Rulebase

Colon After Speaker Name or Title in Transcripts

The Colon

Rulebase Summary

Use a colon after the name or title of a speaker to identify who is speaking in a transcript. The speaker's name or title appears in capitals, followed by a colon, then the spoken words.

Morson's Rule 36 · p.25

Examples

THE COURT. The objection is sustained.

THE COURT: The objection is sustained.

Colon after the speaker label in transcript format.

MR. JENKINS, I would like to call my next witness.

MR. JENKINS: I would like to call my next witness.

Speaker identification always takes a colon.

Style Guide References (1)

Morson's

Rule 36 Page 25
See also (3)