Spacing Around Symbols

1. Spacing Around Symbols • . (period)—no space before and space once after when used with abbreviations or initials, space twice after at the end of a sentence • , (comma)—no space before and space once after • ; (semi-colon)—no space before and space once after • : (colon)—no space before and space twice after except when stating time • ? (question mark)—no space before and space twice after at the end of a sentence • * (asterisk)—no space before and no space between word and symbol • ! (exclamation point)—no space before and space twice after at the end of a sentence • @ (at)—one space before and after except in an email address • # (number/pound symbol)—no space before and no space between figure and symbol • $ (dollar sign)—one space before and no space after • “ ” (quotation)—one space before and no space after beginning quotation, no space before and one space after ending quotation Keyboarding Middle Grades

2. Spacing--continued • - (hyphen)—no space before or after • — (dash)—no space before or after • / (slash or diagonal)—no space before or after • + (plus)—one space before and after • > (greater than)—no space before or after • < (less than)—no space before or after • ( (left parenthesis)—no space before and no space after • ) (right parenthesis)—no space before, one space after • = (equals)—one space before and after • ’ (apostrophe)—no space before or after • & (ampersand)—space once before and after • % (percent)—no space before and 1 space after Keyboarding Middle Grades