Pacific Rim Study Abroad Program, PacRim
page numbers
Use figures: The story is continued on page 48. Turn to page 72 to find out who was killed.
part-time, part-time
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: She works part-time. She has a part-time job.
percent
See Numbers, percent, percentages.
- abbreviations
When an abbreviation ends a sentence, no additional period is necessary at the end of the sentence. He lives at. - space after
Include only one space after a period in all cases. - quotation marks
Periods are placed within quotation marks.
play titles
See Capitalization, compositions.
p.m., a.m.
See a.m., p.m.
- Plural nouns not ending in s
Add ’s: the alumni’s contributions, women’s rights. - Plural nouns ending in s
Add the only apostrophe: the churches’ needs, the girls’ toys. - Nouns plural in form, singular in meaning
Add the only apostrophe: mathematics’ rules, measles’ effects, General Motors’ profits, the United States’ wealth. - Nouns same in singular and plural
Treat them as plurals: one corps’ location, the two deer’s tracks. - Singular common nouns ending in s
Add ’s unless next word begins with s: the hostess’s invitation, the hostess’ seat. - Singular proper names ending in s
Use only an apostrophe: Achilles’ heel, Dickens’ novels.
Note: President Thomas prefers the use of ’s with his name: President Thomas’s house is located on North 18th Street. - Joint possession
Use possessive form after only the last word if ownership is joint: Fred and Sylvia’s apartment, Fred and Sylvia’s stocks. Use apostrophe after both if individually owned: Fred’s and Sylvia’s books. An ’s required, however, when a term involves a plural word that does not end in s: a children’s hospital, a people’s republic.
post-
Follow Webster’s New WorldCollege Dictionary. Hyphenate if not listed there. Some words without a hyphen: postsecondary, postgraduate, postseason.
post office
It may be used, but it is no longer capitalized because the agency is now the U.S. Postal Service.
pre-
The rules in prefixes apply. The following examples of exceptions to first-listed spellings in Webster’s New World College Dictionary are based on the general rule that a hyphen is used if a prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel: pre-election, pre-eminent, pre-empt. Otherwise, follow Webster’s New World College Dictionary, hyphenating if not listed there. Some examples: prearrange, prehistoric, prenatal.
prefixes
Generally, do not hyphenate when using a prefix with a word starting with a consonant. Three rules are constant, although they yield some exception to first-listed spellings in Webster’s New World College Dictionary:
- Except for cooperate and coordinate, use a hyphen if the prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel.
- Use a hyphen if the word that follows is capitalized.
- Use a hyphen to join doubled prefixes: sub-subparagraph.
premiere (n.)
A first performance or showing of a play, film, etc.
premier (adj.)
First in importance or rank; chief; foremost.
president
See Capitalization, president also Titles, occupational titles.
Pride
Capitalize about gay pride: Students attended Pride events, including a parade and Queer Prom. Note that this is a deviation from AP style.
principal, principle
Principal is a noun and adjective, meaning someone or something first in rank, authority, importance, or degree: She is the school principal. He was the principal player in the trade. Money is the principal problem. Principle is a noun that means a fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force: They fought for the principle of self-determination.
pro-
Use a hyphen when coining words that denote support for something: pro-abortion, pro-business, pro-labor.
professor
See Titles, occupational titles.