Capitalization is an important part of english grammar. What comes after it begins a new sentence, so that new sentence begins with a capital letter. Im sorry, but punctuations main purpose is to increase readability and understanding of the written word. Jun 20, 2017 a clear, precise, and comprehensive book that will give children the tools to build confidence in reading, writing, and comprehension through visual explanation. Because your second example uses a capital h after the. What i am curious about is the capitalization of when if a colon is used in whatever context. In american english, to capitalize or not to capitalize is not a question of grammar. Do you capitalize the word after a colon and a semicolon. In other cases, some guides simply advise consistency, others advise that a capital.
Lose the colon before a subtitle, or secondary title, when the title is displayed on a book cover or movie poster. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a colon. The canadian style contains detailed guidance on many aspects of grammar and style for government writing. In general, its a style issue that depends on what is following the colon. Dont capitalize the word that follows the semicolon unless that word is a proper noun, one that is always capitalized. 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. Some grammarians recommend capitalizing the first word after a colon if it introduces something akin to a complete sentence the less conservative free spirits tell you to never capitalize after.
In british english, we do not normally use a capital letter after a colon. The most important guiding principle in all such matters is consistency within a document and consistency within an office or institution. Thats because the colon signals that what comes next is directly related to the previous sentence. If the quote is embedded in the middle of a sentence, where it begins after the sentence has begin and the sentence continues after it, the last word before the quote is followed immediately by a comma, then a space, then the quotation mark, then the capital letter to begin the quote. Should you capitalize the first letter after a colon. One of my favorite resources is grammar girl, which has a book, a podcast, and a website packed with good information. Bullet points are not a natural product of language, such as pronounantecedent agreement.
The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. The editors blog is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to. This book should be made available to everyone who writes executive documents. Do not capitalize a coordinating conjunction and, or, nor, but, for, yet, so unless it is first or last in the title. Instead, the decision to use a capital or lowercase letter. A colon is nearly always preceded by a complete sentence. A colon can be used immediately after the greeting in a formal letter lessformal letters tend to use a comma in this location. Prohibited punctuation in fiction the editors blog. These two abbreviations stand for the latin terms ante meridiem and post meridiem, which literally mean before noon and after. We have assumed here that our readers are interested in knowing how to capitalize and punctuate vertical lists that appear in reports, business letters. Capitalization after colons grammar and punctuation. Normally you should capitalise only the first letter.
Chicago, though, says to capitalize the first letter after a colon only if. This topic deserves its own post because there is no absolute answer. The two styles agree that whenever the stuff that follows a colon is less than a complete sentence, start with a lowercase letter. When should i capitalize the first letter of the first word. Different citation styles such as mla, apa, chicago, and ama have slightly different rules regarding whether to capitalize the first letter after a colon.
To my eye, a capital letter after a colon looks better and i believe it helps in understanding, too. Capitalize the first word after a colon if the information following the colon. Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation years 1 to 6 year 1. A comma is used after the salutation in more informal correspondence. 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. Initial capitalization of foreign surnames when starting a sentence. If the explanation that follows the colon contains more than one sentence, you should use a capital letter. According to some of the grammar experts and experienced book authors, the colon is the mark of expectation or addition. Grammar girl presents the ultimate writing guide for students by mignon. The ap says use a capital letter for the first word after a colon if it is either a proper name or the first word of a complete sentence. Jan 19, 2016 writers and editors searching for consistent, standardized advice about how to capitalize and punctuate bullet points will be sorely disappointed. Peter economy is a bestselling author, coauthor, and ghostwriter of more than 55 books, including several for dummies titles. Finally, lets talk about whether you capitalize the first word after a colon or a dash. But if the words that follow the colon are a complete sentence, you can choose to capitalize the first letter of the first word like you would in a stand alone.
Capital letters after colons are a classic example. A capital letter generally does not introduce a word, phrase, or incomplete sentence following a colon. We would place a colon rather than a comma preceding the list of costume items in the third sentence. Instead, they are a feature of the documents formatting, akin to chapter titles, running headers, and. Grammar and style center for writing excellence montclair. Regarding the first semicolon rule, the first example for capitalization after semicolons is a terrible example. The overnight managers connie on weekdays, john on weekends will prepare bakery goods, coffee, and tea before the morning shift arrives. To my eye, a capital letter after a colon looks better and i believe it helps in. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground. To put it slightly differently, you arent starting a new sentence when you use a colon or semicolon, so you would only use capitals in the places you ordinarily would. If the word that comes after a colon or semicolon is a proper name, you definitely would capitalize it. 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. When a colon introduces a list of of things, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure youre on a.
Many of the prominent families of this new england state were slaveholders prior to 1850. Should vertical lists always be introduced with a colon. Alice remains capitalized, and the mysteries of punctuation are myriad, and they often come out when you are writing an essay. It should be lowercase, unless of course the word after the semicolon always needs an initial capital for example, because its a proper name. In british english, the word following a colon is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or an acronym. Dashes, colons, and commas can change the way your sentences feel. A dash doesnt require any extra thought regarding capitalization. In a title or heading, a colon is often used to introduce a subdivision of a subject. Dec 14, 2018 one of my favorite old grammar books, titled punctuate it right, has a wonderful name for the colon. In this sequel to the last tip, well zero in on some specific guidelines for capitalizing hyphenated words in titles and. Colon acts like a period many writers use the colon between two independent clauses, especially when the subject matter of the second clause expands on, or exemplifies, the subject matter of the first. 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. Capitalize the first letter if the quotation appears after a verb of saying, regardless of the case used in the sourcebut flag any alterations you make.
You treat the first word after a dash the same way youd treat it if it followed a comma. Dont capitalize the word that follows the semicolon unless. We also recommend a comma the oxford comma after lens and no comma following. Often, its almost a definition of what came before. Learn how to capitalize the major words in titles of books, articles, songs, and more. When should i capitalize the first letter of the first. That works fine if the colon is followed by a series of statements separated by semicolons, but a lowercase letter looks odd after a question mark, and it would also look odd to put a lowercase letter after the colon but capitals after. Keep these three things in mind when you use a semicolon. The two main clauses that the semicolon joins should be closely related in meaning.
A quotation that is run in to your text and introduced with a colon may begin with a lowercase or capital letter use whatever you find in the source. Buy our book smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif. Please accept my application for the position advertised in the news and observer. In chicago style, you capitalize the first letter after the colon only when the colon introduces two or more sentences. The nook book ebook of the grammar girls punctuation 911. Capitalizing words after a colon in a sentence grammar. Questions two and threeif you use the question mark as you have, its a terminal punctuation point.
Teach your child to read escape room comma challenge myp 2 give. Writers and editors searching for consistent, standardized advice about how to capitalize and punctuate bullet points will be sorely disappointed. Aug 11, 2007 the comma after but in the second sentence is not necessary. We capitalize the first word of an independent clause that follows a colon. A semicolon or colon joining two independent clauses signals a connection between them. Use a lowercase letter when the word that follows the colon is normally lowercased. Does the word after a question mark start with a capital.
Using colons grammar and punctuation grammar monster. Rules for capitalization in titles daily writing tips. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to real. If the colon precedes a formal quote, you should begin the language of that quote with a capital letter. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground with. Heres something you probably never have to worry about. In english, we actually capitalize very few things more than the french, but fewer than the germans. Read socks, hats, mittens, caps talk about different things that happen in each.
The writer is trying to demonstrate the rule of capitalization after a semicolon the. Do not capitalize the word to, with or without an infinitive, unless it is first or last in the title. In old books, why is the first letter of the word after. 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. 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. Its because the colon signals that what comes next is directly related to the previous sentence. 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. Jun 24, 2016 in addition, if youre quoting someone after a colon, they open their speech or text with a capital letter. Does the word after a question mark star t with a capit al letter. Detail of content to be introduced statutory requirement word regular plural noun suffixes s or es for example, dog, dogs. And in case youre not clear on when to use a colon. Semicolons, colons, and parentheses purdue writing lab. And the writers used a capital letter to start the sentence following the colon.
Apr 19, 2012 if the words that follow the colon arent a complete sentence, you lowercase the first word after a colon unless its something that would be capitalized anyway, such as a name. Colons and semicolons should never be used interchangeably. In the second sentence, we would change but he to but holmes for clarity. 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. A colon is not normally followed by a capital letter in british usage, though american usage often prefers to use a capital. So, what we dont know is that how to use colon usefully. Capitalization in titles and headings hyphenated words. Do not capitalize the first item after the colon unless its a proper noun. In september 1995, we released an issues paper, sustainable development and minerals and metals, to serve as a basis for dialogue with canadians who have. Grammar girl quick and dirty tips for better writing podbay.
Alice remains capitalized, and the mysteries of punctuation are myriad, and they often. The nook book ebook of the grammar girl s punctuation 911. Dont add anything else to a sentence after youve finished introducing the elements. So, with a noncomplete sentence like yours, the word should definitely not have an initial capital letter. Also, learn the rules for spacing and capitalization after a colon. 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. Sep 10, 2007 im sorry, but punctuations main purpose is to increase readability and understanding of the written word. When including these, put a colon after the works title and follow the same rules of composition capitalization for the subtitle.
Note that a is capitalized because it is the first word of the subtitle. Todays post tackles the question of whether you should capitalize the first word of a sentence after a colon. Lisa rojany buccieri has written and ghostwritten more than 100 childrens and grownups books, both fiction and nonfiction, including board books, picture books, and young adult series. 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. I dont believe you stipulate the answers to these questions in your book. Mar 08, 2018 i would strongly suggest picking up a book on english grammar. How to figure out which genre you love or how to describe the book youre writing so. Jan 11, 2012 ive seen writers use a colon after tobe verbs like this. The guide to grammar and writing is a monument to inconsistency on this issue.
Theres a very witty answer here from fionnula macliam, which ive upvoted. Instead, the decision to use a capital or lowercase letter will depend on your style guide. Should the first word after a colon be capitalized. 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. There are two schools of thought regarding post colon capitalization sounds like an awful surgical procedure, doesnt it. 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. Dashes, colons, and commas grammar girl quick and dirty tips. In british english, the first letter after a colon is capitalized only if its a proper noun or an acronym. Use a colon to introduce an item or a series of items.
Should i capitalize the first word that comes after a colon. Dashes colons and commas grammar girl punctuation and capital letters all about the rules usage. 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. The first word after a colon unless it begins an independent clause.
It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Bonnie had to admit what was already obvious to her roommates. May 22, 2018 but this book lies motionless, to be caressed all the morning by the sun and to raise its covers slightly, as though acknowledging the caress. When you convert text to initial capitals, the first letter of each word is capitalized, except for articles, prepositions, conjunctions, and some pronouns. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a. You should decide if you want to use american or british english, as there are some significant differences we use american english here at writing forward. The introductory clauses are not grammatically complete sentences. For that, i prescribe a pair of em dashes to set off the elements instead.
Sanghoon finished typing the report and saved multiple copies of it two hours after his supervisor gave the information to him he types 85 words per minute. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing grammar girl a weekly. Do not use a colon after for example, that is, and namely. I distrust anything that starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop antjie krog. In american english, colons are more often followed by capital letters. Capital letter after a colon if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. Also, we look at why its tricky to to figure out why a letter is silent in certain words. Initial capitalization of foreign surnames when starting a. When emphasizing an exact or precise time, the abbreviations a. Some writers start the second clause with a capital letter. Title case and sentence case capitalization in apa style. Some style and grammar guides even permit you to write a complete sentence within the dashes. We capitalize the beginnings of things punctuated as sentences.
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