How capitalization works with colons

What are the rules for capitalizing after colons?

Capitalization with colons follows specific rules in writing and depends on the context in which the colon is used. Here are the general guidelines for capitalizing with colons:

Capitalization for a complete sentence

Depending on the style guide, if a complete sentence follows the colon, the first word after the colon should be capitalized. For example:

“She had one goal: She wanted to win the championship.”

Because the second sentence can stand on its own as a complete thought, its first word should be capitalized unless stated otherwise by your style guide.

Capitalization after a heading or title

If a heading, title, or label precedes the colon, the first word after the colon is typically capitalized, especially if it’s part of a title or heading. For example, when writing a chapter in a novel, it would look something like this:

“Chapter 5: The Journey Begins.”

The capitalization for the rest of the words in a heading or title will depend on whether it’s written in sentence or title case.

Capitalization in lists

In a vertical or bulleted list after a colon, it’s common to capitalize the first letter of each item if the items are independent clauses or proper nouns. Let’s use this list as an example:

“Three people went to the party: Julia, Michael, and Alexis.”

Capitalization in formal documents and style guides

In some formal documents, style guides, or specific writing conventions, there may be exceptions to these rules. Always follow the style guide or specific requirements for the context in which you are writing.

No capitalization in incomplete sentences

If the phrase following the colon is not a complete sentence, it does not need to be capitalized. For example:

“There are three options: to go, to stay, to leave.”

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Capitalization in informal or creative writing

In creative or informal writing, writers may choose to deviate from these rules for stylistic or creative reasons. However, consistency within your writing is still important. So, if you decide to capitalize after every colon, be sure to do the same throughout.

In general, the best thing you can do is to be consistent with capitalization after colons within a single document or piece of writing. Different style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, and others, may have specific rules regarding colons and capitalization, so it’s a good idea to consult the relevant style guide if you have one.

Get more comfortable with using punctuation in your writing

Punctuation is an essential part of writing that often gets overlooked. Following the correct punctuation rules will help you improve your writing and make it easy to understand. Colons are a useful form of punctuation, and learning how to properly use them will help encourage you to include them more often when you write. If you’re still having trouble remembering when to capitalize after a colon, using a text editing tool can give you that extra gut check you need.

It also helps to get a refresher on following punctuation rules, especially if you don’t write very often. You can browse through our writing tips to learn about the use of semicolons, how to use quotation marks, and more.