Question marks usually go after the last letter in a sentence

Like other punctuation marks, question marks stay with the text they refer to. Usually, this is immediately after the last letter of the last word of the sentence.

Brackets and quotation marks change the position of question marks

For brackets and quotation marks, place the question mark:

Avoid using a semicolon to link sentences

Short, simple sentences are easier to read. Overusing semicolons makes writing more difficult to understand.

Semicolons can create a break that is stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop. They can link 2 sentences that share or develop an idea. The information must be closely related.

Use brackets for text users can skip over

Brackets can help you break up information. They enclose parts of the sentence that aren’t essential to the meaning. Sentences must be grammatically correct if you remove the text in brackets.

The most commonly used brackets are:

• parentheses
• square brackets.

Use brackets sparingly for:

Don’t use exclamation marks in general

Exclamation marks aren’t part of government voice. Don’t use exclamation marks in formal content, such as government reports or briefings.

In general use, exclamation marks can emphasise:

Separate introductory words, phrases and clauses with a comma

A comma separates introductory words, phrases and clauses from the main clause of the sentence.

Many introductory phrases can be moved to the end of sentences without changing the meaning. In these cases, you don’t need a comma before the phrase. This simpler structure can be easier to read.

Limit the forward slash to specific uses

The forward slash is also known as the ‘solidus’ or just the ‘slash’.

Use forward slashes:

Complete a sentence with a full stop

Full stops mark the end of a sentence that is not a question or an exclamation. 

Following the same rule, use full stops at the end of the last item in a list that’s made up of sentence fragments.

An apostrophe shows possession

When the first of 2 consecutive nouns has an apostrophe, it means those nouns have a relationship. If the first noun in a noun phrase has an apostrophe, it means the noun is related to the other words in the phrase.

Follow hyphenation rules in the dictionary your organisation uses

Hyphens clarify meaning by connecting words and parts of words into a single unit of meaning. Use hyphens to avoid ambiguity.

Limit colon use

Use a colon only if you are sure it is needed. Incorrect use creates confusion for users.

Introduce examples and contrasts with colons

Use a colon to: