101.17 17. COLONS


Colons indicate a close relationship between a clause and what follows. The clause that comes after a colon often clarifies what precedes it. Using a colon often signals some form of introduction or amplification, such as the introduction of a list, series, appositive, or another independent clause. This use is synonymous with “namely” or “as follows.”

With rare exception, a colon is placed after an independent clause, but not after a phrase or dependent clause. In general, avoid using a colon where it disrupts a sentence that could otherwise stand on its own.

Don’t use a colon between a verb and its object.

Incorrect Last Halloween, I saw: three ghouls, five superheroes, and one Mad Hatter.

Correct Last Halloween, I saw a variety of costumes: three ghouls, five superheroes, and one Mad Hatter.

Avoid using a colon between a preposition and its object.

Incorrect Last Halloween, I got candy from: an old lady in an empty mansion and her tenant in the shed out back.

Correct Last Halloween, I got candy from some interesting neighbors: the weirdest were the old lady in an empty mansion and her tenant in the shed out back.

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Don’t use a colon before a list introduced by such as.

Incorrect I prefer healthy snacks, such as: apples, oranges, mangoes, and pecans.

Correct I prefer healthy snacks: apples, oranges, mangoes, and pecans.

17a. Using a Colon between Two Main Clauses

Place a colon between two main clauses where the second clause exemplifies, explains, amplifies, or summarizes the first.

Writing is easy: you just stare at the page until your eyes bleed.

17b. Using Colons with a List or Series

The colon may introduce a list or series.

Spring is my favorite time of year for the following reasons: mild temperatures, lots of sunshine, and many fragrant blossoms.

17c. Using Colons with Appositives

A colon preceded by a main clause can introduce an appositive.

Mary has four favorite foods: pizza, gummy worms, peaches, and chocolate.

17d. Using Colons with Quotations

A colon can introduce a long or heavily punctuated quotation.

Vincent van Gogh said: “I have tried to emphasize that those people, eating their potatoes in the lamplight, have dug the earth with those very hands they put in the dish, and so it speaks of ‘manual labour,’ and how they have honestly earned their food.”

17e. Conventional Colon Uses

Use a colon rather than a comma after a salutation in a formal letter.

To whom it may concern:

Use a colon within biblical citations.

Matthew 17:20

Use a colon between a text’s title and subtitle.

Transformational Grammar: A First Course

Use a colon between the publisher’s state and name when citing a primary source such as a book in academic writing.

Fine, Ruth. Procession: The Art of Norman Lewis.

Berkeley: University of California Press, 2015.

Use a colon between the hour and minutes when giving the time of day with numerals.

2:22 P.M.