Editorial style guide: B
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W Z
On this page:
-based
Hyphenated when combined with another word to form an adjective:
work-based study
brackets
Try to avoid. In marketing copy, use en-dashes to indicate parentheses.
bullet points
Lists that flow on
Lists are usually introduced with a brief sentence or clause. If the items in your list flow naturally from this sentence, there's no need to use a colon.
The open day programme includes
- visits to academic departments
- talks
- accommodation visits
- self-guided tours
- videos
A list that completes or flows from an introduction doesn't need full stops after each point. If your points are longer you can use internal punctuation.
Lists that can't be made to flow on
If the items on your list can't be made to flow naturally from an introduction, use a colon.
The urban regeneration research cluster is principally concerned with three areas:
- Housing as a medium for the physical and social regeneration of urban areas.
- The role of property in urban regeneration.
- Urban and regional policy, local governance and urban regeneration.
When points are self-contained sentences, you should begin each point with an initial capital and end with a full stop.
Too many bullets
Bullet points are most effective at a maximum of one line of text per point. In print, a list of bullet points running unbroken down a whole page is uninviting.