Colons

This week, you will learn more about colons, which you might recognize as ":". Note that colons are different from semi-colons or ";". The difference between the two will be explained later.

Colons are used in the following ways:

  1. Business salutations
  2. Time
  3. At the beginning of a list
  4. Separate an independent clause
  5. Miscellaneous usage

1. Business Salutation

The salutation is the opening part of the letter. For example:
  • Dear John Doe:
  • To Whom It May Concern:
  • To the Residents of 555 1st St.:
The colon is typically used in business letters only. It is not used in personal letters, which uses a comma at the end of the salutation.

2. Time

A colon is used in between the hours and minutes. Examples:
  • 5:49 a.m.
  • 3:30 p.m.
  • 2:17 a.m

3. At the Beginning of a List


Colons are used to let the reader know a list is coming, especially lists that contain several items. Examples:

We packed everything into the car: the sleeping bags, tents, food and cooking gear.
There were lots of people at the party: Dr. Monroe, Jack, Daisy, Esther as well as other people.
The painting seemed to have every color of the rainbow: yellow, green, red, blue and orange.

Colons should not be used after "such as." Examples:

Incorrect: I want to see paintings from all the famous artists such as: Cezanne, Renoir and Raphael.
Correct: I want to see paintings from all the famous artists such as Cezanne, Renoir and Raphael.

Incorrect: I think water conservation is more of a concern for states such as: Utah, Arizona and Nevada.
Correct: I think water conservation is more of a concern for states such as Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

4. Separate an Independent Clause, such as a Quotation

A colon is used to help distinguish a sentence from a quotation.
Patrick Henry's words helped swing Virginian support towards the Revolution: "Give me liberty, or give me death."
The opening line from A Tale of Two Cities says it all: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
People always say the same cliched phrase to me: "Life isn't fair."

5. Miscellaneous Use

There are other uses for colons, such separating chapter and verse in religious texts. Examples:
  • Genesis 1:30
  • Mark 3:5
  • Obadiah 1:8

Still Confused? This BrainPOP should help clear things up.

 




Additional Information

Examples of colon use
http://www.mccc.edu/students/tutoring/colon.html

When to use a colon
http://lilt.ilstu.edu/golson/punctuation/colon.html
Sources

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/colon.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/410/grammar/colons.htm


Last modified: Tuesday, 28 August 2018, 10:50 AM