# Avoid end punctuation in headings (EK00023)

import { Aside, Badge } from '@astrojs/starlight/components';

Headings work as labels, so they read better without a trailing mark of any kind across your documentation. EkLine flags any end punctuation at the end of a heading and suggests removing it (rule EK00023).

## Why remove end punctuation from headings in documentation?

Headings guide readers through a page, and a punctuation mark at the end makes them read like sentences or questions rather than labels. This rule covers a period, question mark, exclamation point, colon, semicolon, comma, or dash. Removing the trailing mark keeps your headings consistent and easy to scan.

## What EkLine flags

EK00023 matches a heading that ends with any punctuation and suggests the same heading without it.

- ❌ **Incorrect:** How do I install the CLI?
- ✅ **Correct:** Install the CLI
- ❌ **Incorrect:** Getting started:
- ✅ **Correct:** Getting started

## How to fix

Remove the end punctuation from the heading. Rephrase a question-style heading as a short label, as in `How do I install the CLI?` to `Install the CLI`.

## FAQ

### Which punctuation marks does this rule cover?

A period, question mark, exclamation point, colon, semicolon, comma, or dash at the end of a heading.

### How do you rewrite a question-style heading?

Rephrase it as a short label. "How do I install the CLI?" becomes "Install the CLI".

## Rule details

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Rule ID | `EK00023` |
| Category | Titles and headings |
| Default severity | <Badge text="Warning" variant="caution" /> |
| Enabled by default | Yes |

## Ignore this rule

To keep end punctuation in one heading, add an inline comment with a reason:

```markdown
<!-- ekline-ignore-next-line EK00023 -- heading is a direct quotation -->
## "Where do I start?"
```

To disable the rule across your project, add it to the `ignore` list in your [configuration file](/reviewer/configuration/ignoring-rules/#ignore).

## Related rules

- [EK00022](/reviewer/rules/periods-in-headings/) — Avoid periods at the end of headings
- [EK00037](/reviewer/rules/sentence-case-headings/) — Use sentence-style capitalization in headings