Manual of Style:Punctuation

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This page documents the Manual of Style guidelines of the GTA Wiki.

It concerns standards that all users should follow.

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MOS:!

MOS:PUNCTUATION

This page documents the Official GTA Wiki Manual of Style on punctuation.

Formatting

Apostrophes

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MOS:'

MOS:APOSTROPHE

MOS:APOSTROPHES

1. Only use straight apostrophes ('). Do not use curly apostrophes (’), accent marks or backticks (`).
2. {{'}} may be useful if formatting does not allow for a straight apostrophe to be used (for example, when used in bold or italic text) (see MOS:FORMAT).
3. Abbreviated distances measured in feet should use straight apostrophes (for example, six foot two inches as 6'2") (see MOS:NUM).

Quotation marks

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MOS:QUOTE

MOS:QUOTES

1. All forms of quotation must use double quotation marks ("). Do not use apostrophes, accent marks or backticks for quotations.
2. Only use straight quotation marks ("). Do not use curly quotation marks (“ ”).
3. Do not use guillemet marks (« ») or other foreign quotation marks for quotations.
4. Abbreviated distances measured in inches should use double quotation marks (for example, six foot two inches as 6'2") (see MOS:NUM).
5. Quotation marks in immediate succession should have a single space between them (for example, "I said 'Yes' ").

Valid uses of quotation marks:

• Direct quotes
• Dialogue or transcripts
• Short works (short stories, poems, song titles, etc)

Invalid use of quotation marks:

• Collections of works (film franchises, TV series, album titles, collection of poems, etc)
• Longer works (film titles, books/novels, etc)
• Mission titles, Achievement and Trophy names, etc.

Notable exceptions:

1. Annotated translations must use apostrophes, not quotation marks (for example, 'Manana' comes from the Spanish mañana, translating to 'morning' or 'tomorrow').
2. Nested quotations (quotations within quotations) must alternate between single quotation marks (straight apostrophes) and double quotation marks, with the latter being the outer-most quote (for example, "I don't want to hear you say 'I can't!' ever again.").

It can be noted that templates such as {{Quote}} and {{Dialogue}} automatically add stylized quotation marks to input text and do not require additional quotation marks.

Ampersands

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MOS:AMPERSAND

MOS:AMPERSANDS

1. Ampersands (&) are generally only used where there are two subjects in a parenthetical reference, which are often used in infoboxes or lists and tables. For example, "(GTA III & GTA IV)" instead of "(GTA III and GTA IV)".
   1. Ampersands should not be used in references when there are more than two subjects (see MOS:BRACKETREF). For example, "(GTA III, GTA Vice City, GTA IV)" instead of "(GTA III, GTA Vice City & GTA IV)".
2. Ampersands should not be used in most written text, page display titles or category titles.
3. Only use the standard ampersand character (&). Do not use variations, such as the small ampersand (﹠).

Hyphens

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MOS:HYPHEN

MOS:HYPHENS

Hyphens (-) are used to connect parts of words together. This includes:

1. A single adjective that is made up of multiple words. For example, six-speed transmission or 6-speed transmission instead of six speed transmission, well-known fact instead of well known fact, etc.
2. Compound words. For example, editor-in-chief rather than editor in chief, father-in-law rather than father in-law, etc.
3. Written numbers, up to 100. For example, sixty-nine not sixty nine.
4. Certain prefixes and suffices. For example, ex-wife not ex wife, self-taught not selftaught, president-elect not president elect, etc.
   1. All prefixes before a capitalised word (such as proper nouns). For example, pre-Neolithic or pre-Paleolithic.
5. Avoiding confusion with other words. For example, resign vs re-sign.
6. Avoiding repetition in a single sentence, both for hyphenated and unhyphenated words. For example, pre- and postlude, pro- and anti-treaty, inner- and outermost, two- or four-bladed helicopters, etc.

Dashes

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MOS:DASH

MOS:DASHES

En dash

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MOS:ND

MOS:ENDASH

MOS:ENDASHES

En dashes (– or {{nd}}) are mainly used for breaking sentences apart. This includes:

1. Replacing "to" or "and" in some sentences, including time spans and value ranges. For example, 2006–2008, August 1–August 7, $150,000–$500,000, 0–60 mph, etc.
2. Connecting two proper names. For example, Palmer–Taylor Power Station, Denver–Exeter Avenue, Cuban–Haitian Gang War, etc.
3. Replacing hyphens in attributive compounds, where at least one element is also a compound. For example, pre–Civil War, post–World War II.
   1. Except when an individual element is already hyphenated. For example, mid-20th-century, not mid–20th-century.
4. Substituting commas, brackets or colons/semi-colons. Unlike other uses, this typically requires spaces before and after the en dash. For example, The results – as you might expect – were disappointing., or He finally answered – after taking a long pause.
5. Following a subject in descriptive lists (see MOS:DL). For example:

• SMG – A submachine gun in the HD Universe.
• Exotic Exports – May appear as a random target vehicle.
• Jason Duval – The second trailer implies Jason owns a beater, turquoise Creado with a black-colored nearside fender.

En dashes can be created by using the {{endash}} template.

Em dash

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MOS:MD

MOS:EMDASH

MOS:EMDASHES

Em dashes (— or {{md}}) are rarely used in most written text, however serve as a more expressive purpose. They generally replace en dashes when used in sentences, but do not require spaces. For example:

• "I was going to call you—but I changed my mind."
• He said he'd finish the report—eventually.

As implied above, they generally replace en dashes when used in more dramatic context, especially when dialogue ends abruptly or unexpectedly. For example:

• Only one thing mattered—survival.
• "If only I had—"
• "But I thought you said—"
  "I know what I said!”

The em dash is also used as a stylistic choice in quote and dialogue templates to cite the source of a quote or context of a piece of dialogue.

Em dashes can be created by using the {{emdash}} template.

Last amended: January 31, 2026 by Monkeypolice188 (revision | history)