Grade by Grade
B. Foundations of Language · Foundations: Grammar, Sentences and Punctuation

Colons Before Quotations and Capital Letters in Quoted Words

B3.3 A3.1About 45 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can use a colon to introduce a quotation after a complete sentence.
  • I can choose between a comma, a colon and no punctuation before a quotation.
  • I can capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence, and use lowercase for a blended partial quotation.
  • I can capitalize titles and proper nouns correctly when I write about texts.

Words to know

quotation
Someone's exact words, shown inside quotation marks.
signal phrase
A short phrase that introduces a quotation, like she said, the author writes or according to the article. It is followed by a comma.
colon
The mark : . It can introduce a quotation, a list or an explanation after a complete sentence.
integrated (blended) quotation
A quotation that flows into your own sentence with no comma or colon before it.

Three ways to bring in a quotation

When you write about a story, a poem or a source in history class, you often quote exact words. Here are three correct ways to bring in the same quotation:

  1. Ms. Kaur said, "Return your permission forms by Friday."
  2. Ms. Kaur gave us a clear reminder: "Return your permission forms by Friday."
  3. Ms. Kaur reminded us to "return [our] permission forms by Friday."

Why a comma in one, a colon in another and nothing in the third? The answer depends on what comes before the quotation.

The rules

1. Signal phrase → comma. A short phrase like she said, he asked or according to the article is followed by a comma.

  • The guide said, "Stay on the trail."

2. Complete sentence → colon. If the words before the quotation could stand alone as a complete sentence, you can use a colon to introduce the quotation.

  • The guide's warning was simple: "Stay on the trail."

3. Blended quotation → no punctuation. If the quotation fits into your own sentence's grammar (often after that), use no comma or colon, and don't capitalize the first quoted word unless it's a proper noun.

  • The guide warned that we must "stay on the trail."

Test for the colon: Cover the quotation with your hand. Is what's left a complete sentence? The guide's warning was simple. ✓ → colon. The guide said ✗ (said what?) → comma.

What comes before the quotation?a signal phraseShe said,commaShe said, “Stay on the trail.”a complete sentencecover test ✓:colonHer warning was simple:“Stay on the trail.”your own wordsthat, to ...noneno markShe warned that we must“stay on the trail.”
Look at what comes before the quotation. A signal phrase takes a comma, a complete sentence can take a colon, and words that flow into the quotation take no mark at all.
What comes before the quotationPunctuationFirst quoted word
A signal phrase (She said)commaCapital (if a full sentence is quoted)
A complete sentencecolonCapital (if a full sentence is quoted)
Your own words that flow into it (that, to)nonelowercase (unless a proper noun)
Choosing the punctuation before a quotation

Where the other marks go

  • Periods and commas go inside the closing quotation marks: "I'm ready," she said. / He called it "amazing."
  • Question marks and exclamation marks go inside if they belong to the quotation, and outside if they belong to your sentence:
  • The coach asked, "Who's ready?" (the quotation is a question)
  • Did the coach really say "no practice"? (your sentence is the question)
  • Use square brackets [ ] if you change a word inside a quotation to make it fit your sentence, like [our] in the hook above.
“I’m ready,” she said.Commas and periods go inside.The coach asked, “Who’s ready?”The quotation is the question: inside.Did the coach really say “no practice”?Your sentence is the question: outside.
The highlighted mark is the one to watch. Commas and periods always go inside the closing quotation marks; a question mark goes inside only if the quotation itself asks the question.
Worked example

Let's punctuate quotations from a poem

John McCrae wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields" during the First World War. Its first line is In Flanders fields the poppies blow. Write three sentences that quote this line in the three different ways.

  1. Signal phrase + comma: McCrae writes, "In Flanders fields the poppies blow."
  2. Complete sentence + colon: The poem opens with a peaceful image: "In Flanders fields the poppies blow." (Cover the quotation: The poem opens with a peaceful image. is a complete sentence. ✓)
  3. Blended: McCrae shows that "the poppies blow" in Flanders fields. No comma or colon, and the is lowercase.

All three are correct. The colon version lets you make a point about the quotation before you show it.

Capital letters when you write about texts

  • Titles: capitalize the first word, the last word and every important word. Small words like a, an, the, and, but, of, in, on, to stay lowercase unless they come first or last: Anne of Green Gables, "In Flanders Fields."
  • Long works (books, films, newspapers) are in italics when you type, or underlined when you handwrite. Short works (poems, songs, articles, short stories) go in "quotation marks".
  • Notice: in the title "In Flanders Fields" the F is a capital, but in the poem's first line, In Flanders fields the poppies blow, it's lowercase. When you quote, copy capitals exactly as the writer used them.
  • Proper nouns always get capitals, including the names of peoples, nations and languages: Indigenous, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, French, Cree.
Worked example

Let's fix a paragraph about a novel

Fix the punctuation and capitals: in the novel the salt wind promise, the main character makes a promise "i will never leave this island." later her grandfather says "Promises can change, like the tide". (The Salt Wind Promise is a made-up novel, invented for this practice.)

  1. Capitalize the first word of each sentence and the title. The title is a book, so put it in italics: In the novel The Salt Wind Promise,...
  2. the main character makes a promise is a complete sentence → colon before the quotation. The quoted sentence starts with I, a capital: ...makes a promise: "I will never leave this island."
  3. later her grandfather says is a signal phrase → comma: Later, her grandfather says, "Promises...
  4. Move the period inside the closing quotation marks: ...like the tide."

In the novel The Salt Wind Promise, the main character makes a promise: "I will never leave this island." Later, her grandfather says, "Promises can change, like the tide." (This novel is made up for practice.)

Just for fun

Why did the quotation ask for a colon?

It wanted a proper introduction: a whole complete sentence, please!

Hands-on activity

Quotation detective at home

You need: a novel, magazine or newspaper, paper and a pencil, and a family member.

  1. Find three quotations in the text (look in a news article or in dialogue).
  2. For each one, write which pattern it uses: signal phrase + comma, complete sentence + colon, or blended.
  3. Interview a family member: ask "What's the best advice you've ever been given?" Write down their exact words.
  4. Write three sentences that quote them, one in each pattern. Example: My dad's best advice is short: "Always be kind."
  5. Check every capital letter and where each period goes.

What to look for: a colon only after a complete sentence, a comma after a signal phrase, no punctuation before a blended quotation, and periods inside the closing quotation marks.

Your turn

1

Add the missing punctuation: The sign at the beach had one message "No swimming today."

2

Add the missing punctuation: Our principal announced "School will close early today."

3

Comma, colon or nothing? The forecast said that "heavy snow is expected overnight."

4

Fix the capital: Grandma always says, "family comes first."

5

Fix the period: My favourite line is "Practice makes progress".

6

Capitalize the title correctly: the call of the wild (a novel)

7

Capitalize correctly: we learned about the inuit and métis communities in our region.

More practice: warm-up

1

What punctuation follows a signal phrase like she said?

2

What punctuation can introduce a quotation after a complete sentence?

3

Do periods go inside or outside closing quotation marks?

4

Add punctuation: Dad asked "Who wants hot chocolate?"

5

Is The teacher said a complete sentence?

More practice: on your own

1

Rewrite with a colon: The coach said, "Never give up."

2

Rewrite as a blended quotation: The article states, "Monarch butterflies travel thousands of kilometres each fall."

3

Inside or outside? Did you hear the teacher say "no homework tonight"_

4

Find the error: The author's message is clear, "Kindness is a choice."

5

Write a sentence about a book you've read that introduces a quotation with a colon.

Challenge

1

Write one sentence that introduces a quotation with a colon for a history assignment. You can quote a classmate, a family member or a source you've read.

2

Explain why both are correct: (a) The anthem begins, "O Canada!" (b) The anthem begins with an address to the country: "O Canada!"

3

Punctuate: the park ranger explained one rule of the backcountry respect the land and it will respect you (Use a colon and quotation marks around the rule.)

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

2.

Which punctuation goes after a signal phrase like Mom said?

3.

Which sentence is correct?

4.

Where does the question mark go? Who said "Let's eat"_

5.

Which title is capitalized correctly?

6.

Which word must always be capitalized?

For parents and teachers

What this lesson is about: using a colon to introduce a quotation after a complete sentence (a Grade 7 expectation), choosing a comma or no punctuation in other cases, and capitalizing quotations, titles and proper nouns (including the names of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples).

How to help at home:

  • Teach the cover test: cover the quotation; if what's left is a complete sentence, a colon works.
  • Have your child quote family members' favourite sayings in all three patterns.
  • When they write about books, check titles (italics or underlining for books, quotation marks for poems and songs).

Common difficulties:

  • Putting a colon after said or that (She said: ...). A colon needs a complete sentence before it.
  • Capitalizing the first word of a blended partial quotation.
  • Putting periods outside the closing quotation marks.
  • Not copying quotations exactly (capitals and wording).