Capitalization after colons can be confusing because the first word after a colon is not always capitalized. In some situations, you should begin with a capital letter, while in others, you should use lowercase. The correct choice depends on what comes after the colon and, in formal writing, the style guide you follow.
A colon is commonly used to introduce a list, explanation, example, quotation, or complete sentence. For example, in She packed three things: a jacket, a hat, and gloves, the word after the colon begins with lowercase. However, different capitalization rules may apply when a colon introduces a complete sentence or other special content.
In this guide, you will learn the main rules for capitalization after colons, including when to capitalize after a colon, when to use lowercase, and how the rules apply to sentences, lists, titles, and quotations. Clear examples will help you use colons and capitalization correctly in your writing.
Table of Contents
What Is Capitalization After a Colon?
Capitalization after a colon refers to whether the first word following a colon (:) should begin with a capital or lowercase letter.
A colon is used to introduce information that explains, expands on, or relates directly to what comes before it. What follows a colon may be a single word, a phrase, a list, a quotation, or one or more complete sentences.
For example:
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Before a list: She bought three things: bread, milk, and eggs.
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Before a phrase: He had one goal: to finish the project on time.
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Before a complete sentence: Remember this: Practice makes a difference.
Whether practice should be capitalized in the final example can depend on the style guide you follow. Therefore, there is no single capitalization rule that applies to everything that comes after a colon.
Should You Capitalize After a Colon?
You do not always capitalize the first word after a colon. Whether you use a capital or lowercase letter depends on what follows the colon and, in some cases, the writing style you are following.
As a general rule:
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Use lowercase when the colon introduces a word, phrase, or list.
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Use a capital letter when the word after the colon must normally be capitalized, such as a proper noun.
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When a colon introduces a complete sentence, capitalization can depend on the style guide.
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If a colon introduces two or more complete sentences, capitalization is generally used.
Compare these examples:
Word or phrase:
She had one ambition: to become a doctor.
List:
We need three ingredients: flour, sugar, and butter.
Proper noun:
They decided to visit one city: London.
Complete sentence:
Remember this rule: Practice makes progress.
The last example may be written with either Practice or practice depending on the style guide being followed. This is why it is important to consider both sentence structure and writing style when deciding whether to capitalize after a colon.
When to Capitalize After a Colon
Although lowercase is common after a colon, there are several situations in which the first word should or may begin with a capital letter.
1. When the Colon Introduces a Complete Sentence
When a colon introduces a complete sentence, capitalization depends on the style guide you are following. Some style guides capitalize the first word, while others generally use lowercase for a single complete sentence.
For example:
Capitalized:
She gave us one warning: Do not open the door.
Lowercase:
She gave us one warning: do not open the door.
Both forms can be correct under different style conventions. The important thing is to follow the required style consistently.
2. When Two or More Complete Sentences Follow the Colon
Capitalize the first word when a colon introduces two or more related complete sentences.
Example:
The teacher gave us two instructions: Complete the assignment by Friday. Bring your notes to the next class.
Each statement after the colon is a complete sentence, so it begins with a capital letter.
3. When a Proper Noun Follows the Colon
Always capitalize a proper noun after a colon because proper nouns are capitalized wherever they appear in a sentence.
Examples:
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She wanted to visit one country: Canada.
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He recommended his favorite author: William Shakespeare.
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Our meeting is scheduled for one day: Monday.
The colon does not change the normal capitalization rules for proper nouns.
4. When the Colon Introduces a Direct Quotation
When a colon introduces a complete direct quotation, capitalize the first word of the quotation.
Example:
The teacher gave us this advice: “Always check your work before submitting it.”
However, if the quoted material is only a word or fragment that would not normally be capitalized, a capital letter is not required simply because it follows a colon.
5. When Capitalization Is Required by a Style Guide
Academic, professional, and journalistic style guides have their own rules for capitalization after colons. For example, APA, Chicago, MLA, and AP do not handle every situation in exactly the same way.
If you are writing for a school, university, publication, or organization, follow its required style guide rather than applying one rule to every sentence.
We will compare the major style-guide rules later in this guide.
When Not to Capitalize After a Colon
In many sentences, the first word after a colon does not need to be capitalized. This is especially true when the colon introduces a word, phrase, list, or incomplete thought.
1. When a Word or Phrase Follows the Colon
Use lowercase when the colon introduces an ordinary word or phrase that continues the thought of the sentence.
Examples:
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She had one goal: success.
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He wanted only one thing: to go home.
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The problem was obvious: a lack of preparation.
The material after each colon is not a complete sentence, so there is no reason to capitalize its first word.
2. When the Colon Introduces an Inline List
Do not capitalize the first item simply because it comes after a colon when a list appears within a sentence.
Examples:
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We need three ingredients: flour, sugar, and butter.
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The course covers four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
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She packed the essentials: clothes, shoes, toiletries, and a towel.
Individual items should still be capitalized when they are proper nouns.
Example:
Our trip includes three cities: London, Paris, and Rome.
3. When an Explanation Is Not a Complete Sentence
A colon may introduce an explanation or additional information that is not grammatically complete on its own. In this situation, begin with lowercase unless the first word normally requires capitalization.
Examples:
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He missed the meeting for one reason: a delayed flight.
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There was an obvious problem: not enough chairs for everyone.
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She accepted the offer for a simple reason: better career opportunities.
4. When a Sentence Fragment Follows the Colon
A sentence fragment following a colon normally begins with lowercase.
Example:
The team identified its biggest weakness: poor communication between departments.
Here, poor communication between departments is a fragment rather than an independent sentence.
The easiest rule to remember is that a colon by itself does not make the following word uppercase. Capitalization is determined by what follows the colon and, when complete sentences are involved, the style guide you are using.
Capitalization After Colons in Lists
Colons are often used to introduce lists. The capitalization after the colon depends mainly on whether the list appears within a sentence or is presented vertically.
Inline Lists
When a colon introduces a list within a sentence, the first item normally begins with a lowercase letter unless it is a proper noun or another word that is normally capitalized.
Examples:
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She bought four items: bread, milk, eggs, and cheese.
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You need three skills for the job: communication, organization, and teamwork.
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The course focuses on four areas: grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing.
If the items are proper nouns, capitalize them as usual:
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We visited three cities: London, Paris, and Rome.
Vertical Lists
When a colon introduces a vertical list, capitalization depends on the type and structure of the list items.
If each item is a complete sentence, begin each one with a capital letter.
Example:
Follow these instructions:
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Complete the application form.
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Attach a copy of your identification.
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Submit your application before Friday.
For short words or sentence fragments, lowercase may be appropriate, especially when the items complete the introductory sentence.
Example:
The recipe requires:
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flour
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sugar
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butter
-
eggs
However, capitalization conventions for vertical lists can vary by style guide or publication. Whichever format you choose, keep the capitalization of similar list items consistent throughout the list.
Capitalization After Colons in Titles and Headings
When a colon appears in a title or heading, the first word after the colon is usually capitalized when you are using title case. The part that follows the colon is often called the subtitle.
Examples:
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English Grammar: A Complete Guide for Beginners
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Writing Skills: How to Improve Your English
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Capitalization After Colons: Rules and Examples
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Learning English: Tips for Building Your Vocabulary
In each example, the first word after the colon begins with a capital letter because it starts the subtitle.
Colons in Sentence-Case Titles
If a title or heading uses sentence case, capitalization after a colon may depend on the style guide being followed. Some styles capitalize the first word of a subtitle even when the rest of the title uses sentence case.
For example:
Improving your writing: A practical guide for beginners
Do not assume that the capitalization rules used for ordinary sentences apply in exactly the same way to titles. Titles and headings often follow their own capitalization conventions.
For a complete explanation of which words should be capitalized in titles, see our guide to Capitalization of Titles.
Capitalization After Colons in Major Style Guides
Different style guides have different rules for capitalizing the first word after a colon. This is especially important when the colon introduces a complete sentence.
APA Style
In APA style, capitalize the first word after a colon when the colon introduces a complete sentence.
Example:
The results were clear: Students performed better after additional practice.
If the colon introduces a word, phrase, or incomplete sentence, use lowercase unless the word normally requires capitalization.
Example:
The study examined three factors: age, education, and income.
Chicago Style
In Chicago style, the first word after a colon is generally lowercase when only one complete sentence follows.
Example:
She reached one conclusion: the plan needed more work.
However, capitalize the first word when the colon introduces two or more complete sentences.
Example:
The instructions were clear: Complete the first section today. Submit the remaining work tomorrow.
MLA Style
In MLA style, a lowercase letter is generally used after a colon when the material following it continues the sentence, unless the first word would normally require capitalization.
Example:
The author emphasizes one central idea: education can change lives.
Special capitalization rules may apply when a colon is used in a title or when it introduces quoted material.
AP Style
In AP style, capitalize the first word after a colon when it begins a complete sentence.
Example:
The message was clear: The company would announce its decision tomorrow.
Use lowercase when the colon introduces a word, phrase, or list.
Example:
She brought everything she needed: a notebook, a pen, and a calculator.
Which Rule Should You Follow?
If you are writing for a school, university, publisher, newspaper, or organization, use the style guide they require. If no particular style guide is required, choose a consistent capitalization style and use it throughout your writing.
The key point is that capitalization after a colon can vary when a complete sentence follows. This is why two correctly edited texts may use different capitalization after a colon without either one necessarily being wrong.
Conclusion
Understanding capitalization after colons becomes easier once you look at what follows the colon. When a colon introduces a word, phrase, or inline list, the first word normally begins with lowercase unless it is a proper noun or another term that requires capitalization.
When a complete sentence follows a colon, the capitalization rule may vary depending on the style guide you are using. Titles, quotations, multiple complete sentences, and vertical lists may also follow their own capitalization conventions.
The most important rule is to consider the structure of the text after the colon and remain consistent with the style you are following. With these rules and examples in mind, you can use capitalization after colons more accurately and confidently in your writing.
FAQs About Capitalization After Colons
Do you capitalize the first word after a colon?
Not always. Use lowercase when a colon introduces an ordinary word, phrase, or inline list. When it introduces a complete sentence, capitalization may depend on the style guide you are following.
Do you capitalize after a colon in a sentence?
It depends on what follows the colon. A word, phrase, or incomplete thought normally begins with lowercase. If a complete sentence follows, check the capitalization rules of the required style guide.
Do you capitalize after a colon in a list?
For an inline list, the first item normally begins with lowercase unless it is a proper noun. In a vertical list, capitalization depends on the structure of the items and the style guide being used.
Do you capitalize a complete sentence after a colon?
Some style guides capitalize the first word of a complete sentence after a colon, while others may use lowercase when only one complete sentence follows. Follow the style guide required for your writing.
Do you capitalize a proper noun after a colon?
Yes. Proper nouns are always capitalized regardless of their position after a colon. For example: She wanted to visit one city: London.
Should you capitalize after a colon in a title?
When using title case, capitalize the first word after a colon because it begins the subtitle. For example: English Grammar: A Complete Guide for Beginners.
Is a capital letter always required after a colon?
No. A colon does not automatically require a capital letter. The decision depends on the type of content that follows and, for complete sentences, the style convention you are using.
I hope this article helped you to learn capitalization after colons.
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Continue learning about capitalization with these related guides:
- English Capitalization Rules: Explanation with Examples
- Capitalization in Quotes
- Capitalization of Titles
- 10 Rules of Capitalization to Boost Your Writing