If you were a capital letter word fun speed shaskan, trisha sue, gray, sara jean on. Alice remains capitalized, and the mysteries of punctuation are myriad, and they often come out when you are writing an essay. If a complete sentence follows the colon, things get trickier because different style manuals have differen. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. Heres something you probably never have to worry about. Online sensation grammar girl makes grammar fun and easy in this new york times bestseller. However, the most common mistakes occur with national adjectives and the names of languages. Im sorry, but punctuations main purpose is to increase readability and understanding of the written word.
I distrust anything that starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop antjie krog. Finally, lets talk about whether you capitalize the first word after a colon or a dash. Behind the style capitalization grammar lists punctuation quotations writing tips. To do otherwise is to put parents and children on the same level, which is inaccurate in childrens books. Grammar girl breaks down when and how to use colons, including when formatting lists. In chicago style, you capitalize the first letter after the colon only when the colon introduces two or more sentences. Read this article for a thorough yet succinct explanation. You only use capital letters at the start of a new sentence, ie after a periodfull stop. First, when you cite the name of a book which has both a title and a subtitle, you. In addition, if youre quoting someone after a colon, they open their speech or text with a capital letter. Also, learn the rules for spacing and capitalization after a colon. Do you know all the rules about the capitalization of songs and song titles. A different case is the usage of an exclamation mark liebe anna. On the one hand, the colon is not ending a sentence, so one would think that each sentence should not be capitalized, and should not end with a period.
Its not the kind of thing that, if you get wrong, people will roll their eyes or giggle behind your back or pass you over for a job or even notice. A capital letter is an uppercase letter in contrast to lower case. Colons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar and. If the explanatory statement coming after a colon consists of more than one sentence, begin the independent clause immediately after the colon with a capital letter. Also, in your example, a colon might be a better choice than a semicolon. If the word that comes after a colon or semicolon is a proper name, you definitely would capitalize it. When a colon introduces a complete sentence, you may capitalize the first word after the colon according to some style guides. A colon does not begin a new sentence, it breaks up an existing sentence into. If each point is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word and end the sentence with appropriate ending punctuation. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing. The text on the right of the colon explains or illustrates the text on the left. It is merely a coincidence that what follows the colon happens to be a quotation.
You also have to put a capital letter when you are talking about a proper noun. How to thrive in the age of customer experience today more than twothirds of companies say they compete on customer experience cx, up from just 36% in 2010 1. If the explanation that follows the colon contains more than one sentence, you should use a capital letter. The words following a full stop must begin with a capital letter. Is the first word after a colon supposed to be capitalized. When a colon introduces a phrase or an incomplete sentence that is meant to add information to the sentence before it, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun. Many books would be briefer if their authors followed the logical principle known as occams razor. Parentheses are used to say something that is important to the main message you are writing but is not an immediate part of it, something that would interrupt the flow of your writing if you didnt keep it separate from everything else. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing book. Dont add anything else to a sentence after youve finished introducing the elements. There were two reasons for a drop in attendance at nba games this season. Here are grammar girls tips on writing dialogue, and here are some tips on punctuating. In a title or heading, a colon is often used to introduce a subdivision of a subject. Use title case for proper nouns for example, names of people, places or organisations.
One basic rule of apa style is to capitalize the first word after the colon in a title. No capital letter after a colon unless the following word is a proper noun like london, usa, etc. Use quotation marks around the titles of newspaper and magazine articles, poems, essays, short stories, songs, episodes of television and radio programs, and chapters or subdivisions of books. Its not the kind of thing that, if you get wrong, people will roll their eyes or giggle behind your back or pass you over for a job or. With long quotations after the salutation in a business letter question marks. If what follows the colon isnt a complete sentence, the first word is lowercase unless its a proper noun, which is by nature capitalized. On the other hand, long sentences or multiple sentences look funny without capitalization, and it would be incorrect to have a capital letter after a semicolon. Do not capitalize the word to, with or without an infinitive, unless it is first or last in the title. Many of the prominent families of this new england state were slaveholders prior to 1850. Semicolons, colons, and parentheses purdue writing lab. When referring to parents in particular, use a capital letter when the relationship is used in lieu of a name and a lowercase letter when preceded by a pronoun. Spacing with punctuation periods commas semicolons colons question marks parentheses and brackets apostrophes hyphens dashes ellipses quotation marks exclamation points slashes.
See our article using the colon for more on that topic. You also need to decide what level of formality to employ when youre speaking and writing. It is, however, usual to use a colon after a word, phrase or sentence in the. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. A colon is also used between hours and minutes, titles and subtitles of books, city and publisher in bibliographies, in biblical citations between chapter and verse, and for salutations in business letters and other formal letter writing. Current common practice is to capitalize if what follows the colon is a multiple sentences or b a maxim and to lowercase if what follows the colon is not a complete sentence. Each example provided is supported by a picture, making it accessible and comprehensible, and clear and simple text and repetition help to solidify knowledge and. If the introductory phrase preceding the colon is very brief and the clause following the colon represents the real business of the sentence, begin the clause after the colon with a capital letter. In british english, the word following a colon is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or an acronym. Capitalise the principal words only, to distinguish them from common nouns or the generic meaning. In british english, the first letter after a colon is capitalized only if its a proper noun or an acronym. A capital letter generally does not introduce a word, phrase, or incomplete sentence.
How to match your message to the situation dummies. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a. She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. No, you do not put a capital letter after a colon unless you would capitalize that word in the middle of a sentence.
In other cases, some guides simply advise consistency, others advise that a capital should always be used. One of my favorite old grammar books, titled punctuate it right, has a wonderful name for the colon. Capitalizing after semicolons or colons when it comes to the question of whether to capitalize the first word after a semicolon or colon, the answer is likely it depends. Dec 22, 2018 mayor augustus maywho, doctor sanjay gupta, professor minerva mcgonagall, lady bracknell, queen elizabeth ii, president obama, captain jack sparrow, aunt bee. Whether youre thinking about pursuing a career in dentistry or you just have a curiosity as the patient in the chair, getting a grasp on the lingo can come in handy. Thats because the colon signals that what comes next is. When listing items one by one, one per line, following a colon, capitalization and ending punctuation are optional when using single words or phrases preceded by letters, numbers, or bullet points. Always use a comma before andor after the name when addressing. Apr 19, 2012 mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing.
This last example illustrates another point about quotations. Explanations should not be multiplied unnecessarily. I wonder if the titlecase method is older than the sentencecase method, since thats the way we were taught about 100 years ago, right along with two spaces after a period. Thats because the colon signals that what comes next is directly related to the previous sentence. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground with. Sep 20, 2017 use a colon to introduce the formal expression of a rule or principle. The colon is usually used after a complete statement. Capitalizing after semicolons or colons rru library. Dashes, colons, and commas grammar girl quick and dirty tips. While it is acceptable to capitalize the first letter after the colon in american english, it is. When a colon precedes a complete sentence, capitalize the first word after the colon. For that, i prescribe a pair of em dashes to set off the elements instead. But a letter isnt a capital letter just because its tall.
Rules for capitalization in titles daily writing tips. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a colon. The comma after but in the second sentence is not necessary. Capitalization after colons grammar and punctuation. Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation years 1 to 6 year 1. Every letter of the alphabet has a capital version and a. First, there was no superstar to take the place of michael jordan. A semicolon should be followed by a capital letter only if the word is a proper noun or an acronym. When youre listening or reading, you probably note the difference between formal and informal language constantly maybe unconsciously. Before sending out that important letter or proposal to a potential client, email it to me for proofreading and editing. Therefore, the first word starts with a capital letter if it is a noun orread more. Most students understand that they should begin a sentence with a capital letter. Sometimes the first word after a colon starts with capital letter. A colon is nearly always preceded by a complete sentence.
Grammar girl seems to favor, for simplicitys sake, always using a lowercase letter after a colon whether or not what appears after the colon is an independent clause. Please accept my application for the position advertised in the news and observer. Wellington school grammar and punctuation worksheets lml capital letters and full stops every sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, except when a question mark or exclamation mark is needed. A colon does not begin a new sentence, it breaks up an existing sentence into clauses. We would place a colon rather than a comma preceding the list of costume items in the third sentence. Aug 11, 2007 the comma after but in the second sentence is not necessary. The quest for peace, the is capitalized because it is placed directly after the colon.
Your speaker is starting a new sentence, so after the first inverted comma, you usually have a capital. Use a lowercase letter when the word that follows the colon is normally lowercased. Apr 10, 2012 you only have a capital letter after a colon if it is introducing two or more sentences. The chicago manual of style says to use an uppercase letter after a colon if what follows the colon is a questionwhich. Proper nouns the names of important people, places or objects also need a capital letter. Also known as majuscule, uppercase, uppercase, block letter, and caps. Mar 06, 2014 the rules of capitalization in english can be quite confusing. Dashes, colons, and commas can change the way your sentences feel. You treat the first word after a dash the same way youd treat it if it followed a comma. Do you need a capital letter after a colon answers. From when to use a preposition or pronoun to how to use a comma or colon, visual guide to grammar and punctuation covers all the most important grammar topics in dks signature style.
Like a semicolon, a colon can connect two independent clauses, but it has several other uses as well. Although the titles of business executives arent usually capitalized the chairman of bp, inhouse publications may choose to use capitals. Colons are one of the most misunderstood punctuation marks in english. Do not capitalize an article a, an, the unless it is first or last in the title. In american english, styles differ, but it is best to capitalize the first word after a colon if what follows forms two or more complete sentences. The most common use of the semicolon is to join two independent clauses without using a conjunction like and. The sentence i need the following items from the store. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by mignon. We also recommend a comma the oxford comma after lens and no comma following. Frequently asked questions in this faq youll find answers to common. Jan 07, 2020 many writers would be tempted to put a colon after the leadin for lists 2a through 2f above. Using colons in the wrong places is a common fault, and as you can see, the only time youd use a capital letter after a colon is when you are quoting someone.
If the colon precedes a formal quote, you should begin the language of that quote with a capital letter. Dec 14, 2018 so in apa style, you can use a colon only after a complete sentence, and you capitalize the first word after a colon when its the start of a complete sentence. For example, in german, the text directly after the greeting is considered to be a continuation of the greeting itself. However, there are two instances where a capitalized word should follow a colon. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. So if a verb is following after the comma, it has to be written without a capital letter. The first word after a colon unless it begins an independent clause. If the independent clause coming after the colon is a formal quote, begin that quoted language with a capital letter. Bonnie had to admit what was already obvious to her roommates. Look once more at two versions of the edison sentence. The punctuation and capitalization would be the same with bullets or letters. Here are the basic guidelines for when to capitalize the first word of a sentence after a colon according to apa, ap, mla, and chicago style.
More often than not, you do not capitalize after a colon. Do you capitalize the word after a colon and a semicolon. Grammar and style this text isnt meant to be a grammar and style handbook, but we know that many writers have one or two or three. The same would be true for titles in a reference list where only the first word, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon or an em dash should be. A colon can be used immediately after the greeting in a formal letter lessformal letters tend to use a comma in this location. Authorities agree that when a phrase follows a colon, the first word should not be capitalized unless, of course, its a proper noun. The guide to grammar and writing is a monument to inconsistency on this issue. Does one capitalize the first letter following a colon. Also, if the she said part is not part of a conversation in a novel does the word after the colon have to be capitalized.
Sanghoon finished typing the report and saved multiple copies of it two hours after his supervisor gave. Proper capitalization is one of the cornerstones of good grammar, yet many people fling capital letters around carelessly. Do not capitalize a coordinating conjunction and, or, nor, but, for, yet, so unless it is first or last in the title. Sep 10, 2007 im sorry, but punctuations main purpose is to increase readability and understanding of the written word. Capital letter after a colon if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. In this appendix, youll find some helpful tips for several common editing issues as well as references and links to other resources. If youre stuck on when to use capitalization grammar lessons like these can help. A colon is also used between hours and minutes, titles and subtitles of books. Its an honor that must be warranted, and in writing, capitalization is reserved only for special words. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground. To my eye, a capital letter after a colon looks better and i believe it helps in understanding, too. When to use a capital letter after a colon grammar.
Answer no, you dont have to put a capital letter after a colon but you do after a period, exclamation point, and a question mark. It should be lowercase, unless of course the word after the semicolon always needs an initial capital for example, because its a proper name. I have noticed that people with a germanspeaking background often mix up conventions when writing letters and emails in english. After i read the internets role in education in one of my educational journals, i had a much better understanding of the issues. Use a lowercase letter when the word that follows the colon is normally. Capital letters learning english grammar collins education. Lose the colon before a subtitle, or secondary title, when the title is displayed on a book cover or movie poster. Do you have a hard time remembering those pesky rules for spelling and grammar when youre writing. Because your second example uses a capital h after the semicolon, it suggests that youre talking about god.
In british english, we do not normally use a capital letter after a colon. Do not capitalize the first item after the colon unless its a proper noun. One of my favorite old grammar books, titled punctuate it right, has. One of the commonest of all punctuation mistakes is following a colon with a completely. In american english, colons are more often followed by capital letters. My grammar books say to cap the first word of what comes after a colon if what comes after the colon is a complete sentence. A colon is not normally followed by a capital letter in british usage, though american usage often prefers to use a. Price controls that set price ceilings too low cause shortages.
A capital letter is the form of an alphabetical letter such as a, b, c used to begin a proper noun or the first word in a sentence. The big question with a sentence that includes a colon is whether the text on the right should start with a capital letter or a lowercase letter. What i am curious about is the capitalization of when if a colon is used in whatever context. Check it out in printed books and magazines and newspapers. Note that a is capitalized because it is the first word of the subtitle. Generally american usage has a capital for any independent.
Price controls that set price floors too high cause gluts. In fact, the vertical list is just one context in which the colon is frequently misused. Where there are several words, a capital letter is usually used for all the main content words in the title i. Guidelines for using capital letters rules for capitalization in english. A colon is not normally followed by a capital letter in british usage, though. And in case youre not clear on when to use a colon instead of, say, a dash or a semicolon or to start a new sentence. Detail of content to be introduced statutory requirement word regular plural noun suffixes s or es for example, dog, dogs. Colons and semicolons should never be used interchangeably. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girl s quick and. In the second sentence, we would change but he to but holmes for clarity.
The most important guiding principle in all such matters is consistency within a document and consistency within an office or institution. When including these, put a colon after the works title and follow the same rules of composition capitalization for the subtitle. Jun 20, 2017 from when to use a preposition or pronoun to how to use a comma or colon, visual guide to grammar and punctuation covers all the most important grammar topics in dks signature style. About whether or not to use a capital if you have a full sentence after the colon. A dash doesnt require any extra thought regarding capitalization.
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