Also, learn the rules for spacing and capitalization after a colon. The two main clauses that the semicolon joins should be closely related in meaning. 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. Understandably, many editors are confused about when to capitalize the element directly following a colon. The paperback of the grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by. Use a colon instead of a semicolon or a period between two sentences when the second sentence explains or illustrates something in the first sentence. If the first word after a colon in a sentence is a proper name, the pronoun i, or the. Should the first word of the clause or phrase following a colon be capitalized. Capitalize first word after a colon if the expression after the colon is a. The less conservative free spirits tell you to never capitalize after a colon. When to use a capital letter after a colon grammar.
A dash doesnt require any extra thought regarding capitalization. Capitalize important words in compound titles used with names, but do not capitalize prefixes or suffixes added to the titles. Capitalize first word after a colon if the expression after the colon is a complete sentence. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground with. Capitalization after colons grammar and punctuation. If the first word after a colon in a sentence is a proper name, the pronoun i, or the start of another sentence, capitalize it. Some writers and editors feel that capitalizing a complete sentence after a colon is always advisable. If you want to specify additional capitalization exceptions, you can edit the wt15xx. Here are grammar girls tips on writing dialogue, and here are some tips on punctuating. It seems that they say a colon may be used after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation. Capitalization, punctuation, pagination, urls, and dois.
The first three chapters give a history of the semi colon and a summary of how grammar rules evolved in the us. This pretty much echoes the guidance given by sites such as grammar girl, cccf, grammarbook, unc writing center. Classical is usually uncapitalized, though writers often capitalize it when it refers to a specific movement. 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. This question has been sent in by jake, and posted by the grammar exchange. Use a colon followed by a space to separate a title from a subtitle, unless another form of punctuation e. Presuming youve mastered the proper use of this punctuation, do you know whether to capitalize the first word after a colon or not. I anticipated this book for weeks while i waited on the library reserve list.
Only the chicago manual of style gives the topic the respect it deserves. Mignon is the author of the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing and six other books on writing. After that, it looked like the author was trying to make a book out of an essay. Do you capitalize the word coming after a semicolon in a. A number of other punctuation marks are used less frequently, but still play important roles in english writing. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a colon. Capitalizing words after a colon in a sentence grammar. The rules of capitalization in english can be quite confusing.
It should be lowercase, unless of course the word after the semicolon always needs an initial capital for example, because its a proper name. Sep 01, 2011 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 complete sentence, you may capitalize the first word after the colon according to some style guides. Now, should you capitalize the first word after a colon if it begins a list rather than a new sentence. The first three chapters give a history of the semicolon and a summary of how grammar rules evolved in the us. To the delight of word nerds everywhere, grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing came out yesterday. If only one sentence follows the colon, do not capitalize the first word of the new sentence.
If only one sentence follows the colon, it is usually unnecessary to capitalize the first word of the new sentence. In british english, the word following a colon is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or an acronym. There may indeed be a sentence after the colon, but the original sentence has not ended yet. Finally, lets talk about whether you capitalize the first word after a colon or a dash. After each bullet, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each item. Experts have raised valid concerns that people overuse lists in powerpoint presentations 1 and for presenting. Associated press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. In american english, colons are more often followed by capital letters. There are a couple of questions in this question, so lets address the colon question first.
There are two schools of thought regarding postcolon capitalization sounds like an awful surgical procedure, doesnt it. Is it proper to use a colon if there is only one clause or phrase. In english grammar, is it acceptable to capitalize the. She has appeared as a guest on the oprah winfrey show and the today show and has been featured in the new york times, business week, the washington post, usa today, and more. Since no one really knows how to handle this issue, youll at least have something to fall back on. I wish i could promise you a quick fix via csl, but while that is going to happen eventually, its not going to happen soon. The new york times manual of style and usage is similar.
Some grammarians recommend capitalizing the first word after a colon if it introduces something akin to a complete sentence. Punctuation, capitalization, and writing numbers mastery test. The train is scheduled to arrive fortyfive minutes late. In fact, the majority of people adopt rules from others who dont know either. If only one sentence follows the colon, it is often not necessary to capitalize the first word of the new sentence. 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.
We decided another form of recognition might be more agreeable to wilson. Sometimes the first word after a colon starts with capital letter. Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. In legal or biblical citations, you should use a colon to break up chapters, sections or verses. 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 girls quick and. The first appropriate use of the semicolon is to connect two related sentences. Here are some quick tips for using colons properly. We also use a colon after a salutation in a business letter. Should i capitalize the first word after a semicolon or. 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. The colon is a punctuation mark which suggests a logical connection. If you need to look up some grammar rules, see these helpful resources in english and spanish.
Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list, quotation, definition, explanation, etc. The grammar girl podcast has also won best education podcast multiple times in the podcast awards, and mignon is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame. Unlike the use of commas to combine very short sentences, semicolons are used for combining relatively longer sentences. Most of the grammar books i own only partially address vertical lists.
Do not rely solely on spelling and grammar checkers to find and correct errors in your electronic communications. In ap style, colons are also used to separate the elements in several listings. 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. While you can also use a semicolon or a period between two independentyetrelated clauses, the colon is a little softer than the period, but a. It is also common for the nervous system to be damaged due to a direct injury. For instance, classical music refers to music from a welldefined time and place, while classical music refers to most orchestral music. Mignon fogarty is the founder of the quick and dirty tips network and creator of grammar girl, which has been named one of writers digests 101 best websites for writers multiple times.
One book discusses capitalization, another partially discusses punctuation, and so on. A colon can be used to separate two independent clauses when a the second clause is directly related to the first clause not just vaguely related and b when the emphasis is on the second clause. Its an honor that must be warranted, and in writing, capitalization is reserved only for special words. In cases like that, do we capitalize the word after the colon. Download our free nook app escape into a good book things to do at home. Next, lets look at the colon rules from the chicago manual of style. Grammar question do you capitalize the word coming after. Writing principles usagov platform style guide usagov. Should i capitalize the first word after a semicolon or colon.
Dashes, colons, and commas grammar girl quick and dirty tips. 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. May, 20 very few people know which words should be capitalized in a title. If the word that comes after a colon or semicolon is a proper name, you definitely would capitalize it. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Capitalize the titles of officers in constitutions. Also, in your example, a colon might be a better choice than a semicolon. You can change capitalization after the end of a sentence.
Dont capitalize the word that follows the semicolon unless that word is a proper noun, one that is always capitalized. After reading the handout, you will be better able to decide when to use these forms of punctuation in your own writing. Because your second example uses a capital h after the semicolon, it suggests that youre talking about god. The advice given above is consistent with the gregg reference manual.
In biber, we get the exact title capitalization we typed. In general, its a style issue that depends on what is following the colon. Semicolons the semicolon looks like a comma with a period above it, and this can be a good way to. Do not capitalize the first word of a list after a colon. If a complete sentence follows a colon, as in the previous example, authorities are divided over whether to capitalize the first word. In such usage, the colon functions in much the same way as the semicolon. Should i capitalize the first word that comes after a colon. With the exception of proper nouns, it is amazing to see capitals in the middle of a sentence, and very unusual to be polite in fact, highly irregular to see experts accepting it, even if apparently sanctioned by certain style guides and. Semicolons, colons, and parentheses purdue writing lab. Im more prone to use uppercase depending if i want a sharper demarcation between what precedes and follows the colon, and a lower case if i want a smoother flow. Lots of opinions here, but lets look to a higher authority. If the first word after the colon is i, or a proper noun, then it is of course capitalised as usual.
When a colon introduces a list of of things, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun. 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. The main function of a colon is to introduce what follows it. Online sensation grammar girl makes grammar fun and easy in this. The exception is when the colon introduces multiple sentences or when it introduces speech. Semicolon, when to capitalize after a colon posted in blog no comments. As with the semicolon, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless the word is ordinarily capitalized. Where blog posts and internal work communications are concerned you can usually get away with such sins, largely because those. A semicolon or colon joining two independent clauses signals a connection between them. Lucky for us, ap and chicago agree on one thing before they part ways. 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 first word after a colon unless it begins an independent clause.
In writing, we use colons and semicolons to make connections and introductions. The colon is used to separate two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first. Capitalization after colons the blue book of grammar and. Or maybe thats just my own association, since i kept my own book in the. When you define an abbreviation, you use parentheses, but sometimes you might want to do it again later in a document. Do not capitalize the first item after the colon unless its a proper noun. Many of the prominent families of this new england state were slaveholders prior to 1850. We may be confused on this topic because we remember someone saying we should capitalize the first word after a colon, but we also remember someone saying we shouldnt. This handout explains the most common uses of three kinds of punctuation. The semicolon recognize a semicolon when you see one. Unless its a proper noun that youd capitalize anyway or part of a title, there is no. In english grammar, is it acceptable to capitalize the first.
You may remember carter as a hall of fame catcher for the expos and mets and a signature player in the classic 1986 world series. The second question asks about capitalization after the colon and the answer is it depends. In a title or heading, a colon is often used to introduce a subdivision of a subject. Do you capitalize the word after a colon and a semicolon.
For those looking for a quick and dirty answer, a word is not capitalized after a colon. You should place a colon between the units of time when indicating an amount of time that has elapsed or a time of day. When to capitalize after a colon heres something you probably never have to worry about. Unless its a proper noun that youd capitalize anyway or part of a title, there is no reason to capitalize after a semicolon or even a colon. Capitalizing words after a colon in a sentence susan rooks july 18, 2016. For consistency, capitalize what follows a colon if it is a complete sentence. Otherwise the convention depends on what country youre in. Capitalization after colons chicago style and mla style. 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. Lowercase or capital letter after a colon, chicago manual of style. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a.
Grammar girl breaks down when and how to use colons, including when formatting lists. Always use a comma before andor after the name when addressing. The dialogue tag is next and the action follows the tagno capital. Colons and semicolons should never be used interchangeably. Ok, the behavior after colon is now switched back to not capitalize it will still capitalize after. In the us, the convention is to start what follows the colon with a capital letter if. Like a semicolon, a colon can connect two independent clauses, but it has several other uses as well. Jun 24, 2016 for those looking for a quick and dirty answer, a word is not capitalized after a colon. You treat the first word after a dash the same way youd treat it if it followed a comma. In bibtex plain style, wed get what i want, which is title capitalization like this note capital after colon.
The strategy i happen to use is pretty brainfree, which is to say that it follows ap style. The university of illinois writers workshop grammar girl. The chicago manual of style chicago style and mla style from the modern language association recommend lowercasing the first word of a sentence after a colon unless the colon precedes multiple closely related sentences, in which case the first word should be capitalized. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by. Lowercase the first word unless it is a proper noun or the. When using a semicolon to join two independent clauses, do not capitalize the first word of the second independent clause unless the word is a proper noun, e. If two or more sentences follow the colon, capitalize the first word of each sentence following.
Colons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar and. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing book. The department prefers bullets, but punctuate them per ap style. Keep these three things in mind when you use a semicolon. Proper capitalization is one of the cornerstones of good grammar, yet many people fling capital letters around carelessly. One of my favorite old grammar books, titled punctuate it right, has.
Use a colon to introduce an item or a series of items. Dashes, colons, and commas can change the way your sentences feel. Capitalize the first word of every sentence and the first word after a colon if that word begins a complete sentence. Grammar question do you capitalize the word coming after a semicolon in a sentence. Most students understand that they should begin a sentence with a capital letter. Example exception do not capitalize short prepositions, conjunctions, or articles unless they are the first word of the title. Sep 10, 2007 now, should you capitalize the first word after a colon if it begins a list rather than a new sentence. According to the chicago manual of style, the word after a colon is lowercase, even if it starts a complete sentence, unless its a proper noun. A word is not capitalized after a semicolon as well.
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