1. A colon consists of two dots, one above the other:

2. When? Colons are used to draw the readers attention to what it is introducing. Colons are used after independent clauses(complete sentences).

3. Purpose? To introduce… –A list coming at the end of a sentence. Several Majors interest me : biology, chemistry, and art. –Appositives. (nouns or noun phrases that appear right after the word they rename) She shared with me her favorite toys : a spatula and a pot lid. –Quotations. He said the dreaded words : “Let’s just be friends.”

4. Also use a colon when a second closely related independent clause elaborates on the first one. –I can predict tonight’s sequence of events : my brother will arrive late, talk loudly, and eat too much. In this case, the colon is used to emphasize the second clause. Note: If the second sentence is a complete sentence, you may use either a lower case or capital letter but must remain consistent throughout your document.

5. Other uses? Colons are used in salutations in business documents: –Dear Mr. Worth : To : To indicate ratios: –The ratio of armed to unarmed members of the gang was 3 : 1. Times of the day: –He woke up at 6 : 30 in the morning. For city and publisher citations in bibliographies: –New York : McGraw-Hill, 2007. To separate titles and subtitles: –Possible Lives : The promise of Public Education in America.

6. Do not use After such as, for example, or including: –I am ready for a change, such as : a trip to the Bahamas or a move to another town. Between a verb and its object or its complement: –The elements of a smoothie are : yogurt fresh fruit, and honey. Between a preposition and its object or objects: –Many feel that cancer can be prevented by a diet of : fruit, nuts, and vegetables. More than one colon in a sentence: –He was taken in by a new con: the Spanish lottery scam: victims are told they have won a big prize and asked to send financial information to a fake Spanish company.

7. FYI Colons are used to separate biblical chapters and verses (John 3:16), but the MLA format recommends using a period instead (John 3.16).