5 Quick Reminders for National Punctuation Day

​In honor of National Punctuation Day, remember these five quick reminders to make sure your messages are spot on:

1. Decades: They are not possessive. Therefore, don't give them an apostrophe. "In the 1970s" not "In the 1970's."
2. Frequently Asked Questions: Again, not possessive regardless of whether you write it out or abbreviate it. "FAQs" not "FAQ's."
3. Commas in a Series: I prefer the Oxford comma for ultimate clarity and easy consistency. Oxford style means that a comma is always used before the conjunction for commas in a series. AP style, almost always used for newspaper journalism, usually omits the final comma. Oxford Example: Atlanta neighborhoods include Virginia Highlands, Morningside, Ansley Park, and Piedmont Heights. Whatever style you choose, just use it consistently.
4. Punctuation & Quotes: Punctuation at the end of a sentence goes inside the quote (unless you're in Britain). Example: I asked, "What were they thinking?" See, the question mark is inside the double quotation.
5. Contractions versus Possessive Pronouns: Last but not least, these frequently misused words always deserve repeating.  Double check your use of it's/its, you're/your, who's/whose. Let spell check and grammar check help you!

If you're itching for more helpful reminders, I like this 16-point list from Inc.com.