PUNCTUATION

---

There are many reference works that deal with the use of punctuation marks. Our intention here is not to review rules than can easily be consulted elsewhere, but to identify practices that are specific to regulations.

THE PERIOD

The period indicates the end of a sentence; it is therefore placed at the end of each sentence in a section or subsection. Its use is governed by ordinary rules of grammar.

The numeral used to designate a section is followed by a period and a space (except where the decimal numbering system is used, in which case there is no final period after the section number).

Examples:

  4. The Clerk of the Commission …

but

  4.1 No person shall …

Every definition in a definition provision ends with a period (except in an amendment to a definition that follows older formatting rules, in which case the older rules are followed in the amendment for consistency).

Examples:

"Act" means the Divorce Act. (Loi)

"child" means child of the marriage. (enfant)

The statement that appears within parentheses under the title explanatory note in a statutory instrument is followed by a period.

Example:

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order.)

The period is not used

• (a)  at the end of the title of a regulation or its headings;
• (b)  after a numeral designating a provision in the body of the regulations;

  Examples:

    3. The document referred to in section 5 is …

    6. Subject to subsection 3(2), …

• (c) at the end of a footnote.

  Examples:

  ---

  • ^a S.C. 1991, c. 24, s. 7(2)
  • ¹ SOR/86-1011
  
  

THE COLON

The colon has an annunciatory function and is generally used in an enumeration introduced by the words "the following …" or " … as (that) follows …".

Example:

  19.2 The following methods of signalling may be used to send signals to fishing vessels:

• (a) flag signalling using alphabetical flags;
• …

The colon is used at the end of amending clauses (except amending clauses that simply repeal a provision).

Examples:

  1. Section 5 of the ABC Regulations¹ is replaced by the following:

but

  2. Subsection 16(3) of the Regulations is repealed.

THE SEMICOLON

The semicolon is generally used at the end of every paragraph (except the last).

Example:

  12. …

• (a) … ;
• (b) … ; and
• (c) … .

In orders in council and other executive orders that contain "whereas" clauses, the semicolon is used at the end of each of these clauses.

Example:

Whereas the Governor in Council … ;

Whereas the Canadian Chicken Marketing Agency has been empowered … ;

And whereas the proposed regulation entitled … ;

Therefore, the Canadian Chicken Marketing Agency, pursuant to paragraph … .

THE COMMA

The comma should be used with restraint and only to improve the readability of a sentence. The meaning of a sentence should not depend on the comma. If the meaning of a sentence depends on the placement of a comma, it may be preferable to redraft the sentence.

The comma is used to mark off a parenthetical phrase or clause.

Example:

  17. The Governor in Council, after consultation with the government of a province, may …

Note that a defining (restrictive) relative clause, which is a clause that contains information essential to the meaning of a sentence, is not set off or enclosed by commas.

Example:

  8. An accountable advance that is not repaid or accounted for as required by subsection (2) may be recovered …

The comma is used at the end of paragraphs that must be read together in order to make clear the meaning of a provision.

Example:

  9. The fee payable is the greater of

• (a) … , and
• (b) …

It is also used to separate subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses.

Example:

(c) any two corporations if

• (i) one person or group of persons holds shares in both corporations,
• (ii) a person who holds shares in one of the corporations is related, as described elsewhere in this subsection, to a person who holds shares in the other corporation, or
• (iii) a person who holds … ;

Part 4 – Table of contents