Examples

In each of the following examples, determine which word uses the correct capitalization.

1. The first lawsuit against a U.S. tobacco company was filed in 1954 by a former smoker: (A/a) victim of lung cancer.

   Step 1. The colon is not followed by a main clause. Therefore, a lower-case letter should be used.

2. In April 1994, executives employed by seven of the largest U.S. tobacco companies swore that nicotine was not addictive. (They/they also denied that they controlled nicotine levels in cigarettes.)

   Step 1. The parenthetical material stands alone as a sentence. Therefore, the first word of the sentence should be capitalized.

3. The jurors in a recent Florida tobacco trial (Who/who) thought they would be serving for three to four months) ended up serving for two years.

   Step 1. The parenthetical material does not stand alone as a sentence. Therefore, the first word of the parenthetical material should not be capitalized.

4. The movement against smoking began in 1964: (Reports/reports) were released showing that smoking causes lung cancer.

   Step 1. The colon is followed by a main clause. In this situation, the first letter of the main clause may or may not be capitalized. Either is acceptable, as long as you are consistent.

5. According to Stanley Rosenblatt, an attorney representing a half million Florida smokers, "(Never/never) have so few caused so much harm to so many for so long."

   Step 1. The quotation can stand alone as a sentence, and it occurs within a sentence containing an attribution. Therefore, the first letter of the quotation should be capitalized.