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.

Use full stops with some numbers and shortened forms

Also use full stops:

• as the decimal point in numbers and currency – for example, ‘$3.55’
• in numbering subsections and paragraphs in a document – for example, ‘Section 7.3’
• in some Latin shortened forms and shortened forms used in referencing.

Don’t use full stops with contractions or most abbreviations.

Don’t end web or email addresses with full stops

Do not use a full stop after a web or email address if it’s part of a sentence fragment or on a line by itself.

Write full stops in email and web addresses when you use the full form rather than link text (for example, ‘dfat.gov.au’ instead of linking ‘the DFAT website’).

Ensure link text doesn’t include a full stop

Use full stops at the end of sentences with link text, but don’t include the full stop in the link itself.

Write headings, measurements and captions without full stops

Don’t use full stops in:

• headings
• stand-alone lists (stand-alone lists have a heading without a colon)
• page headers or footers.

Full stops do not go after:

• symbols or units of measurement (unless the symbol or unit is also at the end of a sentence)
• captions and titles.

Don’t add a full stop after hashtags, emojis or handles

Use correct punctuation in government social media. You don’t need a full stop if your post ends in:

• a web address (URL)
• a tag or handle
• a hashtag
• an emoji
• a sentence fragment.

Punctuate text messages (SMS) correctly

In government text messages, use correct punctuation and grammar to avoid ambiguity. Correct writing shows people that the text is authoritative and trustworthy.

Include a full stop at the end of a text message if it finishes with a sentence. Don’t include a full stop if the message ends with a fragment or sign off.