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Punctuation Table for Holdings Records


Note: In the following chart, " ^" represents a blank space


Name Symbol Description Examples
Angle Brackets ^<>^ Enclose a note which pertains to a specific statement^ < Printout of file on disk > ^
Colon : Separates different levels of enumeration or chronology v.1:pt.2 (1987:spring)
Comma , Indicates a gap in serial runv.1-4,7-9 (1963:Jan.-Aug.,Oct.-Dec.)
Equals Sign = Separates main enumeration or chronology from alternative schemesv.2:no.5=no.11
Hyphen - Indicates an unbroken run of holdings.v.6-9 (1980-1987)
Parentheses ^( )^ Enclose chronology when there is enumeration and chronology v.6-9 (1980-1987) but: 1985:no.3
Quotation Marks ^ " " ^ Enclose the name of a unit of accompanying material or an unnumbered piece of a multipart item"User's guide"
Semicolon ;^ Separates holdings statements within a field. monograph: v.1; v.3

serial: 1943-1946; v.5-8 (1947-1950)

Semicolon ; Indicates a non-gap break in a serial run v.1; 3 (1965;1967)
Slash / Expresses combined enumneration or chronology v.3/4 (1927/1928)
Square Brackets ^[ ]^ Enclose supplied information19932 [i.e. 1932]