Capitalization: First Word After a Colon When a colon introduces a list of things, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun. When a colon introduces a complete sentence, you may capitalize the first word after the colon according to some style guides.

The hard and fast rule is that a colon must ALWAYS follow a complete sentence. Do not use a colon after a sentence fragment, ever. A colon is used after a full sentence or independent clause to introduce something that illustrates, clarifies, or amplifies what was said in the sentence that preceded the colon.

2) In APA style, you capitalize the first word after a colon if it’s the start of at least one complete sentence (or of course, if it’s a proper noun). So in APA style, you can use a colon only after a complete sentence, and you capitalize the first word after a colon when it’s the start of a complete sentence.

Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.

No. The question mark is at the end of a sentence. A colon only goes within a sentence. There are three punctuation marks which indicate the END of a sentence: the period, the question mark, and the exclamation mark.

Use a semicolon to join two related independent clauses in place of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction.

1. [S] [T] Divide this among yourselves. (
2. [S] [T] Divide the cake among you three. (
3. [S] [T] Divide the cake between you two. (
4. [S] [T] We divided the money between us. (
5. [S] [T] Tom divided the bread into two pieces. (
6. [S] [T] He divided the apples among the five of us. (