COLONS BEFORE LISTS
Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list. An independent clause contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. It can stand on its own as a sentence.
The software conference fair featured a vast array of products: financial-
COLONS BEFORE EXPLANATIONS OR EXAMPLES
Use a colon after an independent clause to let readers know that you are about to provide an explanation or example of what you just wrote.
The conference was overwhelming: too much hype about too many things.
One of the most common misuses of colons is to use them after a phrase instead of an independent clause. Watch out especially for colons following the phrases such as and for example.
| INCORRECT | Tonya enjoys sports that are sometimes dangerous. For example: white- |
| CORRECT | Tonya enjoys sports that are sometimes dangerous: white- |
COLONS IN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND BEFORE SUBTITLES
Use a colon after a greeting (called a salutation) in a business letter and after the standard heading lines at the beginning of a memorandum.
Dear Mr. Hernandez:
To: Pat Toney
From: Susan Anker
Colons should also be used before subtitles — for example, “Running a Marathon: The Five Most Important Tips.”