Colons

Colons

The best punctuation​?

By Jon Steenbeke

The colon has four uses:

(1) To extend a sentence in order to identify something previously mentioned in the sentence.

• I demand one personal trait: discipline.

• (The colon extends the sentence and identifies "personal trait.")

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Think of it like an = sign

Today I bought ingredients for my (world-famous) broccoli salad: mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, water chestnuts, sliced almonds, red onion, raisins, cheddar cheese, and—last, but not least—broccoli.

​

​Ingredients for my (world-famous) broccoli salad = mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, water chestnuts, sliced almonds, red onion, raisins, cheddar cheese, and broccoli.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

The colon has four uses:

(2) After an introduction.

• I have seen the following: ants, a cockroach, and a rat.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

A colon can be used after an introduction. The wording to the left of the colon will introduce whatever follows on the right. For example:

​

• The Victorian printing set is missing the following characters: Q, R, K, and the question mark.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

The colon has four uses:

(3) In references, times, and titles.

• Read Genesis 1:1 before 07:30.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

The colon has four uses:

(4) To introduce a quotation.

• He said: "Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."​

• Commas are used for short quotes; colons for longer quotes.​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

• It's hard to disagree with Frank Zappa, who said: "Art is making something out of nothing and selling it."

​

In this example, the quotation is introduced with a colon.

​

However, it could have been introduced with a comma or with nothing. There is a useful guideline out there which states that if your quotation is longer than six words (and you're not worried about controlling the flow of text), then use a colon.

​

(Note: This is just a guideline to remove the need to think about what punctuation to use. It's definitely not a strict rule.)

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

True or false? You can use a colon to give more information about something mentioned previously in the sentence.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence with a colon used correctly:

• I trust just one thing: coffee.

• I trust nothing: it's a consequence of living in New York.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with a colon used correctly:

• He never catches anything: he's a worse fisherman than you.

• He caught two fish: a pike and perch.

Multiple Choice

True or false? A colon is often used like an equals (=) sign.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence with a colon used correctly:

• I like the picture: I've always like it.

• I like one aspect of the picture: the brush work.

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence with a colon used correctly:

• Nancy Astor once said: that one reason she didn't drink was because she wanted to know when she was having a good time.

• Bob Hope said: "A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it."

Multiple Choice

True or false? A colon can be used after a title to introduce a subtitle (e.g., "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales")

• True

• False

Open Ended

Write a sentence using a colon as a way to extend the sentence.

Like this example:

I have only wanted one thing in life: to make others happy.

Open Ended

Write a sentence using a colon as an introduction:

Like the example:

Chauncy likes the following things: arguing with Daniel, arguing with his teachers, and learning grammar with Mr. Jon.

Open Ended

Write a sentence using a colon as an introduction to the quote you hear from Mr. Jon.