EM
Punctuation

Punctuation

34 articles. Page 1 of 4

Comma vs. Colon in a Greeting or SalutationComma vs. Colon in a Salutation

Use either a comma or a colon after a greeting. The colon is preferred in business or other formal communication in U.S. style.

Quotation Marks: How to Use CorrectlyQuotation Marks

Place quotation marks around direct speech or a quotation. Quotes may also enclose a word or a phrase used ironically or as itself. Quotation marks set off titles of shorter works (like a chapter, article, or poem).

Smart (Curly) vs. Straight QuotesSmart vs. Straight Quotes

Smart (or curly) quotes are paired quotation marks that curve toward the text they enclose, indicating clearly whether they start or end a quote. Straight quotes are nondirectional.

Brackets: British vs. AmericanBrackets: British vs. American

Round brackets are called “parentheses” in American English but referred to simply as “brackets” in British English. In American writing, square brackets are used within parentheses, while the British use round within round brackets (nested parentheses).

Commas vs. Parentheses vs. DashesCommas vs. Parentheses vs. Dashes

Use commas to integrate closely related information into the flow of the sentence. Use parentheses to set off supplementary information or an afterthought from surrounding text. Use dashes to be emphatic or dramatic and make additional information or an aside stand out.

Does Punctuation Go Inside Parentheses and Brackets?Punctuation with Brackets

Place punctuation inside parentheses if it belongs to the parenthetical text, and outside if it belongs to the larger sentence. Periods, question marks, exclamation points, and quotation marks go inside if they are meant to punctuate the parenthetical text, while commas, dashes, colons, and semicolons always appear after a closing parenthesis.

Do Periods Go Inside Parentheses and Brackets?Periods with Parentheses and Brackets

Place a period within parentheses if the entire sentence is contained in the parentheses. Place the period outside if the parenthetical phrase appears within a larger sentence.

Types of Brackets in EnglishTypes of Brackets

Parentheses (round brackets) are the most commonly used brackets in English, followed by square brackets. The other two types of brackets are braces and angle brackets. Each type serves a different purpose.

Parentheses (Round Brackets) vs. Square BracketsParentheses vs. Square Brackets

Parentheses set off information that may be useful but is tangential to the primary meaning of the passage. Square brackets enclose editorial clarifications to quoted text. Square brackets are also used as brackets within brackets.

Brackets within Brackets in EnglishBrackets within Brackets

Use square brackets within parentheses to show brackets within brackets. In British style, round brackets are used within round brackets. Avoid using nested parentheses in U.S. writing.

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