Colons

Using Colons to Introduce a list For our class, we had to interview the following experts: an economist, a scientist, and a doctor. Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a lit of items. Use commas to separate three or more items.

Do Not use a colon after a verb or preposition Veronica always orders: soup, salad, and dessert. INCORRECT Veronica always orders soup, salad, and dessert. CORRECT

Using a colon to introduce a quotation Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote this about freedom: “It is only through free debate and free exchange of ideas that government remains responsive to the will of the people and peaceful change is effected.” Use a colon to introduce a quotation that is form or lengthy or a quotation that does not contain a “he said/she said” expression.

Use a colon to introduce or explain His explanation for being late was believable: He had a flat tire on the way. Use a colon to introduce a sentence that summarizes or explains the sentence before it. Note that the complete sentence after the colon starts with a capital letter!

Use a colon to introduce an appositive I had finally decided on a career: nursing. Use a colon to introduce a formal appositive that follows an independent clause Note that the colon is a stronger punctuation mark than a comma. Using the colon gives more emphasis to the appositive it introduces.