document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. While its not wrong and some style guides recommend this, its not the best business writing choice. Unsubscribe at any time. Watch your title convert case and be automatically capitalized! Numbered and unnumbered lists are more commonly used in scholarly publications. In a simple series, AP doesn't use a comma before the last item. ap style bulleted lists capitalization veterinary ophthalmologist santa barbara June 22, 2022 flood banks advantages and disadvantages montana national guard jobs ap style bulleted lists capitalization veterinary ophthalmologist santa barbara June 22, 2022 flood banks advantages and disadvantages montana national guard jobs ap style bulleted lists Q: If using "member of Congress" instead of congressman/congresswoman, should "member" be capitalized? Example: The software in this price range offers many excellent features: RULE: When one item contains acomplete sentence, punctuate all bulleted items as though they were complete sentences: capitalize the beginning words and use aperiod at the end of each item. This is usually done when each list entry finishes an introductory phrase, as shown below: Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox. Q: Is the proper phrase "If money were no object" or "If money was no object"? Are we nitpicking punctuation with these considerations of bullet lists? The capitalization chapter has new guidance on how to write about census divisions and geological formations. Colon Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun orFile Size: KB. Punctuating every introduction with a colon and every list item with a period regardless of other structural issues (such as complete versus incomplete introductory sentences and list-item formatting) could potentially decrease flow and readability. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. I have a tendency to be very verbose when I write. Thanks for the tips. AP has a few punctuation rules that differ from many common style guides: Do not use a comma before the last item in a simple series ("My favorite candy includes Snickers, Twix and Zagnut bars."). The following examples demonstrate both options as well as how to integrate in-text citations into bulleted lists. A: AP lowercases civil rights movement. Subscribe to the My Blog Editor blog for the latest TIPS on improving the QUALITY of your business content. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions (regardless of length). A: Eight states are never abbreviated in datelines or text: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah. This will convert your text to uppercase. If checked, quotes will be output as straight quotes. Title case is the most common form of title and headline capitalization and is found in all four major title capitalization styles. Sentence case simply means you capitalize the first letter of a sentence, proper nouns, and nothing else as opposed to capitalizing almost every first letter in title case. A: Lowercase for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, hepatitis C, etc. Use periods, not semicolons, at the end of each section or a phrase." This is clear, but AP doesn't fully address when to omit a period at the end of each bullet. Bonus: We have some great shortcuts to make your life easier. A: a month's confinement, per the QUASI POSSESSIVES section of the "possessives" entry. is lowercase. See the "legislative titles" entry for rulings. However, in lists of bullet points, the beginning of a point is also indicated by space and the item marker (whether a bullet, a number, or a letter). A: AP stories use PHP, Ajax, XML, FTP search engine optimization click-through rate pay-per-click. Were so programmed to capitalize only proper nouns and the first word of acomplete sentence that it almost seems wrong to capitalize single words and phrases. Topics: Writer's Passport, Writing & Editing. In this tutorial, well explore guidelines for how to write vertical lists. Follow the same capitalization rules you would follow for normal sentences. Ordered lists that are part of an incomplete introductory sentence are lowercased and punctuated as if each item was inside the sentence.5, The animal shelters most generous donors were, 2. local businesses, including the hardware store, grocery store, and coffee shop; and. Bulleted lists may be comprised of complete sentences or phrases. In business writing, capitalize the first letter and keep bullet list punctuation clean. Zip Airline offers The art instructor assigned three projects for the spring semester: 2. Your subscription includes the . A: AP style is email (changed from e-mail), but other e- words are hyphenated: e-commerce and e-book. That order can be based on rank (e.g., a list of most favorite to least favorite foods) or sequence (e.g., recipe instructions). Dont use a period after bullet lists that are not complete sentences or do not complete the opening stem sentence. This isn't an exhaustive list, but it will get you started. But if you're following AP style, chances are you're overusing those big letters. Use a period after every bullet point that completes the introductory stem. According to APA Style, the first word after the colon is capitalized only if it begins a complete sentence. Example: In this project, the equipment shall consistof: RULE: Use periods after short phrases that are essential to the grammatical completeness of the statement introducing the list. In APA 7, you have two options for punctuating bulleted phrases: to include no punctuation after each list item and after the last list item or to include commas or semicolons, as appropriate, after each list item and final punctuation at the end of the list. If a sentence contains more than three items or ideas, we recommend breaking them up into a bulleted list. Capitalize the first word in each bullet. Common Style Guidelines But here are a few things you might not realize are actually lowercase in AP style. Symbols such as small circles, squares, dashes, and so forth may be used for the bullets. In sentence case, only the first word and all proper nouns are capitalized, as shown in the following example: One more day of extreme heat for East Coast And if youd like any more help with the punctuation and capitalization of lists in a document, dont forget we have proofreaders available 24/7! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! The Fantastic Shakers have won many awards. Finally, should you capitalize the first letter of each entry in a vertical list? Lowercase the second word after a hyphenated prefix (e.g., Mid-, Anti-, Super-, etc.) Input your member identification number. It is the same across all of the four styles. A list of information can be neatly organised using bullet points. My name is Erin. When writing a list, ensure all items are syntactically and conceptually parallel. The idea is that the list reads like a single sentence, with semicolons separating each point, a conjunction just before the final entry, and a period at the end. The Best 2023 AP Style Cheat Sheet Every Writer Needs (Free Download) Ben Sailer Content. Capitalization, Case Internet The word internet is all lowercase (unless, of course, it starts a sentence or comes after a bullet) . I like oranges. A: In AP headline style, only the first word and proper nouns are capped. If the elements are complex, uses commas for all. 7. It also connects closely related thoughts. Bullet points. Examples: House Cleaning Tips: Remove items from shelves before dusting. You can also use this tool to do it automatically. So many choices to make! Now we have bullets. The following example demonstrates this format as well as how to include a citation for the information in the bulleted list. Q: Do music groups take singular verbs, as do collective nouns, or plural verbs, as with sports teams? The capitalization rules are as follows: AMA style capitalization is mainly used in the scientific community. 6. Lower is default; upper is special. (Just like this bullet list youre reading now.). Q: Is it staff has or staff have? In AP style, headlines capitalize the first word, proper names, or proper abbreviations, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. These include short words and conjunctions: The other major type of title capitalization standard is sentence case. The rules are fairly standard for title case: Making sure you have the right capitalization for APA headings is crucial for scholarly articles. Q: Should diseases also known by acronyms such as PTSD be capitalized? After each dash, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each section. Unfortunately, many brands forego style guides and choose to wing . The capitalization rules are as follows: Learn how to spot the 5 most common mistakes and fix them before you publish. For example, here is a summary of the instructions to write a standard 5 paragraph essay. the proper name, do not capitalize. A: AP uses hyphenated e- for generic terms such as e-commerce and e-strategies. The individual list items following the complete sentence are usually lowercased if they arent complete sentences themselves. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4470ef17940e51381fb55e5e7bde6b6" );document.getElementById("j6a5d70196").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Sign up to receive the latest articles from Ragan.com directly in your inbox. DO NOT capitalize plural words even when part of a proper name (e.g. The top tabs allow you to select which style of capitalization you want to use. 205-921-5556. A: In this instance, use a plural verb. In business writing, capitalize the first letter of bullet lists. Bullets Associated Press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. This is a grammar guide that accompanies our post on how to write better bullet points. The Associated Press Stylebook says when writing lists "use periods, not semicolons, at the end of each section, whether it is a full sentence or a phrase.". Home Style and Grammar Guidelines Lists Lists Just as heading structure alerts readers to the order of ideas in a paper, lists help readers understand a related set of key points within a sentence or paragraph. Q: How do I deal with a vulgarity from a movie that is integral to the article I'm writing? Capitalization is a style choicewith sentence fragments, you can choose to start each with either upper- or lower-case letters. Although a little old-fashioned, some people like to use semicolons or commas in lists. A colon should be used to introduce the list, and the first letter of each point should be capitalised. Thank you, Sarah! Dont use a period at the end of a bullet if the bullet lists are one word or a short phrase that feels like an inventory or shopping list. Learn how your comment data is processed. 6. (After reading this) .. Example: There are anumber of tags used in HTML, including: RULE: Its not necessary to use periods after short phrases or single words in alist, if the introductory statement is grammatically complete (see below) or if the listed items are like those on an inventory sheet or ashopping list. Lowercase the second word in a hyphenated compound when it is a prefix or suffix (e.g., Anti-itch,world-wide) or part of a single word. AP style capitalization is mainly used by writers for the Associated Press but is also used widely throughout journalism. Do you need a colon to introduce a list? driving, in which people text while in their vehicle (Schroeder & Sims, 2018). Q: How does AP treat programming language when used in general text? Lowercase to in the infinitive (though not defined in the stylebook). Possessive versus descriptive Q: A months confinement or a month's confinement? A: AP Stylebook entry on "collective nouns" says band names take plural verbs. STATES: Abbreviate state names when listed after a city. (AP Style reminds writers that it is still correct to use bullets if preferred.) 8 Tips to Make Your Writing Sound More Formal, Capitalization in APA, Chicago, MLA, and AP. We could also write this list with commas instead of semicolons. You should always use a colon before a bulleted or numbered list. label all file pages (and the disk itself) with your designatedcode. Capitalization looks fancy and makes things seem important. This option is helpful for complex or longer bulleted sentences that may be more difficult to read without the aid . Mary founded Instructional Solutions in 1998, and is an internationally recognized business writing trainer and executive writing coach with two decades of experience helping thousands of individuals and businesses master the strategic skill of business writing. How about AP? 4.24.14 AP style rules on state abbreviations updated. Bulleted Lists: Capitalization and Punctuation By Judy Vorfeld Did you know that before the introduction of word processing (via word processors and computers), most publications displayed lists in either outline form or numbered lists. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Bulleted lists: Capitalize the first letter after the bullet. There are two options for the punctuation of bulleted lists when the items are words or phrases. Individual list items following a complete sentence are usually capitalized but appear without terminal punctuation (i.e., they dont end in a period, comma, colon, or semicolon) if they are incomplete sentences, phrases, or single words.3. And if so, when? Garner calls this "vertical lists punctuated as a sentence." Don't use a bulleted list for only one item. Below you'll find information on numbers, time and dates, locations, phone numbers, punctuation, capitalization and titles, and the Internet. For lists of fragments, short phrases, or words, capitalization is optional: As with the other optional punctuation above, though, make sure to use a consistent capitalization style throughout your writing. 22 December, 2021. You can learn more in the Title Capitalization Rules by Style section. Below are examples of vertical listswhich may be unnumbered, numbered, or bulletedand how to introduce, punctuate, and capitalize them. AP's style is now to capitalize Black in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying an essential . Punctuation Initial capitalization is preferred for list items that are complete sentences ( Example B) or stand-alone phrases (Examples C and D ). Youre singing my tune! We have three punctuation issues to consider: Should the ending punctuation at the end of each bullet list be a period, a semicolon, or no punctuation? To make peace with periods in a list, think of the entire list (including the lead-in word or phrase) as several sentences (all of which need a period at the end). Lowercase indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions. 8. Judy Vorfeld Oppress means to persecute/tyrannize/bully. Use a rubber glove to twist the lid off. Online and technology (the web; the internet; URL; computers; e-commerce ).