RE: Capitalization in lists

["McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>]

 Wade Courtney offered:
 
> If I recall correctly, it's mostly a style issue unless the 
> list items are
> complete sentences.  The key is consistency. So pick a style 
> and stick with it.
> 
> W
> 
> On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 8:55 AM, Deborah Hemstreet <
> dvora -at- tech-challenged -dot- com> wrote:
> 
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Is there a definitive methodology for capitalizing the 
> first word in lists?
> >
> > For example,
> >
> > This is used to
> > 1. eat a cat
> > 2. kill a mouse, or
> > 3. ride a horse.
> >
> > vs
> >
> > This is used for:
> > 1. eating cats.
> > 2. killing mice.
> > 3. riding horses.
> >
> > vs.
> >
> > Use this to:
> > 1. Eat a cat
> > 2. Kill a mouse
> > 3. Ride a horse
> >
> > -------------------------------
> >
> > Are all of the above correct? My mind has gone blank....

The problems usually arise when _some_ of the list items 
are/could-be complete sentences, while others are not. 

So, re-cast to match whatever style you've chosen for your 
document. 

I formerly liked starting a list with a phrase and colon, 
and then completing the sentence in each list item (where 
I ended up using semi-colons to end each item and a period 
for the final one).  But I got myself into trouble so many 
times that I've generally gone to fully punctuated sentences 
for each list item. It adds some redundancy, but it 
certainly saves your bacon when one or more items needs a 
second sentence to complete the thought. 

Of course, my list items are rarely three-word phrases (or 
sentences). Usually lots more words needed per item.  :-)


 - Kevin


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