Bulleted lists: Capitalize the first letter after the bullet. 6. This is a tricky one for me because, personally, I agree with you. But here are a few things you might not realize are actually lowercase in AP style. J%HfTH@zGI8a. If you left caps lock on accidentally, you can quickly convert your title from uppercase to lowercase by selecting the lower button above. This will uncapitalize your text. Q: If we're speaking about regions of the state, should it be South Louisiana, North Louisiana and Central Louisiana? Find it. Numbered and unnumbered lists are more commonly used in scholarly publications. Navigating the not-so-hidden treasures of the APA Style website. The following example demonstrates this format as well as how to include a citation for the information in the bulleted list. Very helpful stuff! We recommend following the AP Stylebooks bullet punctuation, with additional clarifications that AP doesnt address. Whether using bullets or numbers, vertical lists can be tricky. Only use it to avoid ambiguity, if part of the series contains a conjunction or if you have a complex series of phrases. This creates anew layer of confusion on how to use capitalization and punctuation in such lists. The Chicago Manual of Style has pages of rules and examples of bullet lists that agree with the Garner style recommendation to use semicolons after each item, use and after the next-to-last-item, and use a period at the end of the last item. These include short words and conjunctions: The other major type of title capitalization standard is sentence case. Others, like the Chicago Manual of Style, suggest lowercasing it. A: Use "that" for a thing, "who" for the personal pronoun, although "that" also fits some human references. Some guiding principles behind AP style are: Consistency Clarity Accuracy Brevity AP style also aims to avoid stereotypes and unintentionally offensive language. A: In a simple series, AP doesn't use a comma before the last item. A: AP uses dashes, not bullets, for lists in news stories that follow a colon. 1:28 PM - 14 Jul 2021 37 Retweets 189 Likes The department prefers bullets, but punctuate them per AP style: After each bullet, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each item. Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of AP style used in answers. 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. Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook, 9th Edition Capitalization Rules, Best Book Writing Software and Book Writing Apps, Cursive Text Generator , Buscador de palabras y descifrador de palabras, Select your title capitalization style above by clicking on a tab. Use numbered lists when youre working with instructions to be done in sequence, and the numbers suggest ahierarchy. Q: Do music groups take singular verbs, as do collective nouns, or plural verbs, as with sports teams? Poor sleep quality has been linked with the following symptoms: The second option is to insert punctuation after the bulleted items as though the bullets were not there, which may be better when the items are longer or more complex. The phrase "she has decided" warns the reader that the next . The capitalization rules are as follows: NY Times style capitalization is mainly used by writers for the NY Times but is also used widely throughout journalism. Of course, youll want to keep using capitals for all the basics: the beginning of every sentence, proper nouns like names and specific locations, days of the week and months. Considering those rules, these hyphenated words would all be correctly capitalized in titles: In the list above, up, in, on, off, and out are adverbs-not prepositions. No italics. If that sounds like a lot to remember, think of it this way instead: as a general rule of thumb, any word that's three letters or less should not be capitalized. In AP style, headlines capitalize the first word, proper names, or proper abbreviations, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA style) recommends only using complete sentences for vertical numbered list items, not incomplete sentences as shown above.6, Unordered lists are united by commonality rather than rank or sequence. Published: November 13, 2012 Updated: August 22, 2020. Use proper punctuation for bulleted sections. A: A partial spelling with hyphens in place of some letters would convey the meaning. But if you're following AP style, chances are you're overusing those big letters. Local Phone: (623) 399-6676 | Entries (RSS). Use a rubber glove to twist the lid off. in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of New Hampshire. Thanks for the catch! Next, identify a newsworthy angle and set up your press release's header section. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions (regardless of length). Not using a colon isnt wrong, but omit it only with certainty that you comply with the style guide of your choice. You can quickly convert your text or title to all caps by selecting the UPPER button on the tool. So nice to hear the positive feedback! 5 Free French-to-English Translation Services. These are perfectly acceptable, and some style guides suggest writing lists like this. Capitalize the important words in the title, Subordinating conjunctions (when fewer than 5 letters), Coordinating Conjunctions (and, but, for), Capitalize nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs (including. Some style manuals, such as the AP Stylebook and APA Publication Manual, recommend capitalizing an independent clause after a colon. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites owner is strictly prohibited. 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? Symbols such as small circles, squares, dashes, and so forth may be used for the bullets. Do it anyway. Capitalize the second word in a hyphenated compound if both words are equal and not suffices or prefixes (e.g., Cost-Benefit), Capitalize the first non-Greek letter after a lowercase Greek letter (e.g., -Bromohexanoic), Lowercase the first non-Greek letter after a capital Greek letter (e.g., -9-tetrahydrocannabinol), Capitalize the genus but not the species epithet. This is a grammar guide that accompanies our post on how to write better bullet points. endstream endobj startxref hb```"3VTa`0p4 )x3JH2HgQW(Iz8Nul i@fP!40XE&,0e0v`do`6c $X1)`U&y[#b s .6[ Writing, phrasing, usage (word choice; clarity; subjunctive mood; ethnic-racial; profanity; slang ). A: AP uses the numeral for acres, even when less than 10, as a dimension: 5 acres. The tricky thing is punctuation. Inconsistent punctuation; Sometimes the grammar isn't parallel between items. Sixth and Seventh streets). Try it with these examples and see if the period makes more sense. Then craft an attention-grabbing headline, write the body of your press release, add the boilerplate section, and distribute your press . The two major capitalization styles for headlines and titles are sentence case and title case. 2003-2022 Judy Vorfeld's Office Support Services. is lowercase. Bullets Associated Press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. If the elements are complex, uses commas for all. Example: You will not be accepted if you have been diagnosedwith: RECOMMENDATION: If youre creating along document full of bulleted items, you may choose to be consistent and end each item with aperiod. Beyond that, all three capitalize the first and last word of a title. Once again, complete sentences introducing unordered lists are traditionally punctuated with a colon. This will automatically indent the list as well. Q: Would "crew chief" and "team owner" be capitalized before a name? Again, style guides dont agree.]. A: Always use figures for people, animals and objects: 3-year-old house. Don't use a bulleted list for only one item. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions of four letters or fewer. Should the first letter of the bullet list be capitalized? When a vertical list follows a full sentence, introduce it with a colon. $;$ExRp" e8CQiQYgKdIw lP"1C[;d,|xk0:[#.kvZ|{wY14\.wCzb`*,a`FK{GQfl!hie "h9e tI*2$"/'O6\a>Zb=01fD?`ZTX7w$\a +!F7X o7N| *&Rp oTF G6eKeJ22N Mb[$er6_oZkh:.jFeX^Lu}]/E.tesv!8;>pi0B@09]l}llx| V:2`zXoyQ% 'w Online and technology (the web; the internet; URL; computers; e-commerce ). Q: Is clarity essentially the only rule determining when a serial comma should be included? 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. Its hard for some people to wrap their heads around this rule, especially if each item on the list is not a full sentence. AP and Chicago Manual of Style - capitalize initial word and use periods after sentence list items. We updated guidance on how to write about U.S. and international currency. A: member is lowercase, as are congressmen and congresswoman. Proven techniques for attention grabbing headlines & titles. Again, these will depend on the specific style you choose (see Title Capitalization Rules by Style section). 28 0 obj <> endobj Important Note: If you follow The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style), see the Style Guide Alert at the bottom of this post for clarification on AP styles recommendations for unordered lists, which differ from the general guidelines explained below. If you have a list of full sentences or a list with a mix of full sentences and fragments we suggest capitalizing the first letter in each item. AP Stylebook: Use periods after bullets. - Capitalize the first word following the dash or bullet. Q: A months confinement or a month's confinement? How to punctuate bullet lists can be tricky because various style guides contradict each other. Possessive versus descriptive Q: A months confinement or a month's confinement? 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. (CMS) and the Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) are what writers typically use. Cite it. Below is a description of the ways you can use our case converter. Its all about readability. Another easy decision. Are we nitpicking punctuation with these considerations of bullet lists? Erin Wright, 20122023. Chicago Style is one of the most used and respected headline capitalization methods used in journalism. She excels at designing customized business writing training programs to maximize productivity, advance business objectives, and convey complex information. "The cat's toy" means one cat owns that toy. Learn more about how to write better bullet lists. But if youre following AP style, chances are youre overusing those big letters. Read this and other articles on English grammar, mechanics, and usage at Get It Write. By far, this is the most vexing punctuation issue! STATES: Abbreviate state names when listed after a city. The same applies when someone may refer to specific items by number. 'I hope this email finds you well:' Emailing During the Pandemic, Business Grammar: Pronoun Antecedent Errors, Use a period or other full stop after every bullet that is a sentence. You're not "piling on." Sorry to pile on here, but your discussion of verb endings is inadequate. 11.5.13 Updates made to University statistics, the list of research centers and section on Web addresses. 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."). Now check your email to confirm your subscription for My Blog Editor blog alerts. Zip Airline offers However, you can omit the colon when a list follows a partial sentence. The stylebook uses italics for examples only. The capitalization rules are as follows: Capitalize the first and the last word. Q: How does AP treat programming language when used in general text? 7. Hello! finish the project by Friday, January 23; place everything youve turned in to date, plus this assignment, on afloppy disk;and. A: Use Arabic figures to indicate decades of history: the 1920s, the '80s Figures, numerals, dimensions (7-year-old boy; three years ago; 1 percent; third grade; size 9; 6-by-8-foot rug; 5 ounces; 68,000-square-foot facility). Q: What is AP's style on the military's don't ask, don't tell policy? Use lowercase at all . Take the sentence "She has decided: She won't have surgery to hide the scar.". 48 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<8DCDC806A06A984EB23F9AC6F5FBCE2C><8DCDC806A06A984EB23F9AC6F5FBCE2C>]/Index[28 32]/Info 27 0 R/Length 99/Prev 782230/Root 29 0 R/Size 60/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream You can also use a colon after a partial sentence. Well, that was really helpful; thanks for the effort. Good business writing seeks to make information easy to understand. Automatically copy the capitalized title with CTRL + C ( + C on Mac) or after pasting. in English Literature from Boston College, and a C.A.G.S. Your email address will not be published. Do you need a colon to introduce a list? The following rules apply to MLA headings: AP style capitalization is mainly used by writers for the Associated Press but is also used widely throughout journalism. In general, the following capitalization rules apply across the four styles in title case: Important words in that last bullet generally refer to: Title case is the most common title capitalization for book titles, headlines, articles titles, etc. . Subscribe to the My Blog Editor blog for the latest TIPS on improving the QUALITY of your business content. If checked, quotes will be output as straight quotes. Important Note: The MLA Handbook from the Modern Language Association (MLA style) follows Chicago-style recommendations for ordered and unordered vertical lists. A: AP lowercases civil rights movement. Although a little old-fashioned, some people like to use semicolons or commas in lists. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. hbbd```b``"A$dH\8'$XM7"$c[D& j@H2w 2+: Over 1.5 million copies sold! Take a digital photo of a family member. Most often, the text that introduces such lists ends with a colon, as in "The value of . Young adults have many motivations for texting on their smartphones: Further information about bulleted lists is available in the Publication Manual, including how to format lists of definitions in a glossary. 4.24.14 AP style rules on state abbreviations updated. Your subscription includes the . Required fields are marked *. For a series of complex terms, though, use commas after each for clarity. In general, capitalize formal titles used directly before a name. Q: In a news story, can you start a sentence with an acronym? 5 simple story types to fill out your editorial calendar, A quick refresher on using minor punctuation marks in AP style, 8 tips on writing and editing from Jerry Seinfeld. 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 When do Iuse periods and when do Ileave bulleted items without end punctuation? Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Erin Wright with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. %PDF-1.4 % Birth certificate . Q: For a subject/verb agreement, how should I treat "one or more features? Next post: Make blog post content rich with layers, Previous post: Blog Post Format: Chunk It. A: A few examples: Radar, Laser, NATO, OPEC. See "diseases" entry for further guidance. 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. This post deserves a standing ovation. (Just like this bullet list youre reading now.). Thanks for the comment, Anna. Ive updated. You should always use a colon before a bulleted or numbered list. A: AP uses hyphenated e- for generic terms such as e-commerce and e-strategies. Include the dateline - BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Jan. 1, 2022; . Q: My AP Stylebook always lists examples in italics, so it's difficult to see if italics are part of the style. And consistency goes a long way in creating clear, credible content. A: In this instance, use a plural verb. Initial capitalization is preferred for list items that are complete sentences ( Example B) or stand-alone phrases (Examples C and D ). 22 December, 2021. Capitalization looks fancy and makes things seem important. You can learn more in the Title Capitalization Rules by Style section. For lists of fragments, short phrases, or words, capitalization is optional: My favorite fruits include: oranges apples bananas dragon fruit My favorite fruits include: Oranges Apples Bananas Dragon fruit As with the other optional punctuation above, though, make sure to use a consistent capitalization style throughout your writing. Judy Vorfeld Oppress means to persecute/tyrannize/bully.