The period - End punctuation - Punctuation

Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

The period
End punctuation
Punctuation

Use a period to end all sentences except direct questions or genuine exclamations. Also use periods in abbreviations according to convention.

To end sentences

Most sentences should end with a period. A sentence that reports a question instead of asking it directly (an indirect question) should end with a period, not a question mark.

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In abbreviations

A period is conventionally used in the following abbreviations.

✵ Mr.

✵ i.e.

✵ a.m. (or AM)

✵ Ms.

✵ e.g.

✵ p.m. (or PM)

✵ Dr.

✵ etc.


NOTE: If a sentence ends with a period marking an abbreviation, do not add a second period.

Do not use a period in abbreviations of organization names, academic degrees, states, and designations for eras.

✵ NATO

✵ UCLA

✵ BS

✵ TX

✵ BC

✵ IRS

✵ NIH

✵ PhD

✵ NY

✵ BCE