Punctuation

Asterisk ( * )

Sometimes used in running text to refer the reader to an important footnote. Only use in publications if necessary. Do not use it as a bullet point. 

---

Brackets ( )

Avoid where possible. Use en-dashes to indicate parentheses. 

Example: 
The research findings – based on a longitudinal study spanning five years – revealed significant correlations between socioeconomic status and academic achievement. 

---

Bullet points

Follow our guidance on using bullet points. 

---

Colon ( : ) 

Colons are used to indicate the beginning of lists in sentences: 

Example: 
The seminar focused on three research topics: gender, politics, and history. 

Colons can also be used to separate statements in a sentence, when the second statement explains the first:  

Example: 
The Department of Nursing and Midwifery has some of the best facilities in the country: its recently refurbished laboratories are state-of-the-art.  

Never follow a colon with a dash (:-)  

---

Comma ( , )   

Example:  
The building houses computers, seminar rooms and a library.  
In a simple sentence like the above there is no need for a comma before and.  

In a longer sentence with more complex clauses, it is often better to use a comma before and:  

Example: 
The visitors had a wonderful time looking at the new facilities in the building, having lunch in the cafe, and walking in the park.  

A comma should be inserted inside the closing quotation mark before attributing the quote to someone.  

Example:  
“We are doing our best to advance the research,” he explains. 

---

Ellipsis (…)  

Ellipsis marks should only be used as part of a direct quotation. In that context, they are used to indicate a pause in speech, or where words are missing.  

---

En-dash ( – )  

Longer than a hyphen. Has a different function.  

Use an en-dash without spaces when there is a distinction in meaning between two words. 

Example: 
Labour–Liberal alliance  

Can replace to in numerical phrases:  

Examples: 
people aged 55–60  
pages 25–30  

You can use en-dashes in the same way that you would use brackets to indicate parentheses. When you use them in this way, leave a space either side of each dash.  

Example: 
Two offices – Admissions and Coop – are close to one another.  

---

Exclamation mark ( ! )  

Avoid! Exclamation marks can appear patronising, especially when addressing a young market.

---

Full stop ( . ) 

Follow our guidance on using full stops. 

---

Hyphen ( - ) 

You can use a hyphen to join two words to form an adjective. This avoids confusion in expressions such as black-cab driver. If one of the words is an adverb – a word ending in ly – do not use a hyphen. 

Note that in the third [Br1] example there is no need to put a hyphen after full. 

Examples:

• Work-based learning
• Full-time study
• The course is completed through full and part-time study
• Real-time state-of-the-art trading floor

The following words are never hyphenated: 

• undergraduate
• postgraduate 
• ongoing 
• worldwide 
• nationwide 
• teamwork 
• multidisciplinary 
• multinational 
• interpersonal 

---

Question mark ( ? ) 

Question marks should be used at the end of a direct question.

Direct question: "What time is the meeting?" 

Indirect questions take a period.

Indirect question: "She asked me what time the meeting was."

Direct questions within a sentence

Use a question mark when a direct question occurs within a longer sentence.

Example:
Her question, what time was the meeting? was not answered.

not

Her question, what time was the meeting?, was not answered. 

Titles

If the title of a book, for example, contains a question mark, the comma is retained unlike the above example.

Example:
I haven't read the book Who Moved My Cheese?, by Spencer Johnson

However, if you're asking a question and it ends with the title that contains a question mark, retain the question mark and avoid adding an extra one.

Example:
Have you read Who Moved My Cheese?

Requests

Requests framed as questions should conclude with a period. These aren't genuine inquiries but rather requests or commands.

Example:
Please send this report to the person copied on this email. 

Expressing uncertainty

Question marks can be used to indicate editorial uncertainty when placed brackets following the term or figure that is uncertain. 

Example:
The report involved 589(?) participants.

---

Quotation marks and inverted commas (“”) (‘’)

When quoting exactly what someone has said – direct speech – use full quotation marks (“). For quotes within quotes use single quotation marks (inverted commas), placing a comma before the reported speech. 

Examples:
“Our Students’ Union is absolutely brilliant.”
“He said, ‘I do not think so’ and he left.” 

In running text, do not be tempted to apply inverted commas to colloquial terms, clichéd phrases, or technical jargon: 

Example:
Our Students’ Union runs several ‘cool’ club nights. 

If the phrase is colloquial or clichéd, try to replace it. If it is a technical term that will not be widely understood among your audience, you should either explain it or take it out. If the phrase really is a direct quote, make sure the source is explicit in the text. 

Example:
When referring to other publications by their titles, use italics rather than inverted commas:
Our department is ranked among the UK top ten by The Times Good University Guide. 

Note: quotation marks and full stops

The basic rule is straightforward. When the quotation relates to the quoted words, it goes inside the inverted commas; when it relates to the sentence it goes outside.

---

Semi-colon ( ; ) 

Semi-colons are used to separate items in a list where at least one item in the list has internal punctuation: 

Examples:
UL comprises four faculties: Kemmy Business School; Education and Health Sciences; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; and Science and Engineering.

---

Spaces

There should never be more than one space in succession in word-processed text.

---