The rule for a colon

Sohia Rose · Feb 28, 2007

I'm sure I read in one of my grammar books somewhere that the rule for the next word after a colon should be capitalized? I'm creating a list, a series of phrases.

For example: (ha! there it goes again :tongue

)

"... blah blah blah: Blah, blah and blah."

Or should the next word be lowercase?

"... blah blah blah: blah, blah and blah."

ErylRavenwell · Feb 28, 2007

If it's a list, don't capitalise. Capitalization is optional if the colon introduces a complete sentence.

Judg · Mar 1, 2007

? Are you sure, Eryl? I can't remember seeing anything capitalized after a colon. I'm not willing to put money on my memory here.

Sohia Rose · Mar 1, 2007

I had to dig for my grammar book and you're both right.

Painless Grammar, pg 96 by Rebecca Elliot, Ph.D.

"Capitalize the first word after a colon if it begins a complete sentence––and if you want to. Either way is okay; it's your choice."

Thanks!

Judg · Mar 2, 2007

Gotta love win-win situations.

ErylRavenwell · Mar 2, 2007

Judg said:
? Are you sure, Eryl? I can't remember seeing anything capitalized after a colon. I'm not willing to put money on my memory here.

I rarely do what I preach, out of habit mostly

. However, the standard (one of the two standards) is to capitalize if the colon introduces a complete sentence.

"Do what I say, but do not do what I do." Jebus.

oscuridad · Mar 4, 2007

that's odd - outside of list a colon always introduces a complete clause (or sentence) - you use it instead of a full stop if two cluases are directly linked.

Sohia Rose · Mar 4, 2007

oscuridad said:
that's odd - outside of list a colon always introduces a complete clause (or sentence) - you use it instead of a full stop if two cluases are directly linked.

Are you referring to a semi-colon?

I've heard the envogue thing to do now is use a semi-colon with a list of incomplete clauses. Basically if the list contains phrases and not complete sentences. I've done this on news copy and my editor left it. I've also done it in my manuscript.

ErylRavenwell · Mar 4, 2007

oscuridad said:
that's odd - outside of list a colon always introduces a complete clause (or sentence) - you use it instead of a full stop if two cluases are directly linked.

As you put it so well, "a colon always introduces". A full stop doesn't introduce (not a rigid rule). A colon can also introduce a fragment.

oscuridad · Mar 4, 2007

ErylRavenwell said:
As you put it so well, "a colon always introduces". A full stop doesn't introduce (not a rigid rule). A colon can also introduce a fragment.

The rule is uses a colon where you could use a full stop and both clauses would be complete - but the colon denotes that there is a close causal or other link between them - or rather that the second clause clarifies the first.

ErylRavenwell · Mar 4, 2007

I'm having a hard time reading you. But, from what I could make out, you seem to hold the belief the colon can be used only to introduce a list or to form a "super-sentence" by adjoining two complete sentences; whereby one sentence reinforces or clarifies the other. Fair enough? While this is correct, the colon is not limited in usage just to those two aforemetioned functions.

Quoted below is a broader definition of the colon usage. (note an amplication can be a complete sentence or a sentence fragment.)

Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation.

@ Sohia

With a colon you should be able to guess what the clause preceding the colon will introduce; not so with a semi-colon.

A semi-colon is some sort of joker as well. When in doubt whether a comma is tired or not, just use it.

My-Immortal · Mar 4, 2007

You should also use a colon when you want just a regular smiley

a semicolon gives you the wink

(sorry - back to the serious grammar discussion now)

I mean

ErylRavenwell · Mar 4, 2007

My-Immortal · Mar 4, 2007

According to my Grammar Desk Reference...(p.241)

There are only two cases in which you need to capitalize the initial letter of the first word following a colon.

1. Use capitalization if the word following the colon is a proper noun or a proper adjective.
Last night I finally realized something I should have figured out long ago: Jacob can't be trusted.

2. Capitalize the word following the colon if the independent clause preceding the colon is setting up or introducing a sequence of two or more closely related sentences.
You'll need to keep three things in mind as you begin to write your essay: Give yourself plenty of time. Don't fall prey to self-doubt. And stay focused on your purpose.

The book also talks about colons being used to introduce items in a series, introducing restatements, clarifications, and examples, introducing quotations and miscellaneous colon uses but I'm sure you could all find those out for yourselves....

Take care -

Sohia Rose · Mar 4, 2007

In my sentence, the colon introduced a list with one-word items and phrases. The first word after the colon was one word (not a proper noun); the second word was one word; the third was a phrase, though not a complete sentence. And so forth. It was messy, but necessary.

blacbird · Mar 4, 2007

Don't eat too much fatty fried food.

caw

maestrowork · Mar 4, 2007

oscuridad said:
The rule is uses a colon where you could use a full stop and both clauses would be complete - but the colon denotes that there is a close causal or other link between them - or rather that the second clause clarifies the first.

Not just related; in that case, a semi-colon should be used. Colon has a specific purpose, and that is to introduce what follows, whether it's a list or a clause. If it's a clause, it doesn't have to be a complete sentence.

"I listen to different kinds of music: classical, jazz, and rock."

"My mother taught me this: Listening to music enriches our souls."

"There is only one thing I'd rather do today: listening to music."

"I listen to different kinds of music; music is my life." [In this case, it should be a semi-colon instead of a colon.]

oscuridad · Mar 5, 2007

aren't the last two examples the wrong way around?

ErylRavenwell · Mar 5, 2007

oscuridad said:
aren't the last two examples the wrong way around?

They are both correct. Last example, the semi-colon doesn't introduce anything, but acts as a separator in a logical sequence.

Bluntly, the colon is more brusque.

oscuridad · Mar 5, 2007

ErylRavenwell said:
Bluntly, the colon is more brusque.

that's a nice way of putting it.

TsukiRyoko · Mar 5, 2007

If it's a list, it needs a capital. It it's simply used as a point of emphasis or whatever it's called (if you can replace it with a "-"), then no caps. At least, I think so. I just go by whatever feels right.

The rule for a colon

Sohia Rose

Will write for coffee

ErylRavenwell

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

Sohia Rose

Will write for coffee

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

ErylRavenwell

oscuridad

Sohia Rose

Will write for coffee

ErylRavenwell

oscuridad

ErylRavenwell

My-Immortal

Mr. Invisible

ErylRavenwell

My-Immortal

Mr. Invisible

Sohia Rose

Will write for coffee

blacbird

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

oscuridad

ErylRavenwell

oscuridad

TsukiRyoko

Forced into cell phone life