:

                         Whenever a new passenger got on, the driver would shout his
                         instructions: "Move as far to the rear as possible, hold on to a                       
                         grab-rail at all times, no smoking, eating, or drinking, and 
                         don't even try talking to the operator!"