Summary
In scholarly English, titles, headings, and most captions normally do not end with a full stop (period). Exceptions exist and depend on journal rules, heading type, and sentence structure. Use a stop when house style requires it; for run-in paragraph headings; when table/figure captions comprise full sentences or multiple sentences; to maintain consistency across like elements; and in certain numbering schemes or cross-references (e.g., “Figure 2.2”).
Key points: 1) Check the author instructions—house style overrides general practice. 2) Run-in headings take a full stop (or colon). 3) Table and figure captions often need stops; if multi-sentence, punctuate every sentence. 4) Appendix titles usually omit stops, but multi-sentence headings still require them. 5) Keep formats consistent within each element type. 6) With numbering, use stops after a single number (e.g., “3. Methodology”) and between hierarchical numbers (e.g., “3.1.4 Methods”) but typically not after the last number. 7) Extend any special fonts/styles through to the final stop when used.
Bottom line: default to no terminal full stop for displayed headings; then apply exceptions systematically. Build a simple style memo and a pre-submission audit to keep your manuscript precise, consistent, and compliant with journal expectations.
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Full Stops in Titles, Headings and Captions
Clear rules, common exceptions, and a consistency workflow for journal-ready formatting
Nothing looks more polished—and more “on style”—than headings and captions that follow journal punctuation rules precisely. In academic and scientific English, the default is simple: do not place a full stop (period) at the end of a displayed title or heading. This extends to section headings, subheadings, and the headings above ancillary elements (tables, figures, appendices). Yet journals and style manuals carve out specific exceptions, and misunderstanding them leads to messy, inconsistent manuscripts and avoidable copy-editing queries. This guide distils the conventions you’ll see across publishers and shows how to apply them consistently.
1) House Style Beats Habit
- Always check the Instructions for Authors. If the journal says “Headings end with a period,” follow that—even if it feels unusual in your field.
- Look at recent issues. When guidance is vague, scan published articles for patterns in headings, table titles, and figure captions.
- Create a one-page memo. Record the journal’s punctuation expectations for headings, table/figure captions, numbering, and appendices; share it with co-authors.
2) Run-In Headings: The Important Exception
Run-in (paragraph) headings are part of the body sentence, not displayed on their own line. They usually take a full stop (or sometimes a colon) before the paragraph continues.
| Type | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Structured abstract labels | Methodology. We performed a… | Single word/short phrase, then a stop. |
| Run-in subheading in text | Primary outcome. The difference was… | Stop or colon; match house style consistently. |
3) Table Headings: Often the Place for Stops
Many journals prefer a period at the end of table headings, especially when the heading forms a complete sentence or when it includes multiple sentences.
- Single sentence, descriptive title: some houses still omit a stop; others require one. Follow the model articles.
- Multiple sentences: always punctuate every sentence with a full stop, including the last.
| Better | Why |
|---|---|
| Table 2. Baseline characteristics of the sample. | Complete sentence → closing stop preferred/required by many journals. |
| Table 3. Inclusion and exclusion criteria. Values are n (%). | Two sentences → stops after each sentence, including the final one. |
4) Figure Captions: Stops More Common Than Not
Because figure captions typically form narrative sentences explaining what the figure shows, they commonly end with a period; multi-sentence captions punctuate each sentence.
- Example: Figure 1. Weekly attendance by group (n = 642). Shaded area shows 95% CI.
- Edge case: Some styles require stops for figures but not for tables—verify the difference.
5) Appendices and Ancillary Lists
Appendix titles (“Appendix A Methods”) and ancillary list headings (“Abbreviations”, “Acknowledgements”) usually omit a final stop. However, if the heading comprises multiple sentences (rare but possible), punctuate all sentences, including the last.
6) Consistency Across Like Elements
Uniformity trumps personal preference. If one table heading requires a period (due to sentence structure), apply periods to all table headings for that manuscript—short or long—unless the journal explicitly permits mixed endings.
7) Numbered Headings and Punctuation
Numbering interacts with full stops in two ways:
- Single number + title: many styles put a stop after the number and a space before the heading text: 3. Methodology. Some omit the stop, and some table/figure titles use a colon (Figure 2: Study flow).
- Hierarchical numbering: stops separate the levels, but typically not after the final number: 3.1.4 Blending methods (no stop after “4”).
| Style | Example | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Section heading | 2. Background | Stop after the number + space. |
| Subsection | 2.3 Literature review | Stops between numbers only. |
| Figure title | Figure 4: Sensitivity analysis | Colon commonly used in place of stop for figures/tables in some houses. |
8) Cross-References and Disambiguation
When referring to parts of a document, full stops inside the reference (not the heading itself) can be essential to avoid confusion.
- Lettered appendices: Figure B2 is unambiguous.
- Numbered appendices: prefer Figure 2.2 for “Figure 2 in Appendix 2” rather than Figure 22, which is ambiguous.
9) Multi-Sentence Headings and Captions
Whenever a heading/caption runs to more than one sentence (common with table titles that include notes), punctuate each sentence with a full stop—including the final sentence.
Table 4. Outcome measures by site. Values are mean (SD) unless otherwise indicated. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
10) Typography and the Final Stop
If you apply special formatting (italics, bold, small caps) to a heading or caption, extend that formatting to the final punctuation mark when a stop is present. A bold caption with a regular-weight period looks unfinished.
11) Discipline-Specific Nuance
- STEM (numbered results): figure captions frequently read like sentences → end with periods; table headings often do as well.
- Humanities: displayed headings virtually never end with periods; long, descriptive figure captions still punctuated as prose.
- Law/Medicine (house manuals): follow local manuals (e.g., AMA, Bluebook derivatives) which may fix caption punctuation.
12) Quick Decision Tree
- Is it a displayed title/heading? → Default: no final stop.
- Is it a run-in heading? → Use a full stop (or colon per style), then continue the sentence.
- Is it a table/figure caption? → If it’s a complete sentence, add a stop; if multi-sentence, add stops after each.
- Are headings numbered? → Use stops after the number (e.g., “3. Heading”) and between hierarchical levels (“3.1.4 Heading”), typically none after the last number.
- Is consistency across like elements ensured? → Align all tables with one rule; align all figures with one rule.
13) Before/After Examples
| Weak/Non-compliant | Improved (journal-aligned) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1. Baseline characteristics | Table 1. Baseline characteristics. | Journal requires stops for table headings that form a sentence. |
| Figure 3. Study flow chart | Figure 3: Study flow chart | House style uses colon after figure numbers; apply consistently. |
| Appendix 2. Supplementary analyses. | Appendix 2 Supplementary analyses | Displayed appendix titles typically omit the terminal stop. |
| Primary outcome: The difference was… | Primary outcome. The difference was… | Run-in label closed with a full stop before the paragraph text. |
14) Common Pitfalls (and How to Fix Them)
| Pitfall | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mixing endings within the same element type | Inconsistent appearance; copy-editing queries | Pick one rule per element type (all Tables, all Figures) and apply it globally. |
| Forgetting stops in multi-sentence captions | Run-on look; ambiguity | Add a period after each sentence, including the last. |
| Using “Figure 22” to mean “Figure 2 in Appendix 2” | Ambiguity | Use “Figure 2.2” for numbered appendices; “Figure B2” for lettered. |
| Styling the heading but not the final period | Visually jarring | Extend bold/italic small caps to the closing stop when used. |
| Ignoring the journal’s colon vs period convention | Non-compliant captions | Match the exact punctuation (e.g., “Figure 4: …” vs “Figure 4. …”). |
15) Micro-Style Guide (Drop-in for Your Manuscript)
- Displayed headings (all levels): no terminal period.
- Run-in headings: full stop (or colon per journal) before body text.
- Tables: period at end if heading forms a sentence; all table headings treated consistently.
- Figures: period at end; multi-sentence captions punctuated fully; allow colon after “Figure n” if required by house style.
- Appendices: no period for displayed titles; periods if multi-sentence headings.
- Numbering: “3. Heading”; hierarchical “3.1.4 Heading” (no stop after last number).
- Cross-refs: lettered—“Figure B2”; numbered—“Figure 2.2”.
16) A 10-Point Pre-Submission Audit
- House style reviewed; model article checked.
- All displayed headings: no terminal periods (unless required).
- All run-in headings: closed with a full stop (or colon) uniformly.
- Tables: identical ending rule across all tables; multi-sentence headings fully punctuated.
- Figures: identical ending rule across all figures; multi-sentence captions fully punctuated.
- Appendix titles: no terminal periods; numbering/lettering consistent.
- Numbering: stops placed correctly (“3.1.4 Heading”); colons vs periods aligned with journal practice.
- Cross-references: disambiguated (2.2 vs 22; B2 vs 2.2 where appropriate).
- Typography: bold/italic extended to the final stop whenever present.
- Global search for stray mixed styles (e.g., some figure captions with colon, others with period).
17) Templates You Can Copy
Figure caption (periods, two sentences):
Figure 5. Adjusted association between exposure and outcome (n = 1,042). Shaded bands show 95% confidence intervals.
Table title (single sentence with stop):
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of participants at enrolment.
Run-in label:
Secondary outcomes. We observed no difference in…
Appendix numbering (disambiguated):
Figure 1.2 (Figure 2 in Appendix 1); Figure B3 (Figure 3 in Appendix B).
Conclusion
Terminal punctuation in titles, headings, and captions seems like a tiny matter—until it isn’t. Editors and typesetters notice inconsistency instantly, and unclear conventions can make cross-references ambiguous. The safest pattern is to omit full stops from displayed headings, then add them deliberately where structure and house style require: run-in labels, sentence-style table/figure captions (particularly multi-sentence ones), specific numbering schemes, and cross-reference disambiguation. Decide your rules up front, apply them consistently by element type, and run a short audit before submission. Your manuscript will read cleaner, look more professional, and glide more smoothly through production.
