ap style bulleted lists capitalization
The same applies when someone may refer to specific items by number. 205-921-5556. She excels at designing customized business writing training programs to maximize productivity, advance business objectives, and convey complex information. Please list your allergies and give date of last flare-up. Certainly, your business writings substance and information are far more critical than exacting punctuation that technically is neither correct nor incorrect since style guides vary. The top tabs allow you to select which style of capitalization you want to use. How to Write Vertical Lists (Ordered and Unordered), How to Export PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC & Mac), How to Insert Images into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac), How to Align the Periods in Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac), How to Password Protect Files in Microsoft Word, How to Password Protect PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (PC & Mac). Preferred style is without terminal punctuation, unless the list item is a complete sentence. All major words in titles (including small words, such as "Is" and "It"); for example, "Business and Economics". 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. In this review, we'll further consider how the semicolon operates in forming lists that involve items in a series. Bulleted lists may be comprised of complete sentences or phrases. Enter the email you used in your Ragan store purchase. Memorize the AP abbreviations. Online and technology (the web; the internet; URL; computers; e-commerce ). APA allows the use of bulleted lists with or without punctuation. It is the same across all of the four styles. Title case is also commonly used for book titles, movies titles, song names, plays, and other works. Read this and other articles on English grammar, mechanics, and usage at Get It Write. No italics. See APA 7, Section 6.52 for examples and more information. Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: AP style, APA style, Chicago style, formatting, grammar, MLA style, punctuation. Follow @APStylebook AP uses dashes to introduce individual sections of a list, like this: - Put a space between the dash or bullet and the first word of each item in the list. 10. Bulleted lists allow a writer to create a list that stands out from the text without the implied chronology or order of importance that a numbered list might convey. 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 According to APA Style, the first word after the colon is capitalized only if it begins a complete sentence. . Capitalization Begin each item in a list with a capital letter unless there's a reason not to (for example, it's a command that's always lowercase). Asthma or some allergies. That's . A: AP lowercases wine varietals such as cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, and caps regional names such as Bordeaux, Sauternes and Chablis. The default rule is to lowercase words unless theres a reason they should be uppercase. News media (datelines; headlines; newswriting ). The individual list items following the complete sentence are usually lowercased if they arent complete sentences themselves. And consistency goes a long way in creating clear, credible content. That order can be based on rank (e.g., a list of most favorite to least favorite foods) or sequence (e.g., recipe instructions). How about AP? The first option is to use no punctuation after the bulleted items (including the final one), which may be better when the items are shorter and simpler. The rule of thumb in AP style is that things should be lowercased unless a rule indicates that they're upper. in English from the University of Rhode Island, an M.A. Now check your email to confirm your subscription for My Blog Editor blog alerts. To illustrate the example, youd sayI voted on election day because I want my candidate to win. I voted on election day because I like to exercise my right to vote. I voted on election day because I believe every vote counts.. Use sentence case capitalization Use sentence case capitalization for most content, including page titles, headings, subheadings, buttons, and text links, unless a word is a proper noun. One exception: email (no hyphen, which reflects majority of usage). always refer to the style guide and doublecheck capitalization recommendations. Bachelor of Arts is capitalized as an academic degree, as are B.A. Bulleted lists can be used with complete sentences, phrases, or a combination. 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.. When writing an argumentative essay, you would typically research a topic and adopt a certain How to Punctuate and Capitalize Bullet Points. In a simple series, AP doesn't use a comma before the last item. 7. Regards, Julia! It also connects closely related thoughts. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! For example, here is a summary of the instructions to write a standard 5 paragraph essay. They are also written without terminal punctuation (i.e., they dont end in a period, comma, colon, or semicolon).9. Ive updated. Numbered Lists and Bullet Lists: Why and How? This is the fourth in a six-part series. Bullet points. If unchecked, quotes will be output as curly quotes. A: AP uses hyphenated e- for generic terms such as e-commerce and e-strategies. Should the first letter of the bullet list be capitalized? If nothing else, your writing will be consistent. The Gregg Reference Manual uses periods only after bullets that are dependent clauses and long phrases. Bullets Associated Press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. Theyre easy to read. A The capitalization and punctuation for each bulleted item are determined by the sentence structure. I like bananas. Some style manuals, such as the AP Stylebook and APA Publication Manual, recommend capitalizing an independent clause after a colon. The two major capitalization styles for headlines and titles are sentence case and title case. You are reading a blog that focuses on business writing. Q. In Not quite. For a series of complex terms, though, use commas after each for clarity. Because AP recommends the colon and AP is the preferred business writing style guide, I recommend using it consistently in your business writing. AP's style is now to capitalize Black in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying an essential . If checked, quotes will be output as straight quotes. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube. A: Always use figures for people, animals and objects: 3-year-old house. When multiple letters in a title need to be capitalized, use title case capitalization. Take the sentence "She has decided: She won't have surgery to hide the scar.". 11.5.13 Updates made to University statistics, the list of research centers and section on Web addresses. After each dash, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each section. Below you'll find information on numbers, time and dates, locations, phone numbers, punctuation, capitalization and titles, and the Internet. The huge difference is that AP colon rules allow you to use a colon after a sentence fragment. A list of information can be neatly organised using bullet points. Continue from there down the list. social connection, in which people text as a way to connect with others; escapism, in which people text to get away from dull or uncomfortable situations such as waiting in line; distraction, in which people text to distract themselves while having a conversation with someone or being in a meeting; audacity, in which people text to get a response from someone, such as to break up with them or ask them on a date; nurturing, in which people text to foster relationships by saying things like good morning or I love you; and. 8 Tips to Make Your Writing Sound More Formal, Capitalization in APA, Chicago, MLA, and AP. To draw visual attention to items in a list without implying that items go in a certain order (e.g., chronology, importance, priority), use a bulleted list. 9. Not using a colon isnt wrong, but omit it only with certainty that you comply with the style guide of your choice. 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. 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. Capitalization, Case Internet The word internet is all lowercase (unless, of course, it starts a sentence or comes after a bullet) . You're not "piling on." In our latest quarterly roundup of AP Style reminders, we cover back-to-school terms, travel terminology, and more. Q: How do I deal with a vulgarity from a movie that is integral to the article I'm writing? When do Icapitalize the first letter in abulleteditem? Clarity and consistency are the building blocks of great content. If bulleted items are complete sentences, begin each item with a capital letter and finish it with a period or other appropriate punctuation. A: 2-5 p.m. is preferred. 8. 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! A: The phrase suggests a contingency unlikely to come true, so use "were" for the subjunctive mood. - Put a space between the dash or bullet and the first word of each item in the list. 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. 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. Our amended style is website (one word, lowercase w), along with other compounds: webcam, webcast, webmaster. 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. Q: Is clarity essentially the only rule determining when a serial comma should be included? Note however that it is not wrong to capitalize a sentence or clause after a colon. While the APs guidelines on this issue are straightforward and easy to remember, they are designed for news publications dealing with limited space and the technical limitations of news wire transmissions. Judy Vorfeld Oppress means to persecute/tyrannize/bully. The capitalization rules are as follows: AMA style capitalization is mainly used in the scientific community. If you want to, you can press Enter on your keyboard or click the Copy button next to the text box to copy the text to your clipboard. Common Style Guidelines Capitalize the first word in a bullet point and the introduction to the list, but not the rest. Subscribe to AP Stylebook Online: AP Stylebook Online is a searchable, customizable guide for writers and editors that is updated throughout the year. The stylebook uses italics for examples only. 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. Example 1: 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. While its not wrong and some style guides recommend this, its not the best business writing choice. Use all sentences or all. Does this help? Your email address will not be published. The tricky thing is punctuation. The rule of thumb in AP style is that things should be lowercased unless a rule indicates that theyre upper. For more specific title capitalization rules, you can see the following sections which cover each style of title capitalization rules or check out our FAQs for common capitalization questions. Are we nitpicking punctuation with these considerations of bullet lists? Careful punctuation also reflects thought and care. AP Stylebook recommends: "Capitalize the first word following the dash or bullet. AP editor Paula Froke fields questions of widest interest posed by subscribers to the online AP Stylebook. Whether a numbered list is being used when a bullet list would be more appropriate, or vice versa, Quickly convert your title or text to title case by simply clicking the Title Case button in the tool above. Colon Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or Use a rubber glove to twist the lid off. 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). %%EOF Whether using bullets or numbers, vertical lists can be tricky. Bulleted lists: Capitalize the first letter after the bullet. But if you are using a style guide, you may want to check it for guidance on which style to use. A: corporate (adj.) The capitalization rules are as follows: Learn how to spot the 5 most common mistakes and fix them before you publish. Quickly convert your title or text to sentence case by simply clicking the Sentence case button in the tool above. To help, weve prepared a guide to punctuating and capitalizing bullet points. If your bulleted list is part of the sentence and is not preceded by a colon, treat the bullets like a part of the sentence, adhering to standard capitalization and punctuation. in English Literature from Boston College, and a C.A.G.S. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions (regardless of length). Below is a description of the ways you can use our case converter. Each of these capitalization styles has slightly different rules for which words are capitalized and each of these styles can be written using title case capitalization or sentence case capitalization. Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of AP style used in answers. Ordered vertical lists have, you guessed it, an order. How will ChatGPT affect the communications profession? Q: Is the age of an inanimate object expressed in numerals or spelled out? How to punctuate bullet lists can be tricky because various style guides contradict each other. Here is an example of bullet lists that need a period to complete the introductory stem sentence: Here is an example of bullets lists that do not need a period because they are fragments not connected to the introductory stem sentence: These are reasons I love traveling to Ireland: Here is an example of bullet lists that do not need a period because theyre one word or a short phrase that feels like an inventory or shopping list: This issue is straightforward. There was an error submitting your subscription. To keep bullets simple and consistent, I take a dual approach to styling them, based on whether the items in the list are complete sentences or partial sentences. 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. A colon should be used to introduce the list, and the first letter of each point should be capitalised. Q: There seem to be differing opinions on whether or not to capitalize the names of grapes used to make wine. 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. Q: Veteran's Benefits, Veterans Benefits or Veterans' Benefits? Try it with a list of shorter items like this. This is a grammar guide that accompanies our post on how to write better bullet points. Following are some questions and answers to use as guidelines: When is it better to use bullets than numbers? Finally, should you capitalize the first letter of each entry in a vertical list? So long as your capitalization rules remain consistent in your organizations communications, youre golden. And, as a guideline, wed suggest punctuating bullet points as follows: However, this again comes down to preference and your chosen style guide. Geography, addresses (state names, regions: Mideast; Northwest; northeast Minnesota; 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.; Fifth Avenue ). A: Veterans benefits, lowercase and not a possessive, is usually a descriptive term. 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. 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. Use numbered lists when youre working with instructions to be done in sequence, and the numbers suggest ahierarchy. 7.2.15 New section added on when to capitalize names of degree programs. Use lowercase at all . The phrase "she has decided" warns the reader that the next . No periods on the end of a list of bullets unless its more than one sentence. Any symbol may be used for the bullets, although small circles or squares are typical software defaults. Numbered lists (as noted on p. 64 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) can be used to denote items in a series, such as conclusions or procedural steps. Q: Why is atheist not capitalized while Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists, etc., are? Its hard for some people to wrap their heads around this rule, especially if each item on the list is not a full sentence. Q: Do music groups take singular verbs, as do collective nouns, or plural verbs, as with sports teams?