Content, structure and pedagogy are the basis of a text for educational purposes, but details such as dots, dashes and spaces are also important for the overall impression. If the text is lacking in this respect, there is a risk that the reader will be distracted by details instead of absorbing the content.

Dashes and hyphens

Hyphen

A dash (-) is a line that is slightly longer than a hyphen (-).
Here's how to write a dash in Word:
PC: Hold down ctrl + dash on the numeric keypad (top right) or select Insert Symbol and find the dash.
Mac: Hold down alt + dash.

Dashes should be used in sequences of numbers, such as in years, 1995-2000, and between page numbers, pp. 11-29. In addition, dashes are used to indicate word pairs, such as speaker-listener; teacher-student. Note that in these cases there should be no space before or after the dash.

Dashes can also be used around an inserted phrase in a sentence, e.g. I cannot - at least not now - promise anything definite. There should be a space before and after the dash.

Hyphen

Hyphens are used for hyphenation and for implied word parts, such as pros and cons.
Hyphens in specific medical words are placed like this:
cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal tract, etc.

Apostrophe in the genitive

The apostrophe should not normally be used in the genitive case of proper names ending in s, x or z in Swedish when the context is clear. The apostrophe should also not be added to English names in Swedish text.

Example: Paris streets, Shakespeare's works (not Shakespeare's as in English).

If the context is unclear, you can use an apostrophe.
Example: Kalle's sons are taller than Linus' (Linus' sons).

Before the genitive s in acronyms, use a colon and never an apostrophe as in English.
Example: United Nations

Point in conjunction with quotation marks

When a sentence ends with a quotation mark, put the full stop after the mark if the quotation marks enclose an incomplete sentence.
​​​​​​Example:
[...] something that Andersson (2004 p. 48) says is "most unfortunate for the language development of those children who have already been severely affected by reduced resources".

When the quotation is a stand-alone sentence, the full stop is placed before the quotation mark, e.g. when there is a colon before it. In this case, the full stop of the quotation is retained.
Example:
This is how Strindberg's Hemsöborna begins: "He came like a thunderstorm on an April evening and had a tall grass mug in a strap around his neck."

Reading tip!
See also Quotation School 1 and 2, which you can find under Writing/In-depth here in the writing aid.

Semicolon

Semicolons are used between clauses when a full stop is too strong a separator and a comma too weak. A semicolon is also used instead of a comma in lists containing decimal numbers. It should not be used instead of a colon.
Example:
The difference between work and rest days became less sharp; she could allow herself rest days in the middle of the week.
1,5; 1,8; 2,4; 5,9