Comma
In a series or list, do not use a comma before the conjunction.
Example: The students came from California, Colorado, Maryland and Nebraska.
Do not use a comma to separate two independent sentences; use a semicolon.
Example: The snow started to fall during the night; the morning commute was awful.
Use a comma before a conjunction when it connects two independent sentences.
Example: A typical master’s degree takes two years, but many universities offer accelerated master degree programs.
Do not use a comma before a conjunction connecting a dependent clause to an independent clause.
Example: Some people complete their master’s degree in one year because of the program’s structure.
Colon
Use a colon to introduce lists.
Example: Include the following documents in your application: completed application, personal essay and three letters of recommendation.
Capitalize the words immediately following the colon only if it is the beginning of a complete sentence or proper noun.
Example: The professor promised this: If every student earned a B on the exam, there would be no final report due at the end of the semester.
Use a colon to introduce long quotes.
Do not use a colon with a verb.
Example: Incorrect
Admission requirements are:
Correct
Admission requirements: -or- The admission requirements are as follows:
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Semicolons
Use a semicolon in a series or list when items in the series are long or contain material that must be set apart by commas.
Example: Faculty conduct research in molecular and cellular pathology and toxicology; drug delivery systems; protein structure and delivery; cancer, heart, lung and blood diseases; and alcohol and drug abuse.
Use a semicolon to connect two independent sentences without a conjunction.
Example: The paper is due next week; she submitted it today.
Dashes
Use an em dash (longer) to mark a break in thought.
Example: He will travel to Europe this summer—if he passes all of his classes.
Use an en dash (shorter) to indicate a range (it replaces the word through).
Example: 1–10
Do not insert spaces on either side of dashes.
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Hyphens
See hyphenation for usage and rules.
Periods
Use a period at the end of a sentence.
See abbreviations and acronyms for more rules pertaining to periods.
Quotation Marks
Punctuation always goes inside quotation marks.
Example: Professor Smith said, “Classes are cancelled next week.”
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Questions, comments or suggestions?