Punctuation
Punctuation provides vital clues for reader understanding. It's governed by well-documented rules. Every English sentence requires end punctuation (unless it's a title or a heading). Within those rules are stylistic choices, which we’ll cover here.
Writing tip: The more punctuation you add, the more complex a sentence becomes. If a sentence contains more than a comma or two and ending punctuation, consider rewriting it to make it crisp and clear.
Don’t use end punctuation in headlines, headings, subheadings, or simple lists (three or fewer words per item). End all sentences with a period, even if they're only two words. Put one space, not two, after a period.
Headline Example
Be brief – make every word count
Text Example
Be brief. Make every word count.
When a phrase ending with a colon introduces a bulleted list, use a period after each bulleted phrase if it completes the phrase preceding the colon.
Example
Wear your GOJO badge to work so you can:
- Enter areas that are accessible only to employees with badges.
- Travel throughout the building.
- Operate the elevator.
If all list elements are short phrases (three words or fewer), don’t end them with periods, even if they form a complete sentence together with the list introduction.
Example
Use PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer:
- At work
- At school
- On the go
If one or more list elements are complete sentences, use a period after every element, even if a list element contains three or fewer words.
Example
Before returning to work
- Wash your hands.
- Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.
- Use a paper tower to grab the door handle when you exit.
Use a comma
Before the conjunction in a list of three or more items. (The comma that comes before the conjunction is known as the Oxford or serial comma.)
Example
We need to communicate to team members, distributor partners, and end-user customers.
Writing tip: If a series contains more than three items or the items are long, consider a bulleted list to improve readability.
Following an introductory phrase.
Example
Beginning tomorrow, the Performance Management Process will open.
To join independent clauses with a conjunction, such as and, or, but, or so.
Writing tip: If the sentence is long or complex, consider rewriting as two sentences.
To surround the year when you use a complete date within a sentence.
Example
See the product reviews in the February 4, 2015, issue of the New York Times.
Don't use a comma
To join independent clauses when you don't use a conjunction. (Use a semicolon instead.)
Example
The study cited in Pediatrics was intriguing; it documented the benefits of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Between verbs in a compound predicate (when two verbs apply to a single subject).
Writing tip Consider replacing a compound predicate with two sentences. Or add a subject for the second verb.
Between the month and the year when a specific date isn't mentioned.
Use an apostrophe to form the possessive case of nouns. For singular nouns, add an apostrophe and an s, even if the noun ends in s, x, or z.
To form the possessive of plural nouns that end in s, add only an apostrophe.
Examples
insider's guide
the box's contents
the boss’s memo
Berlioz's opera
an OEM's product
users' passwords
the Joneses' computer
To indicate a missing letter in a contraction.
Examples
can't
don't
it's
Don’t use an apostrophe
For the possessive form of it.
Example
Replace the dispenser with its newest counterpart.
With a possessive pronoun.
Example
The choice is yours.
To form the plural of a singular noun.
Example
Play your favorite games on all your devices.
Note: Don't use the possessive form of GOJO trademarks, products, services, or feature names.
Preceding lists
Include a colon at the end of a phrase that directly introduces a list.
Example
The following products are impacted by this change:
- PURELL® Hand Sanitizer
- GOJO® Original Hand Cleaner
- PURELL® Surface Spray
Within sentences
Use colons sparingly at the end of a statement followed by a second statement that expands on it. Most of the time, two sentences are more readable.
When you use a colon in a sentence, lowercase the word that follows it unless:
The colon introduces a direct quotation.
Example
What does it mean when I see a message that asks: "Are you trying to visit this site?"
The first word after the colon is a proper noun.
Example
We're considering three cities for the event: Los Angeles, Munich, and Tokyo.
In titles and headings
When you use a colon in a title or heading, capitalize the word that follows it.
Example
GOJO Expands PURELL SMARTLINK™ Portfolio: Individual Monitoring Solution
Sentences that contain semicolons are often complex. Try to simplify the sentence – break it into multiple sentences or a list – to eliminate the semicolon.
Use semicolons:
Between two independent clauses that aren't joined by a conjunction.
Example
Select Menu; then select Newsroom.
Between statements that aren't joined by a conjunction.
Example
The operations were small in 1946; Jerry mixed the hand cleaner in the basement at night and sold it from the trunk of his car by day while Goldie managed the office.
To separate items in a series that contains commas or other punctuation. Even better, break out a complex series of items into a list.
Example
The product can be used for tasks where traditional disinfectants cannot, including sanitizing high chairs; disinfecting pet bowls; sanitizing soft surfaces such as stuffed animals or couch pillows; disinfecting toys and pacifiers; or disinfecting and cleaning the refrigerator when food is nearby.
Use questions sparingly, unless being used in a question-and-answer format. In general, we want to give answers. When a customer needs to make a decision, a question is appropriate.
In most content, use double quotation marks (" ") not single quotation marks (' ').
Refer to quotation marks, opening quotation marks, and closing quotation marks. Don't call them quote marks, quotes, open or close quotation marks, or beginning or ending quotation marks.
Place closing quotation marks:
Outside commas and periods
Inside other punctuation
Exception: If punctuation is part of the quoted material, place it inside the quotation marks.
Example
Arbogast stated, “Hand hygiene is the most important measure we can take to prevent illness and infection.”
Dashes and hyphens aren’t interchangeable. Follow these guidelines to help you use them the right way, in the right places.
Hyphens (-) Use to join words and connect prefixes to stem words.
Example
We will grow profitably by implementing short- and long-term data forecasting systems.
Predicate adjectives
Don't hyphenate a predicate adjective (an adjective that complements the subject of a sentence and follows a linking verb).
Example
The text is left aligned.
The camera is built in.
Noun modifiers
In compound words that precede and modify a noun as a unit, don’t hyphenate:
Very, when it precedes another modifier.
Example
Very fast test
An adverb ending in -ly, such as completely, when it precedes another modifier.
Example
naturally fragranced products
relatively low cost
Note Use adverbs sparingly. They usually aren't necessary.
Hyphenate two or more words that precede and modify a noun as a unit if:
Confusion might result without the hyphen.
Examples
away-from-home settings
high-capacity dispensers
kid-friendly playgrounds
low-dose prescriptions
touch-free dispensers
push-style dispenser
self-lathering soap
good-for-you foam hand soap
wall-mounted dispensing
ounce-for-ounce
Energy-on-the-Refill
One of the words is a past or present participle (a verb form ending in -ed or -ing and used as an adjective or noun).
Examples
left-aligned text
free-flowing form
well-defined schema
The modifier is a number or single letter plus a noun or participle.
Examples
two-sided arrow
5-point star
y-coordinate values
Compound nouns
Hyphenate compound nouns when one of the words is abbreviated.
Examples
e-book
e-commerce
Exception
Compound numerals and fractions
Hyphenate compound numerals and fractions.
Examples
a twenty-fifth anniversary
one-third of the page
Prefixes
Avoid creating new words by adding prefixes to existing words. Rewrite to avoid creating a new word.
Use a hyphen between a prefix and a stem word:
If a confusing word results without the hyphen.
Examples
bottle-blowing operations
leading-edge technology
whole-systems integration
touch-free dispensers
counter-mount dispensers
755-megawatt-hour solar panels
day-to-day operations
If the stem word begins with a capital letter.
Example
non-XML
A prefix affects a word, not a phrase. For example, instead of non-security related, use unrelated to security. When adding a prefix to a stem word results in a double vowel and each vowel is pronounced, don’t use a hyphen.
Examples
reenter
cooperate
An ellipsis is a series of three dots used to signal the omission of a word, phrase, line, paragraph, or more from a quoted passage.
Example
The quick brown fox … lazy dog.
Use exclamation points sparingly. Save them for when they count!
Use a slash:
To imply a combination. Capitalize the word after the slash if the word before the slash is capitalized. For example, if country/region is used as a label in a form, capitalize it as Country/Region.
Example
CD/DVD drive
Use the on/off switch to turn your mouse off when you're not using it.
Turn on the On/Off toggle.
To denote dates or fractions.
Examples
1/2
9/1/19