Colon and Capitalization

Colon and Capitalization

1. Uses

   • Colon
     • Gramatical uses of Colon
       • Introduce a list of terms
         • Examples:
           • There are three types of muscle in the body: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.
             • There are three types of muscle in the body (and they are): cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.
         • A capital letter generally does not introduce a word, phrase, or incomplete sentence following a colon.
           • Examples
             • He got what he worked for: a promotion
               • He got what he worked for: a promotion that paid a higher wage.
           • Avoid using a colon before a list if it directly follows a verb or preposition that would ordinarily need no punctuation in that sentence.
             • Examples
               • I want butter, sugar, and flour.
                 • Here is what I want: butter, sugar, and flour.
             • May be used between independent clauses when the second sentence explains, illustrates, paraphrases, or expands on the first sentence.
               • Example
                 • He got what he worked for: he really earned that promotion.
                   • Remember the old saying: Be careful what you wish for.
   • Capitalization
     • grammatical Uses
       • Capitalize the First Word of a Sentence
         • Examples
           • The cat is sleeping.
             • Hey! It’s great to see you! How have you been?
         • Capitalize Names and Other Proper Nouns
           • Examples
             • My favorite author is Jane Austen.
               • Tom and Diane met at Judy’s house.
           • Don’t Capitalize After a Colon ( with exceptions)
             • Examples
               • I have one true passion: wombat racing.
                 • The exception
                   • There is only one place I want to visit: New York City.
             • Capitalize the First Word of a Quote ( With exceptions), Capitalize the first word of a quote when the quote is a complete sentence.
               • Example
                 • Mario asked, “What is everyone doing this weekend?”
                   • Gretchen said she was “way too busy” to join the gym.
               • Capitalize Days, Months, and Holidays, But Not Seasons
                 • Examples
                   • Tom’s birthday is in June.
                     • I hate winter!
                 • Capitalize Most Words in Titles
                   • Examples
                     • The first movie of the series is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
                       • Sense and Sensibility are better than Pride and Prejudice.
                   • Capitalize Cities, Countries, Nationalities, and Languages
                     • Examples
                       • My mother is British, and my father is Dutch
                         • The capital of Botswana is Gaborone.
                     • Capitalize Time Periods and Events
                       • Examples
                         • Most of the World War I veterans are now deceased.
                           • In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, England blossomed into an empire.