Canadian Punctuation Style Guide

Period
Use periods to break up sentences.
*All periods at end of sentences should be followed by one space.
*Avoid breaking sentences at the word “and” unless the sentence will be extremely long otherwise.
*Run-on sentences can usually be broken to start new ones at the words “but” or “so.”
*Use periods to end short declarative statements. / Correct: Year-to-date net sales increased 10% to 509.5 million from 461.7 million a year ago, and earnings increased 1% to 31.4 million.
Incorrect: Year-to-date net sales increased 10% to 509.5 million from 461.7 million a year ago. And earnings increased 1% to 31.4 million.
Correct: So strong growth in broadcasting, advertising sales as well. In the quarter, we launched the advertising-friendly channel Fine Living. It was a successful launch. It was obviously immediately appealing to both viewers and advertisers, and we’re pleased with that progress. So in every way we’re delighted with the strong broadcast results in Q3.
Incorrect: So strong growth in broadcasting, advertising sales as well, in the quarter, we launched the advertising friendly channel Fine Living it was a successful launch, was obviously immediately appealing to both viewers and advertisers and we're pleased with that progress so in every way we're delighted with the strong broadcast results in Q3.
Correct: All right. Thank you. Have a good day.
Incorrect: All right, thank you, have a good day.
Do not use periods in acronyms or radio station call letters. / Correct: KXLY TV
Incorrect: K.X.L.Y. TV
Do not use periods after common shortened forms of words. / Correct: During the fourth quarter, our sales in comp stores increased 8.5%.
Incorrect: During the fourth quarter, our sales in comp. stores increased 8.5%.
Use periods for abbreviations such as Corp. and Inc.
Do NOT use periods in two lettershort forms. / Example: AccuTran Global Inc. announced its third quarter results.
Example: US; UK; Washington DC
Comma
Use commas to separate two independent clauses (clauses that can stand alone as complete sentences).
*Independent clauses are usually marked by coordinating conjunctions, (and, but, or, and nor) and words such as before,yet, so, for, and occasionally, then. / Correct: We effectively managed inventory, and we successfully positioned our business for accelerated, profitable and sustainable growth. US market wasn't as weak as a lot of the global markets have been, but our global mining probably hit a 25-year low in the year 2002, and we think that's got a lot of legs left as it continues to improve.
Incorrect: We effectively managed inventory and we successfully positioned our business for accelerated, profitable, and sustainable growth. USmarket wasn’t as weak, as a lot of the global markets have been but our global mining probably hit a 25 year, low in the year 2002 and we think that’s got a lot of legs left, as it continues to improve.
Do not to overuse commas; do not simply insert a comma each time the speaker pauses for breath. / Correct: Our new store economic model continues to improve.
Incorrect: Our new store economic model, continues to improve.
Use commas to make sentence meanings more clear if the sentence could be misunderstood without the commas. / Correct:
Incorrect:
Use a comma when there are three or more items in a series
*Do not use a comma when there are only 2 items in a series. / Correct: We effectively managed inventory, and we successfully positioned our business for accelerated, profitable, and sustainable growth. As a result, our investors benefit from industry-leading sales productivity, strong returns on invested capital, and excellent return on equity.
Incorrect: Our investors benefit from industry leading sales productivity, and strong returns on invested capital.
Use commas to separate 2 or more consecutive occurrences of the same word / Correct:
  • Is that, that you’re seeing an improvement here?
  • Until you do, do you think we’ll see a change in ARPU?

Incorrect:
  • Is that that you’re seeing an improvement here?
  • Until you do you think we’ll see a change in ARPU?

Use a comma after introductory elements.
* Do not overuse, as with single introductory words such as now or so / Correct:
  • Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the ABC…
  • First, and I think that this is most important, we consistently have great merchandise.
  • Now I'll turn it over to Jim.
  • So we are optimistic going forward
  • Looking forward, we are on track to achieve our goal of $30 billion in sales and revenues by the end of the decade.
  • As a result, average room revenues and cash flows should be enhanced, and that should drive incremental short of shareholder value.

Incorrect: First and I think this is most important we consistently have great merchandise.
Uses commas around words or phrases not essential to the grammar of the sentence. / Correct:
  • Accounts receivable, on the other hand, grew 9% in Q3.
  • DSOs, however, grew by eight days.

Incorrect:
  • Accounts receivable on the other hand grew 9% in Q3.
  • DSOs however grew by eight days.

Use a comma before direct quotations. / Correct: Our CFO said, “We have enough cash on the balance sheet now.”
Incorrect: The sales manager said “I don’t think we’re going to meet this quota.”
Use a comma between geographical units. / Correct:
  • CCN is located at 931 Broadway, New York, New York.
  • Our flagship store is located at 1060 Lexington, Atlanta, Georgia.

Incorrect: Their headquarters are located in MississaugaOntario.
Dates – use commas to separate the day from the year.
*If the date appears in the middle of a sentence, use another comma after the year. / Correct:
  • On March 9, 2004, Martha Stewart became a convicted felon.
  • The conference replay will be available until March 25, 2004.

Incorrect: The conference replay will be available until March 25 2004.
Incorrect: On March 9, 2004 Martha Stewart became a convicted felon.
Titles and degrees – use a comma to separate a name from the title that follows. / Correct:
With us today is Jane Tokenfemale, Director of Investor Relations.
Lynn McPheeters, our CFO, is also here.
Incorrect: With us today is Jane Tokenfemale Director of Investor Relations. Lynn McPheeters our CFO is also here.
Numbers – use commas to separate digits by thousands. / Correct: Our headcount at the end of ’03 was 1,985.
Incorrect: Our headcount at the end of ’03 was 1985.
Semicolon
Use semicolons to separate two independent clauses (clauses that can stand alone as complete sentences) when there are no conjunctions connecting them (such as and, but, nor, etc.) but they are obviously related.
*We prefer periods rather than semicolons
*If you think you could put the word “and” in between the two clauses, you can normally use a semicolon. / Correct: Two years ago we had just wrapped up our first quarter of the combined companies; now we have nine quarters under our belt as the new Tyson.
Incorrect: We brought our balance sheet in line with our previous projections; and we achieved record sales numbers for the quarter.
Use semicolons to separate groups of words in a series when elements of the series are already separated by commas. / Correct: With me on the call today are John Embezzler, President and CEO; Bob Crookedman, CFO; and Jane Brainiac, Chief Information Officer.
Incorrect: With me on the call today are John Embezzler, President and CEO, Bob Crookedman, CFO, and Jane Brainiac, Chief Information Officer.
Colon
Use a colon to separate two main clauses if the second clause develops, details, or amplifies the first clause. / Correct: We have four main strategies to consider: expansion, specialization, diversification, and bankruptcy.
Incorrect: We don’t want to complete the merger: therefore we are all going to go out for lunch instead.
Use colons when a list or series of items will follow.
*Often, the words “as follows” will appear when a colon is required. / Correct: Our primary goals are as follows: increase global sales, work on enhanced branding initiatives, and to increase donut consumption in the cafeteria.
Incorrect: Our primary goals are as follows, increase global sales, work on enhanced branding initiatives, and to increase donut consumption in the cafeteria.
Apostrophe
Use an apostrophe to show ownership.
*Exception: The possessive its has no apostrophe. Be careful not to mix this up with it’s (the contraction for it is) (see below for more details) / Correct:
  • Jane’s shirt (noun possessive)
  • James’ tie (noun ending in s, possessive)
  • Todd and Ann’s house (more than one owner)
  • The car’s wheels (the wheels of a single car)
  • The cars’ wheels (the wheels of more than one car)
  • Three days’ journey (a journey of 3 days)
  • The boss’s desk (noun ending in “s”)
  • The cat washed its face.

Incorrect: The cat washed it’s face.
Use an apostrophe for contractions. / Correct:
  • It’s time to begin the question-and-answer session.
  • You’re making a false assumption.

Incorrect:
  • Its time to begin the question-and-answer session.
  • You’re assumption is false.

Use an apostrophe in year contractions. / Correct: For the full year ’04, we expect sales to be up.
Do not use apostrophes in plural numbers or acronyms. / Correct:
  • In the 1990s, we merged with Intex.
  • DSOs for the quarter were 46 days.

Incorrect:
  • In the 1990’s, we merged with Intex.
  • DSO’s for the quarter were 46 days.

Question Mark
Use a question mark after each direct question. In the case of compound questions, use a question mark after each sub-question. / Correct: Harvey, and looking at your occupancy, the drop off from October 31 to January 31, the 91.7% to 89.7%, is that a normal seasonal drop off? Or would you say that's less than the normal seasonal drop off?
Incorrect: Harvey, and looking at your occupancy, the drop off from October 31 to January 31, the 91.7% to 89.7%, is that a normal seasonal drop off or would you say that’s less than the normal seasonal drop off.
Use a question mark when one speaker “turns the call over” to another, by name, or invites them to speak. / Example: And now I’ll turn it over to Martha Stewart, our fallen-from-grace CEO. Martha?
Incorrect: And now I’ll turn it over to Martha Stewart, our fallen-from-grace CEO. Martha.
Double Dashes (M-dashes) and Ellipsis
Use a double dash when a speaker switches ideas in mid-sentence, or a thought is clearly broken.
*Double dashes should be elongated to an m-dash with no space on either side. / Correct: So that's a–we have less space to sell, and–but it's rented, I mean that's the positive thing, which is–and we don't have to spend a dollar to go get it.
Incorrect: So that’s a…we have less space to sell, and…but it’s rented, I mean that’s the positive thing, which is…and we don’t have to spend a dollar to go get it.
Use an ellipsis when a speaker is cut off by another speaker or trails off with an incomplete thought. / Correct: Within the next few months…
Incorrect: Within the next few months --.
Hyphen
Use a hyphen when it is required for clarity.
*A hyphen is often required when the first word in a compound word ends with the same letter as the beginning of the second word / Correct: Semi-Industrial
Incorrect: semiindustrial
Do not use a hyphen to replace the word “to.” / Correct: We expect to generate growth of 10% to 20%.
Incorrect: We expect to generate growth of 10%-20%.
Use a hyphen after some prefixes.Following the hyphenation list for prefixes from Merriam Webster Online. / Prefixes: ex-, non-, mid-, self-, all-, quasi-, and half-.
Example: The non-functional database.
Incorrect: non-cash, non-recurring
Correct: noncash, nonrecurring
Use a hyphen before the suffixes: / Suffixes: -elect, -odd, and -centric
Example: The President-elect left the room.
Use a hyphen between a prefix and a proper name. / Example: pre-Sarbanes-Oxley
Use a hyphen when two or more words form a compound to describe a noun.
*Use hyphens to connect compound modifiers when they appear before nouns but not when they appear after nouns.
Exception: Do not hyphenate “first quarter, second quarter, etcetera, when they appear before a noun that they are modifying. / Correct: I believe the more interesting analysis deals with the cash flow per share we are generating both on our pre-expansion, and on a net- or post-expansion basis.
More Examples:
  • all-encompassing changes (what sort of changes?)
  • sixty-odd stores (how many stores?)
  • anti-American sentiment (what type of sentiment?)
  • question-and-answer session (what type of session?)
  • non-GAAP financial measures (what sort of financial measures?)
  • forward-looking statements (what type of statements?)
  • going-forward basis (what kind of basis?)
  • fourth quarter DSOs (Exception to the rule)

Incorrect:
  • We will have questions-and-answers following the speakers’ remarks. (There is no noun to modify here).
  • In the fourth quarter, we expect DSOs to be up by 5 days.

Quotation Marks
Use quotation marks around direct quotations.
*There should be a comma just before the quotation.
*If the quotation occurs at the end of a sentence, put the end punctuation inside the quotation marks.
*The first word of the quoted sentence should begin with a capital letter. / Correct: The San Jose Business Journal recently quoted IDC analyst Chris Boone as saying, "This is going to be a learning-curve year."
Incorrect: The San Jose Business journal recently quoted IDC analyst Chris Boone as saying this is going to be a learning curve year.
Incorrect: The San Jose Business Journal recently quoted IDC analyst Chris Boone as saying “this is going to be a learning-curve year”.
NEW: For our purposes, do not use quotation marks around the titles of shorter works, such as film and television titles.
*Punctuation, such as commas, should be placed inside the quotation marks. / Correct: For more on Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and beyond, I would now like to turn the discussion over to Steve Jobs.
Incorrect: For more on “Finding Nemo”, “The Incredibles” and beyond, I would now like to turn the discussion over to Steve Jobs.
Combining Punctuation
Do not combine dashes with commas, semicolons, or parenthesis.
Do not include additional punctuation after ellipses / Correct: When analyzing our performance on–let me just find the documents here–our performance in the fourth quarter was substantially higher.
Incorrect: When analyzing our performance on–,let me just find the documents here,–our performance in the fourth quarter was substantially higher.
Correct: Within the next few months…
Incorrect: Within the next few months…?
Capitalization
Capitalize the first words of sentences or deliberate sentence fragments. / Correct: Okay, good. Now how about the balance sheet?
Capitalize the first words of direct quotations. / Correct: Our CEO said, “This is going to be a terrific year for the company.”
Capitalize first names, nicknames, degrees, and titles.
*Never capitalize articles or prepositions in titles. / Correct:
  • John Smith, Director of Investor Relations and Jane Doe, the Vice President of Finance.
  • Brendan Johnson, Ph.D.
  • Joan Handle, M.D.
  • Todd Chase, Chairman, Controller, and Chief Operating Officer

Incorrect: John Smith, Director Of Investor Relations and Jane Doe, The Vice President Of Finance.
Capitalize all words except for articles in the names of recognized organizations. / Correct: the Securities and Exchange Commission, United States Congress, United Nations
Capitalize the names of geographical or political divisions or areas. / Correct: the Far East, the Balkans, DadeCounty, Asia-Pacific, the Southwest, the North
Example:Sales have been exceptional in the Southwest, the East, and the Northeast.
Capitalize the names of web pages and web page sections. / Correct:
  • Please refer to the Investor Relations section of our website for further information on forward-looking statements.
  • Please go to the Press Releases page of our website.

Capitalize the names of conference call events. / Correct: Welcome to the IBM Third Quarter and Year End Earnings Release Conference Call.
Capitalize the names of business segments or divisions. / Correct:
  • In our Industrial Services division, we expect continued sluggishness.
  • In our Commercial Cleaning segment, we expect dirty floors.

Capitalize the titles of slides and pages. / Correct: Turning now to Slide 24.
Correct: Please refer to Page 5.
Capitalize the names of pieces of legislation. / Correct:
  • The SafeHarbor provisions of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995.
  • We hope that the passage of such pieces of legislation as the Energy Bill and the Medicare Reform Act, as well as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Patriot Act and Regulation FD will make a difference.

Do not capitalize: /
  • URLs (
  • The words press release, division, segment, annual report, ladies and gentlemen, sir, when not part of titles or proper names.
  • million, billion, balance sheet, income statement
  • When in doubt, do not capitalize.

Spelling
Use Canadian spelling.
*Remember that Canadian units of measurement end in ‘re’. For example:metre, millimetre, litre /
Canadian
/ American
defence / defense
levelled / leveled
colour / color
favour / favor
honour / honor
neighbour / neighbor
vigour / vigor
travelled / traveled
cheque / check
labelled / labeled
centre / center
licence / license
analyse / analyze
practise (v), practice (n) / practice
jewellery / jewelry
grey / gray
licence / license
levelled / leveled

Heads Up….

  • Don’t use commas after introductory single words such as “now” and “so.”
  • Don’t use quotations for films and TV shows
/ Examples:
  • Now I would like to introduce Bob Jones.
  • Finding Nemo grossed $14 billion.

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