Hyphens and URLs

Whenever possible, place an e-mail address or a URL on its own line. Breaking an address or a URL makes it harder for the reader to follow the link or to copy and paste it into a browser.

Sometimes you must divide a long e-mail address or URL. For example, a works cited list might include long URLs.

If you are not following a particular style guide, it is safe to break an e-mail address after the @ symbol or before a period. Don’t add a hyphen at the break because it might be mistaken for part of the address.

A general rule of thumb for breaking URLs is to do so after a colon, a slash, or a double slash or before a period or other punctuation mark.

Breaking a URL: MLA style

Break a URL after a slash or a double slash. MLA encloses a URL in angle brackets, so you may use a period following it or a double slash. In the unlikely case of an e-mail address in a text sentence or a works cited entry, break the address after the @ symbol. Try to word a text sentence to avoid having the address appear at the end.

Breaking a URL: APA style

Break a URL before any punctuation except a double slash. Do not use a period following the URL. Break an e-mail address before any punctuation, including the @ symbol. Do not use a period following an e-mail address. (In a text sentence, try to word the sentence to avoid having an e-mail address or a URL at the end.)

Breaking a URL: Chicago style

Break an e-mail address or a URL after a colon, a double slash, or the @ symbol or before any other mark of punctuation.

Breaking a URL: CSE style

In a CSE reference list entry, break a URL only after a double slash or a slash. Do not use a period at the end of a URL unless the URL ends in a slash.

Exercises:

The hyphen 1

The hyphen 2