Which statement correctly describes capitalization after a colon?

Which statement correctly describes capitalization after a colon?

• A. Always capitalize after a colon
• B. Capitalize only if the following word begins a complete sentence
• C. Never capitalize after a colon
• D. Capitalize all words after a colon

Answer: (B)

Capitalization after a colon follows whether what comes next forms a complete sentence. If the material after the colon is an independent sentence, you capitalize the first word. If it’s a list, phrase, or fragment, you don’t. That’s why the statement is correct: you capitalize only when the following text begins a complete sentence. For example, He had one goal: Finish the race. Here, “Finish the race” is a full sentence, so the capital F is appropriate. But in She bought three items: shoes, socks, and hats, the words after the colon aren’t a separate sentence, so they stay lowercase.

Capitalization after a colon follows whether what comes next forms a complete sentence. If the material after the colon is an independent sentence, you capitalize the first word. If it’s a list, phrase, or fragment, you don’t.

That’s why the statement is correct: you capitalize only when the following text begins a complete sentence. For example, He had one goal: Finish the race. Here, “Finish the race” is a full sentence, so the capital F is appropriate. But in She bought three items: shoes, socks, and hats, the words after the colon aren’t a separate sentence, so they stay lowercase.