A colon is nearly always preceded by a complete sentence; what follows the colon may or may not be a complete sentence, and it may be a mere list or even a single word. A colon is not normally followed by a capital letter in British usage, though American usage often prefers to use a capital.
Do you capitalize first word after a colon or semicolon?
Here’s our suggestion: generally, the first word following the colon should be lower-cased if the words after the colon form a dependent clause (that is, if they could not stand on their own as a complete sentence). If the following phrase is a complete (independent) clause, you may choose to capitalize it or not.
Do you capitalize after colon MLA?
According to MLA format, the first letter following a colon should be capitalized if the colon introduces : A rule or principle. Several related sentences. A proper noun.
How do you use a colon in a sentence examples?
For instance, “I need to visit the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker.” A colon can be used to introduce a list—but you’ll still need commas to separate the items in the list. For example, Here’s a list of groceries I need: a loaf of bread, a quart of milk, and a stick of butter .
Do you capitalize after a colon Chicago Manual of Style?
It’s fine to capitalize there , although Chicago style is to lowercase after a colon unless what follows consists of two or more complete sentences.
Should a capital letter follow a semicolon?
A semicolon should be followed by a capital letter only if the word is a proper noun or an acronym . We can go to the museum to do some research; Mondays are pretty quiet there.
Do you capitalize after a colon AP style?
The Associated Press Stylebook says: “ Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence .” The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage is similar: “For consistency, capitalize what follows a colon if it is a complete sentence.”
Why use a colon instead of a comma?
Use a colon to set off a second independent clause that modifies the first. ... Use colons to introduce quotations after an independent clause. Use a comma when introducing quotations after a dependent clause .
Do you capitalize a word after?
In general, you should capitalize the first word , all nouns, all verbs (even short ones, like is), all adjectives, and all proper nouns. That means you should lowercase articles, conjunctions, and prepositions—however, some style guides say to capitalize conjunctions and prepositions that are longer than five letters.
How do you put a colon after a list in a sentence?
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. If each point is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word and end the sentence with appropriate ending punctuation.
Should you use a colon before a list?
It is therefore correct to use a colon before the list . ... This means that no colon is needed and it would be incorrect to use one before the list. So if you have a list, remember you only use a colon before it if the list follows a clause that could be used on its own.
What Does a colon in writing look like?
The colon : is a punctuation mark consisting of two equally sized dots placed one above the other on the same vertical line . ... A colon often precedes an explanation, a list, or to introduce a quoted sentence.
When should a colon be used?
A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles . Emphasis—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. (She had one love: Western Michigan University.)
Do you capitalize the first letter after a quote?
Capitalize the first letter of a direct quote when the quoted material is a complete sentence . ... If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not capitalize the second part of the quotation.
Do you put a capital letter after three dots?
The ellipsis does not affect capitalization. If the first word after the ellipsis begins a new sentence or needs to be capitalized for any other reason, it is capitalized .
Should you capitalize after comma?
No. You don’t have to capitalize words after commas everytime . Only when there is a proper noun (a name of an individual person, place, organization, etc) after a comma, you have to capitalize it.
Can you end a paragraph with a colon?
Broadly speaking, I would avoid the colon . I see nothing wrong with a period. If you insist on a colon like that, only use it if what follows is clearly laid out as an easily identifiable list.
What goes after a colon?
A colon is written as two dots on top of each other (:), and it is used to separate independent clauses among other things. A space or return is placed directly after a colon. Using colons in a sentence can be tricky.
What words are clauses?
A clause is a group of words with a subject-verb unit ; the 2nd group of words contains the subject-verb unit the bus goes, so it is a clause. A phrase is a group of words without a subject-verb unit.
Can a colon follow a question mark?
Thanks for your question. A colon and a question mark should not generally appear next to each other in a title . So, for instance, if a title ends in a question mark and the title is followed by a subtitle, do not add a colon between the title and the subtitle.
How do you use a colon in AP style?
To summarize, AP style lets you put a colon after a sentence fragment or a complete sentence , and you capitalize the first word after a colon if it’s the start of at least one complete sentence or is a proper noun.
How do you use a colon in MLA format?
Use a colon before a series or list only if the words that introduce the list make up a complete sentence: To make a cake you need a few basic ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, milk, flour, leavener, and salt.
Can you use a colon after a verb?
A colon should not separate a noun from its verb , a verb from its object or subject complement, a preposition from its object, or a subject from its predicate. ... To write this sentence correctly, the colon should be removed. When I graduate, I want to go to Rome, Israel, and Egypt.
What does the colon include?
The colon includes the ascending colon, cecum, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum .
Should a capital letter follow a hyphen?
Capitalization After a Colon or a Dash
A dash doesn’t require any extra thought regarding capitalization. You treat the first word after a dash the same way you’d treat it if it followed a comma.
Should there be a capital after a hyphen?
No, the dash is never followed by a capital letter unless it is a name or a proper noun . The words between two dashes are usually a clarification of a thought, or a digression from the main thought.
How do you write a grammatically correct list?
Use lowercase for the text of in-sentence lists items, except when regular capitalization rules require caps. Punctuate the in-sentence list items with commas if they are not complete sentences; with semicolons, if they are complete sentences. Use the same spacing for in-sentence lists as in regular non-list text.
How do you use the word following in a sentence?
Definition of the following
: the following one or ones —used to introduce a list, a quotation, etc. The finalists are the following: Mary, James, and George. The following are the times of departing trains: 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m.
How do you use a colon properly?
The colon is used to separate two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first . In such usage, the colon functions in much the same way as the semicolon. As with the semicolon, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless the word is ordinarily capitalized.
What are the 10 rules of capitalization?
- Capitalize the first word of a sentence. ...
- Capitalize proper nouns and names. ...
- Capitalize the majority of titles. ...
- Capitalize events and periods. ...
- Capitalize “I” as a pronoun. ...
- Capitalize any locations and direct addresses. ...
- Capitalize family relationships.
How do you use including in a sentence followed by a list?
“I met so many interesting people, including a writer, a photographer, and an aviator.” Words like “including” or “such as” are often used to introduce examples that further explain something mentioned in the sentence. They suggest that you are going to list just a few of the relevant items.
When should you use a colon and when should you use a semicolon?
Colons (:) are used in sentences to show that something is following, like a quotation, example, or list. Semicolons (;) are used to join two independent clauses, or two complete thoughts that could stand alone as complete sentences .
Can you introduce a quote with a colon?
Colons can introduce lists, quotes, examples, and explanations . is another punctuation mark used to indicate a full stop. Use a colon to introduce lists, quotes, examples, and explanations.
When should you use a colon between a direct quote and its introductory text?
(Rule 1) Use a colon if the introduction is an independent clause . You should opt for a colon if the introduction is an independent clause (i.e., a clause that could stand alone as a sentence), and you should start the quotation with a capital letter.
How many spaces should you have after a colon?
Just as with the period, it used to be common to put two spaces after a colon, but now most style guides that address the matter (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style) recommend using only one space after a colon .
Which quotation is correctly capitalized?
Capitalize the First Word in a Sentence that Is a Direct Quote. When quoting, the first word of a complete sentence should be capitalized, regardless of its placement within the main sentence. Matthew said, “In that case, I’m going out for a walk!”
How do you properly cite a quote?
In-text citations include the last name of the author followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses . “Here’s a direct quote” (Smith 8). If the author’s name is not given, then use the first word or words of the title. Follow the same formatting that was used in the Works Cited list, such as quotation marks.
What are the 3 rules for using quotations?
Quotation marks and other punctuation marks
In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside : “There was a storm last night,” Paul said. Peter, however, didn’t believe him.
