Use lowercase after a colon (EK00020)
Keeping the word after a colon lowercase treats the colon as a continuation and keeps capitalization consistent across your documentation.
Keeping the word after a colon lowercase treats the colon as a continuation rather than a new sentence, so capitalization stays consistent in your documentation. EkLine flags a word that starts with an uppercase letter right after a colon within a sentence (rule EK00020).
Why use lowercase after a colon in documentation?
Section titled “Why use lowercase after a colon in documentation?”A colon introduces a related clause, not a new sentence, so the word after it stays lowercase in most style guides. Mixing uppercase and lowercase after colons across a document looks unedited and distracts readers. A single convention keeps your capitalization predictable.
What EkLine flags
Section titled “What EkLine flags”EK00020 flags a word that starts with an uppercase letter directly after a colon, unless the word is a proper noun.
- ❌ Incorrect: Note: This step is required.
- ✅ Correct: Note: this step is required.
- ❌ Incorrect: Remember: Always back up first.
- ✅ Correct: Remember: always back up first.
How to fix
Section titled “How to fix”Lowercase the first letter of the word after the colon. When that word is a proper noun, keep its capitalization and ignore the rule for that line.
Do you capitalize the first word after a colon?
Section titled “Do you capitalize the first word after a colon?”In most style guides, no. A colon introduces a related clause, not a new sentence, so the following word stays lowercase.
When does a word after a colon keep its capital letter?
Section titled “When does a word after a colon keep its capital letter?”When it is a proper noun. “Supported platform: Linux” keeps the capital because Linux is a name.
Rule details
Section titled “Rule details”| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rule ID | EK00020 |
| Category | Sentences and phrases |
| Default severity | Warning |
| Enabled by default | No |
Ignore this rule
Section titled “Ignore this rule”To keep a capitalized word after a colon on one line, add an inline comment with a reason:
<!-- ekline-ignore-next-line EK00020 -- capitalized product term -->Requirement: Enterprise plan users only.To disable the rule across your project, add it to the ignore list in your configuration file.