Grammar

in Style Guide

When you have related information, you can present it with:

In most cases, use separate sentences. This is best for plain language.

You can use a transition such as “For example”, “See”, “Thus”, “Therefore”, “Specifically”, “Instead”, or “However”.

Example 1:

  • Avoid em dash: Forms are commonly used to provide user interaction — for example, forms are used for logging in, registering, commenting, and purchasing.
  • Avoid semicolon: Forms are commonly used to provide user interaction; for example, forms are used for logging in, registering, commenting, and purchasing.
  • Avoid parenthesis: Forms are commonly used to provide user interaction (for example, forms are used for logging in, registering, commenting, and purchasing).
  • Use two sentences: Forms are commonly used to provide user interaction. For example, forms are used for logging in, registering, commenting, and purchasing.

Example 2:

  • Avoid em dash: WCAG 3 will have a different structure, different conformance model, and broader scope — see WCAG 3 Introduction.
  • Use two sentences: WCAG 3 will have a different structure, different conformance model, and broader scope. See WCAG 3 Introduction.

One sentence options

Optionally, you can combine the information into one sentence using a semicolon, em dash, or parentheses, as described below. Avoid long or complex sentences.

Semicolon (optional)

If the information is short, simple independent clauses, you can use one sentence with a semicolon. Both clauses should be grammatically complete sentences.

Example:

Em dash (optional)

If you want to convey emphasis or a sharp break in thought, you can use an em dash with simple clauses. (Note that em dashes are associated with AI writing.)

The first part should be a complete sentence. The part after the dash does not need to be a complete sentence.

Example:

  • The W3C mission is to make the web work — for everyone.

See also Em dashes.

Parentheses (optional)

When related information applies to a point within a simple sentence, you can put the information in parentheses within the sentence. Be aware that parentheses break up the sentence flow and make the sentence more complex.

Example:

  • Captions (called “subtitles” in some areas) provide content to people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Capitalization

Abbreviations

See Capitalization in abbreviations.

All caps

Avoid using all capital letters for words (except acronyms).

Braille

Use lowercase for “braille” (unless you are referring to Louis Braille).

Glossaries

Use lowercase for glossary terms.

Headings

See Capitalization in headings.

Lists

See Capitalization and punctuation in lists.

Proper nouns

Capitalize proper nouns. User lower case for common nouns.

Examples:

  • Proper noun capitalized: The goal of Success Criterion 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) is to make controls easier to activate.
  • Common noun lowercase: WCAG 2.2 provides 9 additional success criteria since WCAG 2.1.

Proper nouns that have become common nouns

Use lowercase for the following nouns, unless these are part of a name or title:

That versus which

That: Introduces essential information needed to understand the sentence

Example:

The time is essential to identify specific meetings: “The meeting that starts at 10:00 is online. The other meetings are in-person.”

Which: Introduces extra information that is not essential.

Example:

The time is not essential: “The meeting, which starts at 10:00, is online.”

Punctuation

Colon

Use a colon to introduce the main idea(s). It gives the sense of “as follows.”

Examples:

  • Contact us: email@example.com
  • They had one goal: to finish the marathon.

Compare with the use of an em dash, which clarifies or elaborates on the main idea that was just said.

Semicolon

See Semicolon (optional) in Approaches for related information in sentences.

Commas

In a phrase listing three or more items, place a comma before the final conjunction (“Oxford comma”).

Example:

I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.

Dashes and hyphens

Em dash (—)

Put a space before and after em dashes.

Em dashes for list items

Use em dashes when list items have a short phrase followed by an explanation.

Example:

Some example uses of this curricula include:

  • faculty lecturer — selects topics from the foundation, developer, and designer modules to teach accessibility to computer science students
  • employee training coordinator — compares the course content offered by different providers based on the modules provided in this resource
  • procurer — includes requirements in a training Request for Proposals (RFP) based on the modules provided in this resource
Em dashes in sentences

See Em dash (optional) in Approaches for related information in sentences.

En dash (–)

Examples:

  • The years 1990–2000 were transformative.
  • Read pages 10–15.
  • They defeated the defending champions 106–76.

Hyphen (-)

Use a hyphen to join compound adjectives.

Examples:

  • peer-to-peer connection
  • short-term memory
  • well-known technique

Do not hyphenate:

Examples:

  • They are two closely related concepts.
  • The technique is well known.

Use a hanging hyphen when two compound adjectives modify the same noun.

Example:

The pre- and post-deployment stages are equally important.

For guidance on terms we no longer hyphenate and are written as one word, see the section on Spelling.

Ellipsis (…)

Use an ellipsis to show:

Add a space before and after an ellipsis.

Example:

I was wondering … but it’s probably not important.

Headings

See punctuation in headings.

See punctuation in links.

Lists

See punctuation in lists.

Numbers

See punctuation in numbers.

Parentheses

See Parentheses (optional) in Approaches for related information in sentences.

Quotation marks

Use double quotation marks to reference a term.

Example:

This accessibility requirement is sometimes called “sufficient color contrast”; however, the technical term is “luminosity contrast”.

Slashes

Forward slash

Generally, only use a forward slash in dates, fractions, and URLs.

Do not use a forward slash to indicate an optional plural. Use parentheses instead.

Example:

  • Avoid: Test/s
  • Use: Test(s)

Try not to use a forward slash to show two things that have a close relationship or that are in opposition. Use a hyphen or words like “and” or “or” instead.

Example 1:

  • Avoid: The issue was part of the larger nature/nurture debate.
  • Use: The issue was part of the larger nature-nurture debate.

Example 2:

  • Avoid: The project examines cause/effect relationships.
  • Use: The project examines cause-and-effect relationships.

Example 3:

  • Avoid: If/when I have a dog, I’ll need a fenced yard.
  • Use: If or when I have a dog, I’ll need a fenced yard.

Example 4:

  • Avoid: Add a potato and/or an onion.
  • Use: Add a potato, or an onion, or both.

Exception: You can use a forward slash if it shows a relationship or contrast better than when using words.

Example:

  • Avoid: In inclusive writing, avoid gender pronouns (she or her, he or his).
  • Use: In inclusive writing, avoid gender pronouns (she/her, he/his) where possible.
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