Colons cause problems for some beginning writers in three different
ways:
1.
When a colon is placed after to be verbs,
2.
When a colon is placed after
prepositions, and
3.
When a colon is placed after for example, such as, or including.
(Incorrect): The ingredients of the cake are:
flour, milk, eggs, pineapple chunks, sugar, and baking soda.
(Correct): The ingredients of the cake are
flour, milk, eggs, pineapple chunks, sugar, and baking soda.
(Incorrect): The book consists of: ten
chapters, appendices, and pictures.
(Correct): The book consists of ten chapters,
appendices, and pictures.
(Incorrect): Many people worked on this project
for example: Anthony, Vasu, and Mala.
(Correct): Many people worked on this
project, for example Anthony, Vasu, and Mala Colons have the following uses:
·
For a list
Colons are used for introducing a list.
These students are going on the field trip: Susan, Al, Trey, Michele, and JoAnn.
·
For direct quotations
Colons are used to introduce long or literary
quotations.
Frederick Douglass
writes in his Emancipation Proclaimed: “Common sense, the necessities of the war, to
say nothing of the dictation of justice and humanity have at last prevailed.”
·
For a Final Summary or Explanation
Colons are used for introducing final summaries or
explanations to the first part of the sentence.
Both parts must be complete sentences (independent clauses).
The manager undertook
the project with one goal: the project will be completed on time.
For Salutations in a Formal Letter; Between Hours and
Minutes; Between Titles and Subtitles; Ratios; and Between City and Publisher in Reference Citations
Dear
Mrs. Bradley
10:00
a.m. (A.M.)
3:1
The History of Tribal People: Maoris in New Zealand
Broadway,
Auckland: Translands Books
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