Editing Transcript Style Guide (section)

== Punctuation ==

=== Commas ===
Use the Oxford comma. 

Place a comma before single and double quotes that begin a new clause.

Certain repeated words should have commas in between them: "No, no, ..." and, "No, no, no, no, ..." for instance.

=== Hyphenation ===
Hyphenate certain words.

=== Dashes ===
Em-dash or long dash (—) for interruptions (mid-word or mid-sentence) or abrupt change in a sentence's topic. There is no space after the dash with the exception of starting a new sentence.

En-dash (–) multiple names used as an adjective, such as in Teller–Ulam design or Yang–Mills theory.

=== Ellipses ===
Ellipses can be used in some places instead of dashes, if a speaker is trailing off for instance. Put a space after ellipses. They can be treated as periods or commas for the capitalization of the next word.

=== Quotations ===
Place a comma before single and double quotes that begin a new clause.

Use double quotes for dialogue or speech, terms or phrases, song titles, and scare quotes. For dialogue and speech, end-punctuation is placed inside the quote. Otherwise it is placed outside or the quote is left unpunctuated.

Use single quotes for thoughts. If the sentence ends inside of a single quote, end punctuation is placed inside the quote.

==== Indirect Quotations ====
Indirect quotes (no quote marks) are used for hypothetical speech or heavy paraphrasing. Use your own judgment. Place no comma before indirect quotes. Do not capitalize the first word of indirect quotes.

==== Spelling and Formatting Inside Quotations ====
If a speaker is directly reading or reciting a written work, it should be spelled and formatted exactly as it was originally written.