Colons
What is a colon?
A colon introduces material that relates to the information given imediately before it. To test the need for a colon, see if the introductory material can stand alone as a sentence. Remember, a complete sentence must come before a colon, but does not need to follow one.
WHEN TO USE COLONs
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Before a list or series
Phrases like “the following” or “as follows” may come before the colon to further prepare the reader for the list or series.
Example
The best advice for students who are writing papers is as follows: revision, revision, revision.
Before a complete sentence that explains the previous sentence
A sentence following a colon may begin with a capital or lowercase letter, but usage should be consistent.
Example
When camping, it’s good to remember Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will.
As a formal introduction to a final appositive
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that gives further information about the word or phrase that precedes it.
Example
Though not perfect, one form of government has proven superior to all others: democracy.
To introduce a quote
Especially if the quote is long or formal.
Example
Henry Ford said it best: “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”
To separate a title from a subtitle
In this use of the colon, the introductory material does not need to be a complete sentence.
Example
Working Your Way Through School: A Guide to Study Skills
WHEN NOT TO USE COLONS
Between a verb and its object or complement
Examples
(Before editing) He likes to play: soccer, baseball, and tennis.
(After editing) He likes to play soccer, baseball, and tennis.
Between a preposition and its object
Or before phrases like such as, especially, or including. Often the introductory material cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Examples
(Befroe editing) The coordinator is in charge of: registration, cabin assignments, and camp clean-up.
(After editing) The coordinator is in charge of registration, cabin assignments, and camp clean-up.
