The Short Answer
Does capitalization follow a colon? It depends on what follows the colon and which style guide you are using.
Table of Contents
Grammar rules can feel inconsistent, and the colon is one of the biggest offenders. You might see a capital letter after a colon in a newspaper, but a lowercase letter in a novel. Both authors are technically correct according to their specific style guides. The decision to capitalize depends entirely on whether you are following APA, MLA, Chicago, or AP styles, and whether the text following the colon stands alone as a complete sentence.
The General Grammar Rule: Lists and Fragments
Regardless of which style guide you use, there is one universal rule that everyone agrees on. If the text following the colon is not a complete sentence (for example, a list or a fragment), you must not capitalize the first letter. The only exception is if that word happens to be a proper noun (like a name or a country).
Examples: Fragments and Lists
Here, the clause following the colon cannot stand alone, so we keep it lowercase.
I need three things from the store: butter, milk, and eggs.
He had only one goal: to win the championship.
He had only one goal: To win the championship.
APA Style: The Scientific Approach
The APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used in social sciences, education, and engineering. APA has a very distinct rule regarding colons that differs from literary styles.
In APA Style (7th Edition), if the clause following the colon is a complete sentence, you must capitalize the first letter. If it is not a complete sentence, use lowercase.
The research confirmed the hypothesis: The treatment significantly reduced symptoms.
Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)
The Chicago Manual of Style is standard for book publishing and history. Its approach is more conservative and often prefers lowercase.
According to Chicago, you should generally use lowercase after a colon, even if what follows is a complete sentence. However, there is a specific exception: if the colon introduces two or more related sentences, speech in dialogue, or a direct question, then you capitalize.
The rules are simple: play fair and have fun.
He made a bold promise: He would fix the economy. He would lower taxes. He would create jobs.
AP Style: Journalism and News
AP (Associated Press) style is the bible for journalists and news outlets. Similar to APA, AP style favors capitalization for clarity in short news columns.
AP Style dictates that you capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. If the phrase after the colon cannot stand alone as a sentence, keep it lowercase.
The mayor had a message for voters: The election is not over yet.
British vs. American English
There is a distinct geographical divide in how colons are handled. In American English, capitalization after a colon is quite common (especially due to the prevalence of APA and AP styles). However, British English overwhelmingly prefers using a lowercase letter after a colon, even when a full sentence follows.
If you are writing for a UK audience or following Oxford style, you should default to lowercase unless the word is a proper noun (like “London” or “John”).
Style Guide Comparison Table
Use this table to quickly check the rule for your specific document type.
| Style Guide | Complete Sentence Rule | Fragment/List Rule | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA | Capitalize | Lowercase | Academic papers, Science |
| AP (Associated Press) | Capitalize | Lowercase | News, Journalism, Web |
| Chicago (CMOS) | Lowercase (usually) | Lowercase | Books, Publishing |
| MLA | Lowercase (usually) | Lowercase | Literature, Humanities |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Colons
Do you capitalize the first word after a colon in a title?
Yes. In titles and headings, you should always capitalize the first word after a colon, regardless of the style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). This is known as “title case.” For example: “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”
Does a colon start a new sentence?
Grammatically, a colon does not end a sentence; it acts as a gateway to further explanation. However, if the text following the colon forms a complete independent clause (subject + verb), it can be treated as a sentence for capitalization purposes in styles like APA and AP.
What if the word after the colon is a proper noun?
You must always capitalize proper nouns (names of people, cities, countries, companies) regardless of where they appear in a sentence. This rule applies even if the style guide typically requires lowercase after a colon.
Can I use a semicolon instead of a colon?
Not usually. A semicolon separates two related independent clauses. A colon is used when the second part explains, illustrates, or lists items related to the first part. They are not interchangeable in most contexts.
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