I would do:

A) I think he made a good-faith effort.

A)  Let me hand you group Exhibit No. 8.

Thank you, Quyen.

I had a witness who said, "Okay, Hon.  I understand. 

She was talking to the attorney.  Do you capitalize "Hon"?  "Hon" is short for "Honey."

Thanks!

Does anyone have a good book about punctuation and English that I can send to my scopist, so she can learn how to punctuate a little bit better?

Kelli, I really like Lillian Morson's guide for court reporters.  It's easy to find things.  I have an older version so I don't know what the current one is like.  I bought Margie's book too but I think it is difficult to find what you're looking for.

Kelli, I stick STRICTLY to The Gregg Reference Manual and make no exceptions. I don't believe in "exceptions" to grammar/punctuation. No Morrison's, no Margie Wakeman Wells or whatever.

Kudos to you and your patience in training your scopist. :)

@Janiece: I would not cap Hon. That makes it look like an abbreviation for Honorable, direct reference to a judge.

Thanks, Quyen.  I did not cap it.  

Thanks, for your help.  I'll pass these along to her.

Which is correct, year-end 2007 or year end 2007?

Thanks!

During the time period when you took over the accounts through year end 2007 was one of the issues that you discussed on the telephone

Year end 2007 in your example. 

Year-end books, year-end figures, year-end accounts. 

Thanks, LeAnne.  Sometimes I get a little too hyphen happy.  :-)

What is the proper way to punctuate this?

Thx

I had been involved in the business as far as I was concerned 30 years: 15 years at Pepsi; 15 years at Descartes.

I had been involved in the business, as far as I was concerned, 30 years: 15 years at Pepsi, 15 years at Descartes.

That'd be the way I'd do it. ;)

Thx, Amanda :-)

Should there be a comma after "pay"?

A. That it was a base pay, plus commission.

I wouldn't use the comma, but I'm wondering whether the question would make a difference in how it's punctuated. 

LeAnne, so you think this is correct?

A. That it was a base pay plus commission.

Yes.

Thanks, LeAnne.  :-)

How do you handle spoonerisms? Do they need to be in quotes?

A. I'm bass ackwards.

I don't think it needs any special punctuation, Janiece. The weirdness, or the bass ackwardness, of it is pretty clear. :)

How would you start a sentence with p.m.?

P.m.?

P.M.?

or

p.m.?

Would you put a comma in between "times" and "total" in the question?

Thanks,

Janiece

A. I'd say, me personally, ten.
Q. Ten times, total?
A. Yes.

The comma looks right there ....

Melinda...According to Morson, at the start of a sentence it's A.m.

Janiece...Your comma looks good there.  It stands for a missing word/words, right?

How do you punctuate this? I don't know how to do the "approved approved."
Thanks!!!

A. From my understanding, the extension, even when you got it back signed from the customer, it still wasn't "approved" approved.

Hi, Janiece.

What you have ("approved" approved) looks like the best way to do that.

What is the best format for this?  Thanks!!!

A)  Oklahoma, Alabama game

B)  Oklahoma-Alabama game

C)  Oklahoma/Alabama game

I'd say B.

Thanks, Janet :-)

What Janet said!

I know this is a stupid question, but I don't know the rule. How do I know when to use a comma in an instance like this? What is the rule?
Thanks!!!
Janiece

A) Was that a formal written discipline, or was it a meeting such as we talked about before?
B) Was that a formal, written discipline, or was it a meeting such as we talked about before?

When "no call, no show" comes up how do you format it?

I think it should be the comma, but I'm not sure.

Thanks!

A)  no call/no show

B)  no call, no show

How would you punctuate the following:

My answer is no.

I would say yes.

I'll just say no.

I'm debating between quotations around the yes and no.  Colons before the yes or no or just leaving it with nothing.

I'm sure there could be occasions when those would need quotes, but generally speaking, I'd leave them as they are to make reading easier.

I leave it as is when I'm scoping it, then when I proof it, I'm always rethinking/overthinking:) it.  Thanks.

I wouldn't use quotes.  Only time I use quotes in this situation is if the questioner asks:

Q   Is that a "yes"?

A   I would say yes.

Which is correct?

I think that #1 is correct but I would like a second opinion.

TIA

1)  Mr. Smith was giving you dirty go-to-hell looks.

2) Mr. Reser was giving you dirty, go-to-hell looks.

I would go with #2 because "dirty looks" and "go-to-hell looks" are basically the same thing, and in those cases a comma is needed between the adjectives.  If the adjectives don't have a similar meaning, no comma is necessary.

Thanks, Victoria. :-)

You betcha. :)

How would you punctuate the following?  It's the lawyer asking the witness if his mom might possibly have made the following statements in a certain situation.

Did your mom say, What is going on?  They're taking our children into protective custody and they're saying that you raped Judy or they're saying that Judy says you raped her, anything like that?  

I always wonder if I'm supposed to put a colon after the first "say."

Do you just capitalize the first word?  I usually don't use quotes as this is just speculation.   Does anyone have an answer for this?  I always get confused on how to best punctuate here.

Okay, I'm looking at previous postings and it looks like it might be okay to quote this type of material to make it stand out.

What do you all think?

Jean, can you post an example of how you are wanting to quote this?  I'm not sure.

Is it all one speaker or is someone else speaking when "They're taking our children" starts?  Is that part of the quote?

Did your mom say, "What is going on?  They're taking our children into protective custody and they're saying that you raped Judy or they're saying that Judy says you raped her, anything like that?"  

This is a rule I am trying to get in my brain.  I think this should be punctuated this way because you can put the word "and" in between "honest and "off-the-top-of-my-head answer."  Also you can reverse "honest and "off-the-top-of-my-head answer."  So that means these are probably coodinate adjectives and should have a comma in between them; right?

Thanks!!!

I can't give you an honest, off-the-top-of-my-head answer on that one.  

Just looked it up, and Morson's Rule 46 says you're right about the comma, Janiece.

Thank you, Victoria.  This is a punctuation rule that I struggle with.  I am trying to ingrain it in my brain so I get it right every time.  :-)

Jean, I read it that the attorney is giving the witness options about the mom might have said, so I quote the two options separately. 

I would do this:

Did your mom say, "What is going on?  They're taking our children into protective custody, and they're saying that you raped Judy," or, "They're saying that Judy says you raped her."  Anything like that?

I think a comma after "her" would be acceptable also.

Morson's Rule 97 states that if you're unsure about where the quote ends, put a comma where you know it begins and cap the first letter.

This is truly one of those reporter's-preference issues.  If you're not a fan of quotes for speculation, feel free not to use them at all.