1. Colons : UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini- Lesson #32

2. The colon is often used to introduce explanatory elements, often in the form of a list. The colon takes the place of such as, namely, or for example.

3. The colon must be preceded by a complete sentence. Correct: I hate this one course: English. Notice the full sentence before the colon. Note that your list may include only one word. Incorrect: One course that I hate: English is the course I am failing. The statement preceding the colon is not a full sentence.

4. The colon takes the place of the following phrases: such as, for example, namely. Do not use these phrases in combination with the colon. Incorrect: Some mammals have no hair: namely, whales, porpoises, and bottle-nosed dolphins. Correct: Some mammals have no hair, namely, whales, porpoises, and bottle-nosed dolphins.

5. Do not use a colon after a linking verb, which connects the subject to the complement. Incorrect: The three parts of a chemistry course are: lecture, recitation, and laboratory. Correct: There are three parts to the chemistry course: lecture, recitation, and laboratory.