THE PERIOD     

     Use a period after:

1.   A declarative sentence (sentence stating a fact):
          I am leaving now.

2.   An imperative sentence (sentence stating a command):
          Close the door.

3.   An indirect question: He asked if you can come.

4.   An abbreviation: Mr., Ms., Dr., M.D., Ph.D., Y.M.C.A., Calif.

     Do not use a period after:

           *   Abbreviations of national or international
               agencies: UN, UNESCO, HUD

           *   Abbreviations of labor unions: AFL, CIO, ILGWU

           *   Call letters of radio or television stations: 
               WNBC, WLIB, WBAI

           *   Money in even dollar denominations: $45  (but
               $45.54)

           *   Abbreviations for ordinal numbers: 5th, 2nd, Henry
               VIII

           *   Common abbreviations:  memo, math, exam, lab, dorm,
               

5.   Use a period after all numbers or letters in an outline.

          I.   Sports taught this semester
               1.   Swimming
                    a. backstroke
                          

     Do not use a period after a number or letter if:

          *    the number or letter is enclosed in parentheses:
               (1), (a)

          *    the numbers are part of a title: Chapter I, Henry V


6.   Use three periods (an ellipsis):

     a.   To show intentional omission of words in a quoted
          passage:
               "...we are engaged in a great civil war, testing
               whether that nation...can long endure."
                                   --Abraham Lincoln

     b.   To indicate pause, hesitation, emotional stress in
          dialogue and in interrupted narrative:
               He seemed nervous...stared straight ahead...kept
               twitching and jerking...then he ran for shelter.


THE QUESTION MARK


1. Use a question mark after a direct question:
     Are you going?    It's a long trip, isn't it?

Note: In quoted dialogue, do not use a comma or period with
the question mark.

            Wrong:  "Are you ready?", he asked.
            Right:  "Are you ready?" he asked.

            Wrong:  He asked, "Will you go?".
            Right:  He asked, "Will you go?"


2.   Use a question mark within parentheses to indicate doubt or
     uncertainty about a fact.

          Chaucer was born in 1340 (?) and died in 1400.

     Do not use question marks after:

     a.   Indirect questions: He asked if I were going.
     b.   Polite requests in question form:  Will you please send
          me three copies.


THE EXCLAMATION POINT


1.   Use an exclamation point after an emphatic word, phrase,
     clause, or sentence: Wonderful!  What a surprise! 
     
Note: Be sparing in the use of exclamation points.  If a sentence
expresses only mild emotion or excitement, do not use the
exclamation point.  A general guideline is to use the exclamation
point in sentences in which you use "how" or "what" as
intensifiers: How dreadful!  What a calamity!