The Grammar Doctor

colons

A colon is an extrovert that goes around introducing lists and explanations.

List - He had done it all: sailed the Atlantic in an open boat, climbed the Matterhorn, and wrestled in the mud with Lola Lamour.

Explanation - There was only one thing he still wanted to do: corner the market on Swiss Cheese.

A colon is correct only after a grammatically complete statement.

WRONG: He made money on: the stock market, the commodities exchange, and his Saturday afternoon car wash. (The colon is incorrect and should be left out because " he made money on" is not a grammatically complete statement.)

Colons are also used in some conventions.

Subtitles - Subject Meets Verb: A Love Story

After the salutation in a business letter with mixed punctuation

Click here for a colon quiz.


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