| 1. A colon introduces an enumeration. A colon is needed when an enumeration is preceded by a noun or noun phrase.
A colon is not needed when the word preceding an enumeration is either a verb or a preposition.
Note:
The requirements for a colon before lists are the same as those for enumerations.
| The current curriculum includes five subjects: Mathematics, English, Geography, Biology and Literature.
The girl’s ambitions were money, fame and success.
The farmers needed all kinds of agricultural equipment:
tractors
trucks
combines.
|
| 2. A colon sets off expressions, quotations, and questions. The statement may be a direct quotation or a paraphrase. It may take the form of a question. In all these cases the first word after the colon is capitalized.
| Soams lifted his eyes: “I won’t have anything said against her.”
I am interested in only one question: “Am I ever going to get paid?”
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| 3. A colon separates two independent clauses when no conjunction is used and the second clause explains, amplifies, expands, or illustrates the first one.
| Familiarity breeds contempt: if people everywhere got to know each other better, the world would be torn apart.
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| 4. A colon directs attention to an appositive.
| He had only one pleasure: eating.
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| 5. A colon is used between hours and minutes in expressions of time, and in ratios.
| 2:45 p.m.
2:1
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| 6. A colon follows the salutation in formal correspondence.
| Ladies and Gentlemen:
|
| 7. A colon is used after the speaker’s name in a play.
| Napoleon: My dispatches: come!
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| 8. A colon punctuates headings in memorandums and formal correspondence.
| TO:
SUBJECT:
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