Mind Your Ps and Qs: A Guide for New Administrators

Have you ever been told to mind your Ps and Qs? The expression is often used to admonish children to be on their best behavior, to be polite. Thus, some say the P stands for “please” and the Q for “thank Q (you).” While the origin of the phrase is unknown, it has variously been explained as a caution to typesetters to not confuse Ps and Qs when setting type and as a reminder to barmaids to keep track of the pints and quarts sold; therefore, it also means to pay attention to detail and accuracy. Whether related to good behavior or attention to detail, the following Ps and the questions associated with them serve as a handy reminder for new administrators when making decisions.