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Punctuation
Commas
Avoid the serial comma. In a series consisting of three or more elements,
commas do not separate the element immediately preceding the word ―and‖ and
the word ―and,‖ except in those instances when it provides clarity to the reader.
Do not include a comma between the alumni name and the year of graduation.
Joe Smith ‗03
Dashes
An ―em‖ dash is used to indicate a sudden break in thought that causes an
abrupt change in sentence structure (e.g., ―I want to go to the store—I need a
new dress—before the end of the day.).
En-dash is used to connect numbers or dates (ranges); e.g., 1971–2004.
Hyphenation
Use to create compound modifiers in some, but not all, cases.
co-chair
coeducational
co-ops (but cooperative education)
extracurricular
field trip
first-come, first-served basis
full-time, full time; ex. He is a full-time student and he works full time.
full-time faculty; but students attend full time
grade point average
healthcare
interdisciplinary
laptop
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multidisciplinary
non; Generally use without hyphen
non-refundable deposit
off-campus apartment; but some students reside off campus
off-campus, off campus
The hyphen is used when off-campus is used as a compound modifier and
without the hyphen when, it is used as a prepositional phrase.
Example: Even though he wanted to live on campus, he ended up living in
off-campus housing. (In this instance, on campus is a prepositional
phrase, off-campus is modifying housing.)
on-campus, on campus
The hyphen is used when on-campus is used as a compound modifier and
without the hyphen, when it is used as a prepositional phrase.
Example: There‘s always something happening off campus, but I prefer
on-campus events. (In this instance, off campus is a prepositional phrase,
on-campus is modifying events.)
online; one word, no hyphen
post-master’s certificate
pre-career student
pre-medical students
pre-professional student
self-; a hyphen follows the prefix
upper-division courses
Web-based education
Web-enhanced courses; but courses are Web enhanced
well-rounded student; but the student is well rounded
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work-study programs
Quotation marks
 Commas and periods go inside quotation marks
 Semicolons and colons go outside quotation marks
Ranges
Write out ―to‖ and ―through‖ when using ranges or spans in text (instead of an
en dash).
Semi colon
Marks stronger breaks in a sentence flow than that represented by a comma.
Special Words List
database
e-journal
e-mail
e-newsletter
e-portfolio
E-zine
FTP
Internet
online
PDF
URL
Web
advisor
baccalaureate degree
cable TV
capstone course
coeducational
course load
course work
faculty (singular noun)
home page
Internet intramural sports
Stockton Now
Web site
World Wide Web
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