Punctuation and Symbols

Placement is after all punctuation except the dash. Must always have a corresponding, asterisked footnote at the bottom of the page. (Note: AP Stylebook refers to the Chicago Manual of Style on asterisk usage.)

Characters to be used in series after single asterisk (in this order):

• Double asterisk (**)
• Dagger (†)
• Double dagger (‡)
• Section mark (§)
• Parallels (||)
• Octothorpe (#)
• Pilcrow (¶)

Bulleted lists should be preceded by an opening sentence that ends with a colon, or a question that ends with a question mark. Every bulleted item should agree or "read" with the opening sentence. Bulleted items end with a period. The exception is when the bulleted list consists of single words. Always use parallel construction (i.e., all sentences or all fragments).

For example, when creating a bulleted list:

• Use a colon after the opening statement.
• Capitalize the first word after the bullet.
• Insert periods at the ends of the bullet points if it is a complete sentence.

Does the bulleted list start with a question?

• That's OK. It's another way to compile a list.
• Just make sure the bullet points answer or are relevant to the question.

And here is the exception for single words:

• One
• Two
• Three

In general, don't use the serial comma.

Correct: Peter, Paul and Mary.
Incorrect: Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast.

Use a comma also before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases: The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude.

2D, 3D, 4D (AP style no longer hyphens these as of 2018)
cocurricular
college-level
de-escalation
first-generation student
four-year
fundraiser; fundraising
half-semester
half-session
in-house (adj.)
nondegree (adj.)
noncredit
on-campus, on campus: Use the hyphen when phrase is used as an adjective, leave unhyphenated when used as a preposition.
onsite
pre, post and re: leave unhyphenated unless followed by a proper noun (AP Style 2019): preregistration, postbaccalaureate, preestablish, post-WWII.
student-athlete

Use the % sign when paired with a numeral, with no space, in most cases (AP Style change 2019). For amounts less than 1%, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.6%.

In casual uses, use words rather than figures and numbers: She said he has a zero percent chance of winning.

At the start of a sentence: Try to avoid this construction. If it's necessary to start a sentence with a percentage, spell out both: Eighty-nine percent of sentences don't have to begin with a number.

Use of symbol (%) is permissible in tables.

Do not put spaces on either side of the slash.

Correct: Human Resources/Employment
Incorrect: Human Resources/Employment