# Interpreting Punctuation Marks as Punctuation

For the [:punct some] command, the preprocessor applies the following rules:

· Multiple instances of identical punctuation marks are reduced to a single symbol. For example, --------------- becomes -, and *************** becomes *.

· Doubly encapsulated items become singly encapsulated. For example, "(intelligent)" and ((intelligent)) become (intelligent).

· Hours and minutes are not altered. For example, 2:43pm becomes
two forty-three P M.

· Numerals and decimal numbers are not altered. For example, -3.52 becomes minus three point five two.

· Currency values are interpreted appropriately. For example, -$43,65 becomes minus forty-three dollars and sixty-five cents, and +$123.21 becomes plus one hundred and twenty-three dollars and twenty-one cents.

· Uppercase single letters followed by periods are interpreted as single letters. For example, U.S.A. becomes U S A.

· P.M. and p.m. become P M.

· Doubled clause boundary symbols are reduced to the first clause boundary. For example, boom!, becomes boom!

· Commas and hyphens not followed by spaces are changed to be followed by spaces. For example look,look becomes look, look.