> # Typographical Conventions

> Convention | Explanation
> --- | ---
> italics | Introduces new terms with which you may not be familiar, and is used occasionally for emphasis.
> bold | Emphasizes important information. Also indicates button, menu, and icon names on which you can act. For example, click Next.
> UPPERCASE | Indicates keys or key combinations that you can use. For example, press the ENTER key. Also used for SQL reserved words.
> `monospace` | Indicates syntax examples, values that you specify, or results that you receive.
> `monospaced italics` | Indicates names that are placeholders for values that you specify. For example, `filename`.
> forward slash / | Separates menus and their associated commands. For example, Select File / Copy means that you should select Copy from the File menu. The slash also separates directory levels when specifying locations under UNIX.
> vertical rule | | Indicates an "OR" separator used to delineate items.
> brackets [ ] | Indicates optional items. For example, in the following statement: SELECT [DISTINCT], DISTINCT is an optional keyword. Also indicates sections of the Windows Registry.
> braces { } | Indicates that you must select one item. For example, {yes | no} means that you must specify either yes or no.
> ellipsis . . . | Indicates that the immediately preceding item can be repeated any number of times in succession. An ellipsis following a closing bracket indicates that all information in that unit can be repeated.