// When constructing an object there should not be any space between the & and the variable name: MyClass my1(foo, &bar); MyClass my2(foo, bar); MyClass my3(foo, bar + 3); MyClass my4(42); MyClass my5(foo(), bar); MyClass my6(int foo, int& bar); MyClass my7(const int foo, int& bar); //When using references inside of casts there is also an additional space after the &: MyClass& myInst = static_cast(otherInst); // When using the qt-specific signals and slots the pointer star is separated from the type with a space: connect(&mapper, SIGNAL(mapped(QWidget*)), this, SLOT(onSomeEvent(QWidget*))); extern int select(int __nfds, fd_set* __restrict __readfds, fd_set* __restrict __writefds, fd_set* __restrict __exceptfds, struct timeval* __restrict __timeout);