Period After Statements and Commands
The Period
Rulebase Summary
Use a period to close any sentence that makes a declarative statement (conveying information or an assertion) or that issues a direct command.
Morson's Rule 1 · p.1 BGGP Period.1 · p.63 BGGP Period.3 · p.66
Examples
✗
Q. Tell the jury what you observed that evening,
✓
Q. Tell the jury what you observed that evening.
Direct commands end with a period, not a comma.
✗
THE COURT: The jury will disregard that last remark,
✓
THE COURT: The jury will disregard that last remark.
A judicial command is a complete declarative sentence.
Transcript Notes
In transcript work, statements by the court, attorneys, and witnesses all follow this rule. Commands such as 'Answer yes or no' or 'Please speak slowly' end with a period.
Style Guide References (3)
Morson's
Rule 1
Page 1
BGGP
Period.1
Page 63
BGGP
Period.3
Page 66