ap style bulleted lists capitalization ap style bulleted lists capitalization

See APA 7, Section 6.52 for examples and more information. Garner's Modern American Usage inserts periods at the end of bullet lists only if the bullet list begins with a capital letter. 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. Do use a comma before the last item in a series when it contains items with and/or. Q: Is there a standard AP style for bulleted areas of text? If the elements are complex, uses commas for all. Yes. is lowercase. It is the same across all of the four styles. 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. Only use it to avoid ambiguity, if part of the series contains a conjunction or if you have a complex series of phrases. Capitalization is a style choicewith sentence fragments, you can choose to start each with either upper- or lower-case letters. I like bananas. 7.2.15 New section added on when to capitalize names of degree programs. Capitalization looks fancy and makes things seem important. The CMS is commonly used in the publishing sphere, and AP style is more press-oriented . But if youre following AP style, chances are youre overusing those big letters. All contents 2023 Associated Press All rights reserved. Capitalize nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs (including phrasal verbs such as "play with"), adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You can also upload a document to get an instant quote. For more AP style tips, watch Grammar Girls Beginning and Intermediate Guide to AP Style any time. Some style manuals, such as the AP Stylebook and APA Publication Manual, recommend capitalizing an independent clause after a colon. Then craft an attention-grabbing headline, write the body of your press release, add the boilerplate section, and distribute your press . Lists, Part 4: Numbered Lists. And consistency goes a long way in creating clear, credible content. 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). 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. In our latest quarterly roundup of AP Style reminders, we cover back-to-school terms, travel terminology, and more. Punctuation (commas; quotation marks; colon; semi-colon; ellipsis ). Finally, should you capitalize the first letter of each entry in a vertical list? Subscribe to the My Blog Editor blog for the latest TIPS on improving the QUALITY of your business content. See The MLA Style Center for more information. This is the fourth in a six-part series. Vertical lists can be ordered or unordered and can be introduced by complete or incomplete sentences, all of which affect how the individual list items are capitalized and punctuated. Use a numbered list if you want to display items in a numbered series. Beyond that, all three capitalize the first and last word of a title. A: Use "that" for a thing, "who" for the personal pronoun, although "that" also fits some human references. For company names, use their preference: eBay. 4.24.14 AP style rules on state abbreviations updated. A: Veterans benefits, lowercase and not a possessive, is usually a descriptive term. Following are some questions and answers to use as guidelines: When is it better to use bullets than numbers? The first step in the process of how to write an AP style press release is to familiarize yourself with the guidelines. Capitalize the first and the last word of titles and subtitles. A: We follow Webster's on that term, which is lowercase. I love traveling to Ireland because of its: [AP, Garner, and Gregg use the colon here. - Use periods, not semicolons, at the end of each section. Start each list item with a capital letter, unless case is an important part of the information conveyed by the listsuch as in a list of glossary terms. Chicago Style is one of the most used and respected headline capitalization methods used in journalism. This means you must CHECK to find out the proper name!) In bulleted and numbered lists, do not use a period or other punctuation after titles or phrases that are not complete sentences (also good for accessibility). I like apples. These aren't always the same abbreviations the mail carrier uses. Q: How do I deal with a vulgarity from a movie that is integral to the article I'm writing? Clean windows with a newspaper and . Style Bullets Capitalize the first letter after a bullet. How to punctuate bullet lists can be tricky because various style guides contradict each other. Next, read the lead-in word or phrase again followed by the second item on the list. Title case is the most common form of title and headline capitalization and is found in all four major title capitalization styles. Others, like the Chicago Manual of Style, suggest lowercasing it. "The cat's toy" means one cat owns that toy. Writing, phrasing, usage (word choice; clarity; subjunctive mood; ethnic-racial; profanity; slang ). Garner calls this "vertical lists punctuated as a sentence." If you feel punctuation does not matter, consider the impact of punctuation in these bullet lists: 2023 Instructional SolutionsRefund Policy | Terms | Privacy Policy. . The stylebook uses italics for examples only. - Put a space between the dash or bullet and the first word of each item in the list. By far, this is the most vexing punctuation issue! Infants often display prosocial behaviorthat is, behavior intended to help otherswhen interacting with their parents, as demonstrated in the following examples (Hammond & Drummond, 2019): If bulleted items are words or phrases (but not complete sentences), begin each item with a lowercase letter (except words such as proper nouns). 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. While the above words are generally capitalized in titles regardless of style, there are some words that are generally not capitalized when using title case. 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. Colon Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or Zip Airline offers A list of information can be neatly organised using bullet points. Now we have bullets. Numbered and unnumbered lists are more commonly used in scholarly publications. 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. Theyre easy to read. The buttons at the bottom let you choose specific case conversion options for the various styles. 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. Its visually cluttered, impeding easy scan. 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. Sorry to pile on here, but your discussion of verb endings is inadequate. Capitalize major words, e.g. Examples: House Cleaning Tips: Remove items from shelves before dusting. 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. Lowercase the second word after a hyphenated prefix (e.g., Mid-, Anti-, Super-, etc.) A: A few examples: Radar, Laser, NATO, OPEC. Write it. In most cases, experts recommend that you start each bulleted item with acapital letter. If all else fails, when it comes to accepting AP style: Just do it. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube. Bulleted Lists: APA uses bulleted lists to avoid the perception of importance/priority connotated in numbered lists. 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. Q: If we're speaking about regions of the state, should it be South Louisiana, North Louisiana and Central Louisiana? Content style guide Capitalization As part of our plain language style, we use sentence capitalization as the standard on VA.gov, with a few exceptions. Semicolon Use in Lists A properly inserted semicolon helps to provide pause and clarifying separation in sentences. Below you'll find information on numbers, time and dates, locations, phone numbers, punctuation, capitalization and titles, and the Internet. But if you're following AP style, chances are you're overusing those big letters. Ordered lists can be introduced by a complete or incomplete sentence and are typically prefaced by numbers1 or letters2 followed by a period. Two new and potentially controversial suggestions when writing bulleted lists are to use dashes instead of bullets and to always use periods (rather than semicolons) at the end of each section, even if it is a phrase and not a sentence. Although a little old-fashioned, some people like to use semicolons or commas in lists. So nice to hear the positive feedback! Capitalize every word in the headline; the main subhead is a complete sentence with a period. 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. AP editor Paula Froke fields questions of widest interest posed by subscribers to the online AP Stylebook. 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. When writing a list, ensure all items are syntactically and conceptually parallel. Regards, Julia! Initial capitalization is preferred for list items that are complete sentences ( Example B) or stand-alone phrases (Examples C and D ). Thanks for the catch! The Gregg Reference Manual(Sabin). Punctuation Unsubscribe at any time. Q: Should the names of decades be capitalized when written out? 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. All rights reserved. Navigating the not-so-hidden treasures of the APA Style website. TITLES Careful punctuation also reflects thought and care. ?X~soOr{/'gqjfZIuVCZQ!SdbnU)pHuL`>b"wlh)}4!ybjK This post links directly to APA Style topics of interest that users may not even know exist on the website. Awesome sauce! 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. Q: For a subject/verb agreement, how should I treat "one or more features? I like oranges. When writing an argumentative essay, you would typically research a topic and adopt a certain How to Punctuate and Capitalize Bullet Points. This will convert your text to uppercase. Youre singing my tune! Whether using bullets or numbers, vertical lists can be tricky. 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. Well, that was really helpful; thanks for the effort. hbbd```b``"A$dH\8'$XM7"$c[D& j@H2w 2+: The Best 2023 AP Style Cheat Sheet Every Writer Needs (Free Download) Ben Sailer Content. Bulleted lists. . Why wouldnt you want to add a list to your work? In Not quite. In the example above, the first two list items end with a semicolon because the second list item has internal commas. 28 0 obj <> endobj Bulleted lists: Capitalize the first letter after the bullet. Try it with a list of shorter items like this. These include short words and conjunctions: The other major type of title capitalization standard is sentence case. And if so, when? Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites owner is strictly prohibited. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions (regardless of length). 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. Asthma or some allergies. Judy Vorfeld Oppress means to persecute/tyrannize/bully. My name is Erin. 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 Do you need a colon to introduce a list? Very helpful stuff! This isn't an exhaustive list, but it will get you started. If checked, quotes will be output as straight quotes. Lower is default; upper is special. Q: Veteran's Benefits, Veterans Benefits or Veterans' Benefits? Thanks for the comment, Anna. If you want to change your title from uppercase to title case, you can select the Title Case button above. How about Civil Rights Movement? Hello! The capitalization rules are as follows: AMA style capitalization is mainly used in the scientific community. So many choices to make! Prepositions that contain five letters or more. Anation could be oppressed by its leaders, Judy Vorfeld Repellent and Repulsive both speak to driving others away, but REPULSIVE Three horizontal centrifugal pumps with design temperature of 100 degrees F. Three electric motors, in accordance with Appendices. This is where the semicolon confusion comes in. Let me frame my recommendations. Please try again. endstream endobj 32 0 obj <>stream A: AP lowercases those descriptive titles. Grammar (essential vs. nonessential clauses; pronouns; subject-verb agreement ), Q: I'm confused on the use of "that" and "who" when talking about groups. Colon Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun orFile Size: KB. Unordered lists occasionally appear without bullets.8 However, strongly consider using bullets whenever possible because bullet-less list items can be difficult to identify on mobile devices with responsive text layouts. You can learn more in the Title Capitalization Rules by Style section. You have multiple options to capitalize and change the case of your titles, headlines, song titles, book titles, email subjects, and more. The capitalization chapter has new guidance on how to write about census divisions and geological formations. See the "legislative titles" entry for rulings. A: AP uses the numeral for acres, even when less than 10, as a dimension: 5 acres. The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) recommends prefacing unordered lists with dashes instead of bullets, although bullets are an acceptable choice for some publications.AP style also recommends punctuating complete and incomplete introductory sentences with a colon and capitalizing the first word in each list item as well as punctuating The capitalization rules are as follows: Capitalize the first and the last word. A colon should be used to introduce the list, and the first letter of each point should be capitalised. . Preferred style is without terminal punctuation, unless the list item is a complete sentence. AP's style is now to capitalize Black in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying an essential . See "diseases" entry for further guidance. But here are a few things you might not realize are actually lowercase in AP style. The first word after a colon unless it begins an independent clause. Continue from there down the list. So long as your capitalization rules remain consistent in your organizations communications, youre golden. Avoid a mix. That order can be based on rank (e.g., a list of most favorite to least favorite foods) or sequence (e.g., recipe instructions). Required fields are marked *. As an Amazon Associate, CapitalizeMyTitle.com earns from qualifying purchases. 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 Right you are. For MBA, AP Style don [t use periods. A: AP headlines cap only first word and proper names or proper abbreviations. A: AP style is email (changed from e-mail), but other e- words are hyphenated: e-commerce and e-book. This guidance has been expanded from the 6th edition. Q: Is it staff has or staff have? 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. However, clear bullet list punctuation adds visual scan-ability to your business writing. Subscribe to AP Stylebook Online: AP Stylebook Online is a searchable, customizable guide for writers and editors that is updated throughout the year. Any symbol may be used for the bullets, although small circles or squares are typical software defaults. Use all sentences or all. Below are examples of vertical listswhich may be unnumbered, numbered, or bulletedand how to introduce, punctuate, and capitalize them. 10. If youre confused about what words to capitalize in a title or headline, we recommend using our title capitalization tool above, but if you want specific capitalization rules, they are as follows. The Fantastic Shakers have won many awards. There are five important things to watch for in numbered and bulleted lists: inconsistent capitalization. After each dash, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each section. A: Lowercase for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, hepatitis C, etc. I the word Cocaine supposed to be capitalized? A: AP lowercases civil rights movement. Bullets Associated Press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. For a list of short items, there is no need to punctuate each point. 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.. When do Iuse periods and when do Ileave bulleted items without end punctuation? (After reading this) .. Use periods, not semicolons, at the end of each section or a phrase. This is clear, but AP doesnt fully address when to omit a period at the end of each bullet. AP style capitalization is mainly used by writers for the Associated Press but is also used widely throughout journalism. AP style is actually not capitalized, though AP Stylebook is. endstream endobj 29 0 obj <> endobj 30 0 obj <>/Border[0 0 0]/Rect[603 407.25 648 420.75]/Subtype/Link/Type/Annot>><>/Border[0 0 0]/Rect[270.75 387.75 315.75 401.25]/Subtype/Link/Type/Annot>><>/Border[0 0 0]/Rect[281.25 368.25 318.75 381.75]/Subtype/Link/Type/Annot>>]/Contents[34 0 R 35 0 R 36 0 R 37 0 R 38 0 R 39 0 R 41 0 R 42 0 R]/CropBox[0 0 792 612]/MediaBox[0 0 792 612]/Parent 26 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSets[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 31 0 obj <>stream Q: How about using e- as a prefix for new terms in the tech and business worlds? AP Stylebook: Use periods after bullets. If you left caps lock on accidentally, you can quickly convert your title from uppercase to lowercase by selecting the lower button above. 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. First, it is important to note that there are four main title capitalization styles: Chicago style, APA style, MLA style, and AP style. Bulleted lists are appropriate when presenting a list of items in no particular order. If bulleted items are complete sentences, begin each item with a capital letter and finish it with a period or other appropriate punctuation. You can also use this tool to do it automatically. Now we have bullets. Problem solved. We could also write this list with commas instead of semicolons. Bullet points. Q: Is there a standard AP style for bulleted areas of text? I recommend APs style guidance for end punctuation: All of these recommendations follow AP, but one clarification is needed. Learn how your comment data is processed. No italics. Your points should be consistent, either all sentences or all fragments. DO NOT capitalize plural words even when part of a proper name (e.g. in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of New Hampshire. Don't use a bulleted list for only one item. AP follows two broad rules for capitalization: Common names are not capitalized unless part of a proper name (the river vs. the Thames River). 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."). Ive updated. Some guiding principles behind AP style are: Consistency Clarity Accuracy Brevity AP style also aims to avoid stereotypes and unintentionally offensive language. Lowercase the second word in a compound modifier (e.g., Mid-year or On-site). You are reading a blog that focuses on business writing. In general, capitalize formal titles used directly before a name. If you have questions, read our.