Highlight: End all independent sentences with a period, and insert one space after the period.
End all independent sentences with a period, and insert one space after the period. If the sentence or phrase ends with punctuation other than a period, such as a question mark or exclamation point, don’t use a period.
Periods with lists
Ending a list item with a period depends on several factors including the kind of list the item appears in.
For more information, see Lists.
Bulleted and numbered lists
In general, use a period at the end of each item in bulleted and numbered lists.
Exceptions: Single-word items, items entirely in code font, and items with no verbs.
For more information, see Capitalization and punctuation in lists.
Description lists
Don’t insert a period at the end of a term, and insert a period at the end of a description.
Periods with URLs
Ending a URL or file path immediately with a period may confuse readers and even alter the URL.
If the period isn’t part of the URL, you can differentiate it by highlighting it different than normal text. In most browsers, a link is highlighted blue by default, which helps to differentiate it from the period. When you put a period after a URL, don’t leave any space between the last character of the URL and the period.
To indicate that the period ending a sentence is not a part of the URL, you can rewrite the sentence so that the URL isn’t at the end. Another alternative is to exclude the period by putting the URL on a separate line other than the text.
Examples
Accessibility
Periods with parentheses
If the last part of a sentence ends within parentheses, insert the period after the closing parenthesis. If a complete, independent sentence is enclosed within parentheses, include the period inside the parentheses.
Examples
Periods with quotation marks
If a sentence or phrase ends with content inside quotation marks, place the period inside the quotation marks, even if it doesn’t belong in the quoted content. If the sentence or phrase inside the quotation marks ends with punctuation other than a period, such as a question mark or exclamation point, don’t use a period.
Examples
For more information, see Quotation marks.
Periods with abbreviations
Use periods at the end of shortened words. Don’t use periods with acronyms and initialisms. Similarly, don’t use periods with commons words that are abbreviations such as app or demo.
For more information, see Abbreviations.
Periods with numbers
Use a period to represent a decimal point.
For more information, see Numbers.
Periods with headings
Don’t end headings, subheadings, or titles with periods.
For more information, see Headings and titles.
Periods with captions
In general, avoid using periods with captions.
For more information, see Text associated with images.
