[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-267267-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-267267-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","gpo-style-manual-8-punctuation","GPO Style Manual - 8 - Punctuation","","GPO Style Manual section 8 explains how punctuation clarifies meaning in written and printed text. It emphasizes that punctuation should be used only when it improves clarity, supports reading, and prevents misreading, while maintaining consistency based on sentence structure. The section then provides detailed rules for apostrophes and possessives, including formation for nouns ending in s, placement in compound and joint possession, firm and geographic name conventions, and guidance on possessive pronouns and indefinite pronouns.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & Report",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/gpo-style-manual-8-punctuation/267267/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/gpo-style-manual-8-punctuation/267267.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Aria","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-09-14",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"When should punctuation be used according to section 8?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Use punctuation to clarify the text; if it does not clarify, it should be omitted. Punctuation should bring out the author’s thought more clearly and aid reading to prevent misreading.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How are possessives formed for singular or plural nouns that do not end in s?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Add an apostrophe and s. For singular or plural nouns that end in s (or have an s sound), add an apostrophe only.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Do possessive pronouns take an apostrophe?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"No. Possessive pronouns such as its, yours, ours, hers, theirs, and whose do not take an apostrophe.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},267267,1789416515,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,111,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":108,"show_sort_weight":109,"slug":110},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":112,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":112,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},2336464648322,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/2200025388227c56fec?_k=1778556882303663488","8.1. Punctuation is used to clarify the meaning of written or printed language. Well-planned word order requires a minimum of punctuation. The trend toward less punctuation calls for skillful phrasing to avoid ambiguity and to ensure exact interpretation. The GPO Style Manual can offer only general rules of text treatment. A rigid design or pattern of punctuation cannot be laid down, except in broad terms. The adopted style, however, must be consistent and based on sentence structure.  \n8.2. The general principles governing the use of punctuation are: If it does not clarify the text it should be omitted; and, in the choice and placing of punctuation marks, the sole aim should be to bring out more clearly the author’s thought. Punctuation should aid reading and prevent misreading.  \nApostrophes and possessives  \n8.3. The possessive case of a singular or plural noun not ending in s is formed by adding an apostrophe and s. The possessive case of a singular or plural noun ending in s or with an s sound is formed by adding an apostrophe only. Some irregular plurals require both an apostrophe and an s. (For possessives of italicized nouns, see rule 11.6.)  \nboss’, bosses’child’s, children’s citizen’s, citizens’Congress’, Congresses’  \n’ ’  \nman s, men s medium’s, media’s people’s, peoples’Essex’s, Essexes’  \ncriterion’s, criteria’s Jones’, Joneses’  \nCo.’s, Cos.’ Jesus’  \nerratum’s, errata’s Mars’  \nhostess’, hostesses’ Dumas’  \nlady’s, ladies’ Schmitz’  \n8.4. In compound nouns, the ’s is added to the element nearest the object possessed.  \ncomptroller general’s decision attorneys general’s appointments Mr. Brown of New York’s motion  \nattorney at law’s fee  \nJohn White, Jr.’s (no comma) account  \n8.5. Joint possession is indicated by placing an apostrophe on the last element ofa series, while individual or alternative possession requires the use of an apostrophe on each element of a series.  \nsoldiers and sailors’home editor’s or proofreader’s opinion  \nBrown & Nelson’s store Clinton’s or Bush’s administration  \nmen’s, women’s, and children’s Mrs. Smith’s and Mrs. Allen’s children clothing the Army’s and the Navy’s work  \nSt. Michael’s Men’s Club master’s and doctor’s degrees  \n8.6. In the use of an apostrophe in firm names, the names of organizations and institutions, the titles of books, and geographic names, the authentic form is to be followed. (Note use of “St.”)  \nMasters, Mates & Pilots’Association Johns Hopkins University  \nDentists’ Supply Co. of New York Hinds’ Precedents  \nInternational Ladies’ Garment Harpers Ferry  \nWorkers’ Union Hells Canyon  \nCourt of St. James’s Reader’s Digest  \nSt. Peter’s Church Actor’s Equity Association  \nSt. Elizabeths Hospital but Martha’s Vineyard  \n8.7. Generally, the apostrophe should not be used after names of countries and other organized bodies ending in s, or after words more descriptive than possessive (not indicating personal possession), except when plural does not end in s.  \nUnited States control teachers college  \nUnited Nations meeting merchants exchange  \nSouthern States industries children’s hospital  \nMassachusetts laws Young Men’s Christian Association  \nBureau of Ships report  \nHouse of Representatives session but  \nTeamsters Union Veterans’ Administration  \neditors handbook (now Department of Veterans  \nsyrup producers manual Affairs)  \ntechnicians guide Congress’ attitude  \n8.8. Possessive pronouns do not take an apostrophe.  \nits yours  \nours hers  \ntheirs whose  \n8.9. Possessive indefinite or impersonal pronouns require an apostrophe.  \neach other’s books another’s idea  \nsome others’ plans someone’s guesstimate  \none’s home is his castle  \n8.10. The singular possessive case is used in such general terms as the following:  \narm’s length fuller’s earth  \nattorney’s fees miner’s inch  \nauthor’s alterations printer’s ink  \nconfectioner’s sugar traveler’s checks  \ncow’s milk writer’s cramp  \ndistiller’s grain  \n8.11. While an apostrophe is used to indicate possession and c","cbCaihV7NUfEO6nc","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihV7NUfEO6nc","pdf",1657646,27,"English","# Punctuation principles\n## Apostrophes and possessives\n## Possessive formation for singular and plural nouns\n## Apostrophe placement in compound and joint possession\n## Apostrophe use in firm, book, and geographic names\n## When apostrophes should be omitted\n## Possessive pronouns and indefinite/impersonal pronouns\n## Singular possessive in fixed general terms\n## Apostrophes in plural forms of acronyms and abbreviations","[{\"question\":\"When should punctuation be used according to section 8?\",\"answer\":\"Use punctuation to clarify the text; if it does not clarify, it should be omitted. Punctuation should bring out the author’s thought more clearly and aid reading to prevent misreading.\"},{\"question\":\"How are possessives formed for singular or plural nouns that do not end in s?\",\"answer\":\"Add an apostrophe and s. For singular or plural nouns that end in s (or have an s sound), add an apostrophe only.\"},{\"question\":\"Do possessive pronouns take an apostrophe?\",\"answer\":\"No. Possessive pronouns such as its, yours, ours, hers, theirs, and whose do not take an apostrophe.\"}]","GPO Style Manual - 8 - Punctuation | PDF",68]