35a. Before a list, an appositive, a quotation, or a summary

35aUse a colon after an independent clause to direct attention to a list, an appositive, a quotation, or a summary or an explanation.

a list

The daily exercise routine should include at least the following: twenty knee bends, fifty sit-ups, and five minutes of running in place.

an appositive

My roommate is guilty of two of the seven deadly sins: gluttony and sloth.

a quotation

Consider the words of Benjamin Franklin: “There never was a good war or a bad peace.”

a summary or an explanation

Faith is like love: It cannot be forced.

The novel is clearly autobiographical: The author even gives his own name to the main character.

note: For other ways of introducing quotations, see “Introducing quoted material” in 37e. When an independent clause follows a colon, begin with a capital letter. Some disciplines use a lowercase letter instead. See 45f for variations.