Punctuation and Spacing
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Appropriate punctuation guides the reader through the ideas expressed in your sentences. Punctuation marks can tell the reader when to slow down, speed up and stop. |
Periods (.) are often used:
- at the end of a complete sentence: What Americans call a period is named a full stop in Britain.
- in initials of an author's name: P. Lohani
- in information of reference list: , Vol. p. 34
- in abbreviations: , Rev., ed.
- in Latin abbreviations: e., e.g., p.m.
- between numbers showing fractions and subsections: 5, 6.3.3
Commas (,) are used:
- to separate items from a list: tables, chairs, and benches
- to set off a non-restrictive or nonessential information: The baby, wearing a red shirt, is vaccinated.
- to separate a subordinate clause in a compound sentence: Although he has not taken his bag, he claims it.
- to separate day of the month from the year: May 25, 2013
- to separate the year and the page number(s) in the text citation: (Sharma 2013, p. 5)
Semicolons (;) are used:
- to separate clauses of a compound sentence when no conjunctions are used: Men were present; women were absent.
- to separate elements in a series when the elements contain commas in the text citation: (Franklin 2013, pp.1-4; Williams 2009, p. 4)
Colons (:) are used:
- to introduce a list: He has three problems: nausea, vomiting, and headache
- to introduce an illustration: Me and my sisters are really excited: we're going to Disneyland!
- to introduce a blocked or set off quotation:
Koehler (2020) explains the complicated experience:
Conceptualized as a sense of wonder, amazement, or fascination, awe is a complex emotion associated with deep and personal change. The experience of this multifaceted sensation is atypical, powerful, and memorable. People who experience awe are intensely moved and often propelled toward a feeling of self-transcendence—becoming aware they are one minor part of a larger whole. (para. 2)
- to introduce a sub-title: Representing Gender Relations: A Critical Discourse Analysis
- after the place of publication in the list of references or works cited. New York: NY
- after the year of publication in parentheses of a journal: Cross Currents2 (2012): 20-35.
- to link a contrastive statement: Yesterday was bad: today is good.
Question Marks (?) are used:
- in interrogative sentences and they are placed at the end of a complete sentence which is phrased as a question (yes/no or information question): Are you disturbed by the noise? Who would tell the right answer?
- a question mark also indicates the meaning of uncertainty.All (?) the staff will be attending the briefing.
Exclamation Marks (!) is rarely used in academic writing, except where they are part of quoted material. You were amazing!
Hyphens (-) are used:
- in compound words: Cross- current, A user-friendly guide
- to show inclusive page numbers: 257-266.
Dashes (–) are elongated hyphens used to set off text in a way similar to but more prominent than commas or parentheses: The influence of three impressionists—Monet (1840–1926), Sisley (1839–99), and Degas (1834–1917)—is obvious in her work.
Parentheses (( )) are used:
- to set off explanatory or interrupting elements of a sentence, much like paired commas and dashes: The detailed description of this matter is given in the next chapter (see pages 44- 67).
- to show publication year /date in the in-text citation and in the References: (Smith, 2007).
Brackets ([ ]) are most often used:
- in quotations, to indicate changes made to a quoted passage: "When [women] work in groups, they perform even better."
(b) to enclose a second layer of information within parentheses:
Spacing
Use only one space after each punctuation mark such as period, question mark, comma, or colon. Periods (.), commas (,), question marks (?), exclamation marks (!), colons (:), semi-colons (;), apostrophes (') and speech marks (",").
Slashes (/) are most often used:
- to represent “per” when referring to a rate: mi/hr
- for column heads in tables and frameworks:
|
Description |
Value of Contracts |
Number of Contracts |
Procurement/Recruitment Method |
|
|
|
|
|
- for singular forms of currencies: Nepalese Rupee/s (NRe/NRs)
- to separate references to publishers in the citation of co-published books: Michigan/Cambridge
- with “and/or” and “HIV/AIDS.”
- to refer to identical categories: Multiple authors/editors/translators
- in web link: https://library.ship.edu/c.php?g=21703&p=127124
Quotation Marks (?) are most often used:
- to set off a direct (word-for-word) quotation: ''I hope you will be here,'' he said.
- to refer to expressions with technical terms: It's an oil-extraction method known as ''fracking''
