General guidelines chicago manual of style, 17th edition. Apr 03, 20 2 centered, regular type, headline style capitalization 3 flush left, boldface or italic type, headline style capitalization 4 flush left, roman type, sentence style capitalization 5 run in at beginning of paragraph no blank line after, boldface or italic type, sentence style capitalization, terminal period. Capitalize the first word after a colon that begins a complete sentence. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a colon. If a title or heading includes a colon, capitalize the first word after it. If you are writing a paper for a history class, it is likely your professor will ask you to write in chicago style. Download capitalization after colon chicago manual style free. For titles with subtitles, if the title ends in a question mark, do not include a colon before the subtitle. These questions are designed to test knowledge of the chicago manual of style, which prefers merriamwebsters collegiate dictionary, 11th edition.
Writing principles usagov platform style guide usagov. My grammar books say to cap the first word of what comes after a colon. For consistency, capitalize what follows a colon if it is a complete sentence. For a vertical list sometimes called a display list, you may choose to capitalize the items or not, and you may choose to put a comma after each item or not. Mar 25, 2020 5 run in at beginning of paragraph no blank line after, boldface or italic type, sentence style capitalization terminal period.
But when sentences follow the colon how do you know if theyre sequential enough to warrant the capital. Use a lowercase letter for the first word after a colon unless the word is a proper name. In their view, the word following a colon should be capitalized only if there are two explanatory sentences following the colon. If you write a lot of reports and documents with lists, you ll always do well if you follow the guidelines above, recognizing the need of the reader to grasp information quickly and easily. Its fine to capitalize there, although chicago style is to lowercase after a colon unless what follows consists of two or more complete sentences. The chicago manual of style has pages of rules and examples of bullet lists that agree with the garner style recommendation to use semicolons after each item, use and after the nexttolastitem, and use a period at the end of the last item. This means that all other conjunctions, including if, are capitalized. This handout lists some guidelines for capitalization.
The chicago manual of style passively, equivocally. While formatting intext citations, do not use punctuation between the authors last name and the year of publication. Capitalization microsoft style guide microsoft docs. A lowercase letter should only be used if the phrase after the colon consists of a sentence fragment, rather than a full sentence. Whether or not the first letter after a colon should be capitalized depends on the style manual you choose. Remember the days when your manual typewriter didnt have a. Jun 23, 2020 the ap stylebook recently endorsed capitalizing black when referring to the racial or ethnic group. Just as colon the organ, um, moves things along, so does colon the. A colon is also appropriate if the list that follows will be numbered or will establish a. The task force to investigate changes affecting rda in the chicago manual of style, 16th edition, has submitted its final report. The chicago manual of style passively, equivocally advocates. The chicago manual of style chapter addresses just about every issue that might come up in a technical or mathematical text. Lots of opinions here, but lets look to a higher authority.
Whether to use a colon or a period is a matter of style or the writers intent. Exceptions proper nouns, including brand, product, and service names, are always capitalized. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground with. Chicago style is based on the chicago manual of style turabian style is based on kate l. Since your paper must follow apa style, we recommend that you consult the publication manual of the american psychological association to confirm that they agree. For example, the chicago manual of style believes you should capitalize the first word after a colon only if the colon introduces two explanatory sentences. Dec 17, 2018 the chicago manual of style it is a bit different with the chicago manual of style though. A colon is normally used after as follows, the following, and similar. In chicago style, you capitalize the first letter after the colon only when the colon introduces two or more sentences. According to the chicago manual of style, the first letter after a colon should be capital ized in the following cases. By david becker one basic rule of apa style is to capitalize the first word after the colon in.
This differs from both mla and chicago recommendations. May 20, 2020 when a colon links two independent clauses, apa style recommends beginning the second sentence with a capital letter. Lucky for us, ap and chicago agree on one thing before they part ways. Capitalize a complete sentence after a colon if you are using either the chicago manual of style, or mla, and there are multiple explanatory sentences after the colon. Do you capitalize after a colon it depends on which style guide. Ive noticed that, when using title case, the gets capitalized after a colon i. Youre going to capitalize the first word of the second and third sentences, so you capitalize the first one too so they all look the same. 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. Subscribers to the chicago manual of style online may click. Apr 19, 2012 the key is to pick a style and be consistent.
Do not capitalize after a colon if youre introducing a list. If there is only one sentence that follows the colon, then do not capitalize the first word. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Heading caps capitalize the first and last words and all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and subordinating conjunctions cms 1993, 282. In modern englishlanguage printing, no space is placed before a colon and a single space is placed after it. Doc capitalization after colons zeinab ajarmeh academia. May 30, 2017 this months workout centers on sections 6. Do not capitalize the second word of a hyphenated compound. If you have a question about whether a specific word should be capitalized that doesnt fit under one of these rules, try checking a dictionary to see if the word is capitalized there. The chicago manual of style the chicago manual of style has a slightly different perspective on whether to capitalize after colons. The following rules, though occasionally arbitrary, are intended primarily to facilitate the consistent styling of titles mentioned or cited in text and notes.
The chicago manual of style abbreviated in writing as chicago style, cms, or cmos is a style guide for american english published since 1906 by the university of chicago press. Do you capitalize after a colon it depends on which style. Widely used style guides regarding capitalization of titles and headings include the gregg reference manual, the chicago manual of style chicago style, the american psychological association apa style, and the modern language association mla style. Understandably, many editors are confused about when to capitalize the element directly following a colon. Capitalization after colons chicago style and mla style. At the same time, unless you are styling terms in a book of cocktail recipes, consistent capitalization is often also overkillhighball and gimlet would be odd. Chicago style is one of the most common citation and formatting styles you will encounter in your academic career. Capitalizing words after a colon in a sentence grammar goddess. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format.
Final report from the task force on the chicago manual of style. The ap says use a capital letter for the first word after a colon if it is either a proper name or the first word of a complete sentence. If there is only one explanatory sentence following a colon, then you do not capitalize the first word after the colon to adhere to the chicago manual of style. Sentence style capitalization in titles and headings. Spelling generally, we follow the united states government publishing office style manual spelling guidance, but we do use some exceptions. If what follows the colon is a series of sentences, then you should capitalize the first letter of the first word in them all. Use cms headline style for titles and subtitles of books and articles. After finishing my budgets, i knew that a much deserved judgment day was in my future. The title case rules of the chicago manual of style are more exhaustive than all others, and they feature a few peculiarities. When a colon introduces an incomplete sentence, do not capitalize the first letter unless it is a proper. The chicago manual of style has a slightly different perspective on whether to capitalize after colons. In a timely change, publications start capitalizing black. The conjunctions that should be lowercased according to rule 4 are and, but, for, nor, and or. Cmos says that you re supposed to capitalize after the colon when the colon introduces 1 a quotation or 2 multiple sentences.
The ap and the chicago manual of style agree on this. The chicago manual of style s rule is when a colon is used within a sentence, the first word following the colon is lowercased unless it is a proper name. Elements of citations chicago style notesbibliography. Dont capitalize after a colon when the word continues a fragment of thought or introduces a list. Now the other major stylebook, the chicago manual of style, has joined in. Chicago style guide quick reference this reference sheet is intended to provide assistance while using the 15 th edition of the chicago manual of style. So, if you re using chicago, which is probable if you re a blogger unless you re focused on news reporting, literary.
After the colon, you have a complete sentence, and youre using apa or ap style guide throughout your piece of writing. Other style guides may follow a different dictionary. For more detailed information and specific examples, please reference the full text. 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. After each bullet, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each item. The department prefers bullets, but punctuate them per ap style. The chicago manual of style it is a bit different with the chicago manual of style though. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a. The new york times manual of style and usage is similar. You dont have to capitalize words after commas everytime.
The chicago manual of style must be followed for headings and subheadings, tables and figures, text. In chicago style, as a rule, the first letter of the first word after a colon should be lowercase, especially if the colon is used within a sentence. Like most things in chicago style, these are guidelines rather than strict rules, but it is worth checking how your client is using commas if they specify using this style. Turabians a manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, which is very similar to chicago style but with an emphasis on student writing. Chicago manual of style and the apa publication manual. Write out numbers that require no more than two words, remembering that a hyphenated number between twentyone and ninetynine counts as one word.
Some style guides, such as the chicago manual of style, recommend capitalizing the word following a colon only if there are two explanatory sentences following the colon. 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. Since breaking news of the 17th edition, out in september, the university of chicago press has revealed some major revisions to the chicago manual of style. According to cms, the word that comes after a colon should be capitalized when two explanatory sentences come after the colon. In titles of books and articles in reference lists, capitalize only the first word, the first word after a colon or em dash, and proper nouns. Theres nothing like a rattlesnake to make you feel queasy.
Associated press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. Lowercase the first word unless it is a proper noun or the start of at least two complete sentences or a direct question. Definition and examples of title case and headline style. But the cmos announcement is hardly a masterpiece of clarity.
Jan 08, 2018 some style guides, such as the chicago manual of style, recommend capitalizing the word following a colon only if there are two explanatory sentences following the colon. Do you capitalize after a colon chicago manual of style. Introduction to chicagoturabian style boundless writing. Jun 29, 2020 the chicago manual of style, as a matter of editorial consistency, is allowing the capitalization of white and similar terms when referring to racial and ethnic identity. Chicago manual capitalization after colon there are conflicting policies and theories about capitalizing after colons. Chicago manual of style according to the chicago manual of style, the first letter after a colon should be capitalized in the following cases.
If you use commas, put a period after the last item. Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. Colon capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. In their view, the word following a colon should be. Apa requires it when the second phrase is a complete sentence. The strategy i happen to use is pretty brainfree, which is to say that it follows ap style. Capitalizing words after a colon in a sentence grammar. All other styles except for the new york times lowercase all seven coordinating conjunctions, but only five are lowercased in chicago style, namely and, but, for, nor, and or, whereas yet and so are capitalized. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground. So, if youre using chicago, which is probable if youre a blogger unless youre focused on news reporting, literary.
Also capitalize the first character after a colon in a title or heading. Also, capitalize the first word after a colon or a dash in a title. Although the symbols cap r in a circle and superscript tm for registered and unregistered trademarks, respectively often accompany trademark names on product packaging and in promotional material, there is no legal requirement to use these symbols, and they should be omitted wherever possible. The first word after the colon is a proper noun the colon introduces 2 or more sentences. Capitalize first and last words of title and subtitle, if any. Use sentence style capitalization in most titles and headings. The exception is when the colon introduces multiple sentences or when it introduces speech. The chicago manual of style is more nuanced, and maybe more confusing.
14 857 1623 718 1132 1068 121 559 1825 348 745 97 1117 1515 539 1386 1670 1074 224 1486 313 683 581