Punctuation and Symbols Contractions Contractions can make the course content feel natural and relatable, and they can help with readability. This is particularly important for helping students feel at ease and engaged in an online environment. Use contractions sparingly and strategically. Avoid contractions in more formal sections, such as assignment instructions or academic examples, in order to model the expectations of professional writing. Example of contractions used in a module introduction: “This week, you’ll explore how ecosystems respond to change.” Example of more formal text in an assignment area: “In this applied learning activity, you will build on the patient care scenario.” Dashes and Hyphens Em Dashes (—) Use an em dash to set off a phrase that amplifies or digresses from the main point of a sentence. Use sparingly; overuse can weaken the flow of the text. Do not put spaces before or after the em dash. In Word, typing two hyphens (no spaces) will autocorrect to an em dash when you complete the word following the hyphens. Example: “Cybersecurity professionals must stay vigilant against evolving threats—phishing emails, ransomware attacks, and zero-day exploits—if they hope to protect sensitive data effectively.” En Dashes (–) Use an en dash to indicate a numeric range. Do not put spaces before or after the en dash. In Word, typing a space then a hyphen will autocorrect to an en dash when you complete the word following the hyphen. Examples: “Ages 12–15” “1920–1931” Hyphens (-) Use a hyphen to form compound words. In Word, a single hyphen with no spaces on either side will remain a hyphen. Examples: “Client-centered counseling” “10-point scale” “Pre-2010 systems” Quotation Marks Use quotation marks only in these specific cases: Quoting text verbatim from a source. (Exception: When highlighting a quotation, follow style for block quotes.) Referring to a word or phrase as a linguistic example. Example: “The phrase ‘customer satisfaction’ was used repeatedly in the company’s mission statement.” Separating explanatory text from examples. Example: “This bullet item separates explanatory text from an example.” Indicating an invented expression on first use. Example: “The app promises to make you a ‘productivity ninja’ in just five days.” Do not use quotation marks to downplay, criticize, or cast doubt. This can be confusing for students, as it requires them to infer the intended meaning of the text without clear guidance. Example: “Management highlighted the new vending machine as a ‘wellness initiative.’” PreviousText Emphasis and StyleNext Formatting and Structure