Editing Colon (punctuation) (section)

===Use of capitals===
Use of capitalization or lower-case after a colon varies. In [[British English]], and in most [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, the word following the colon is in lower case unless it is normally capitalized for some other reason, as with [[proper noun]]s and [[acronym]]s. British English also capitalizes a new sentence introduced by a colon's [[#Segmental|segmental use]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

[[American English]] permits writers to similarly capitalize the first word of any [[independent clause]] following a colon. This follows the guidelines of some modern American style guides, including those published by the [[Associated Press]] and the [[Modern Language Association]]. ''[[The Chicago Manual of Style]]'', however, requires capitalization only when the colon introduces a direct quotation, a direct question, or two or more complete sentences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Capitalization.html |title=Chicago Style Q&A: Capitalization |publisher=Chicagomanualofstyle.org |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=15 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015022853/http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Capitalization.html |url-status=live}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=January 2024}}

In many [[Europe]]an languages, the colon is usually followed by a lower-case letter unless the upper case is required for other reasons, as with British English. [[German language|German]] usage requires capitalization of [[independent clause]]s following a colon.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012100137/http://www.duden.de/deutsche_sprache/newsletter/archiv.php?id=21 Duden Newsletter vom 24.08.2001]</ref> [[Dutch language|Dutch]] further capitalizes the first word of any quotation following a colon, even if it is not a complete sentence on its own.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/392/ |title=Hoofdletter na dubbele punt |publisher=taaladvies.net |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=26 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026015501/http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/392 |url-status=live}}</ref>