Use a colon to introduce explanations, examples, lists, and sometimes quotations. In addition, follow conventions for using colons to separate some elements (such as titles and subtitles) from one another.

Introducing an explanation or example

The men may also wear the getup known as Sun Belt Cool: a pale beige suit, open-collared shirt (often in a darker shade than the suit), cream-colored loafers and aviator sunglasses.

Introducing a series, list, or quotation

At the baby’s one-month birthday party, Ah Po gave him the Four Valuable Things: ink, inkslab, paper, and brush.

The teachers wondered: “Do boys and girls really learn differently? Do behavioral differences reflect socialization or biology?”

The preceding example could have used a comma instead of a colon before the quotation (54i). You can use a colon rather than a comma to introduce a quotation when the lead-in is a complete sentence on its own.

The State of the Union address contained one surprising statement: “America is addicted to oil.”

Separating elements

SALUTATIONS IN FORMAL LETTERS

Dear Dr. Mahiri:

HOURS, MINUTES, AND SECONDS

4:59 PM

2:15:06

RATIOS

a ratio of 5:1

BIBLICAL CHAPTERS AND VERSES

I Corinthians 3:3–5

TITLES AND SUBTITLES

Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

CITIES AND PUBLISHERS IN BIBLIOGRAPHIC ENTRIES

New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2010

Eliminating misused colons

Do not put a colon between a verb and its object or complement, unless the object is a quotation.

Do not put a colon between a preposition and its object or after such expressions as such as, especially, or including.