Capital versus Lowercase after a Colon

Question

How do you know whether a capital or lowercase letter should follow a colon? What's the rule? Is there one? Take this dedication, for example:

To my mother: thank you for all your love and support.

Should that "t" in "thank you" be capitalized?

Thanks.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

SnarfShould that "t" in "thank you" be capitalized?

Yes.

Do a Google search and you'll find tons of sites that list the rules for various punctuation marks.

CJ

Snarf · Answer

What about this?:

They do not count: outside of the purposes of mere spectacle and theory, they are non-functioning time capsules, you see.

Is the "o" in "outside" fine in lowercase there?

CalifJim · Answer

SnarfIs the "o" in "outside" fine in lowercase there?

No. I don't think the colon is even easy to justify there. I'd turn it into two sentences.

CJ

Snarf · Answer

What about this colon? Is it justified, or should this be two separate sentences?:

They go hand in hand: one cannot be without the other.

CalifJim · Answer

Let me repeat: Do a Google search and you'll find tons of sites that list the rules for various punctuation marks.

You do not seem to have taken this advice so here are three examples for you to consider.

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/colons.asp

Use a colon instead of a semicolon between two sentences when the second sentence explains or illustrates the first sentence and no coordinating conjunction is being used to connect the sentences. If only one sentence follows the colon, do not capitalize the first word of the new sentence. If two or more sentences follow the colon, capitalize the first word of each sentence following.

Examples:
I enjoy reading: novels by Kurt Vonnegut are among my favorites.
Garlic is used in Italian cooking: It greatly enhances the flavor of pasta dishes. It also enhances the flavor of eggplant.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_%28punctuation%29

Use of capitalization or lower-case after a colon varies. In British English, the word following the colon is in lower case unless it is a proper noun or an acronym, or is normally capitalized for some other reason. However, in American English, many writers capitalize the word following a colon if it begins an independent clause, i.e. a clause which could stand as a complete sentence. This follows the guidelines of some modern American style guides, including those published by the Associated Press and the Modern Language Association. The Chicago Manual of Style,[6] however, requires capitalization only when the colon introduces a direct quotation or two or more complete sentences.
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http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/colon.htm

One of the most frequently asked questions about colons is whether we should begin an independent clause that comes after a colon with a capital letter. If the independent clause coming after the colon is a formal quote, begin that quoted language with a capital letter.

Whitehead had this to say about writing style: "Style is the ultimate morality of mind."

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:

There were two reasons for a drop in attendance at NBA games this season: First, there was no superstar to take the place of Michael Jordan. Second, fans were disillusioned about the misbehavior of several prominent players.

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:

Remember: Many of the prominent families of this New England state were slaveholders prior to 1850.

If the function of the introductory clause is simply to introduce, and the function of the second clause (following the colon) is to express a rule, begin that second clause with a capital:

Let us not forget this point: Appositive phrases have an entirely different function than participial phrases and must not be regarded as dangling modifiers.

There is some disagreement among writing reference manuals about when you should capitalize an independent clause following a colon. Most of the manuals advise that when you have more than one sentence in your explanation or when your sentence(s) is a formal quotation, a capital is a good idea. The NYPL Writer's Guide urges consistency within a document; the Chicago Manual of Style says you may begin an independent clause with a lowercase letter unless it's one of those two things (a quotation or more than one sentence). The APA Publication Manual is the most extreme: it advises us to always capitalize an independent clause following a colon. The advice given above is consistent with the Gregg Reference Manual.
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Personally, I use the American system. I capitalize a complete independent clause after a colon even if it is the only clause after the colon.

CJ

Snarf · Answer

Wow. I need some clarity on one of the main points, however. The rule about only one sentence following the colon versus more than one following it - does that refer to whether the paragraph has ended or not? Or does it mean one or more sentences that are in direct reference to the colon?

Thanks.

Enoon · Answer

Those rules are for the colon's role in normal writing as sentence punctuation, what you call "in direct reference to the colon." When it is used to introduce a block quote or a bullet list or something like that, you're on your own. Use common sense and good judgment.

Snarf · Answer

Well, remaining in the British tradition of the matter, what would say about a case where an independent clause followed the colon, but then after that there was a question regarding that independent clause. For example:

That was her conclusion: she had to find somewhere else to go. Except, how was she going to do that?

Does that question, do you think, connect with the colon, making it necessary for the "She" after the colon to be capitalized?

Thanks.

Enoon · Answer

I never thought there was a definable American-British divide about colons. I've always considered it a judgment call.

I myself would never use a colon in narrative. It is too strong a mark of punctuation. It filches strength from the words nearby and obtrudes. It bumps the reader out of the plane of the page. The import of the colon should be in the words. Take your example. How is a colon better than a full stop? (Hint—it isn't.)

That was her conclusion. She had to find somewhere else to go. Except, how was she going to do that?

Capital versus Lowercase after a Colon

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