Formatting Examples

These lines mirror the Example column on the Formatting preferences page for quick scanning.

Citations

• Numbered: "...proven effective[1]" with a Sources list
• Linked: the text itself links to the source

Headings

• Title Case: "How to Write Better Headlines"
• Sentence case: "How to write better headlines"

List commas

• With final comma: "apples, oranges, and bananas"
• Without: "apples, oranges and bananas"

Numbers

• Spell out small: "three apples but 15 oranges"
• Always digits: "3 apples and 15 oranges"

Long dashes

• Allow: "The result, surprisingly, was positive"
• Avoid: "The result (surprisingly) was positive"

Ellipsis

• Three dots: "Wait for it..."
• Single character: "Wait for it…"

Percentages

• Symbol: "increased by 25%"
• Word: "increased by 25 percent"

Semicolons

• Allow: "The data was clear; action was needed"
• Avoid: split into separate sentences instead of a semicolon

Acronyms

• Define first: "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)"
• Direct: "SEO best practices"