The informal language of everyday conversation (words such as a lot, picky, and know-how) is often referred to as colloquial. Although colloquial usage is standard English, it may be inappropriate in formal writing. If you are in doubt about whether a word or expression is colloquial, consult a dictionary. Terms labeled colloquial or informal should usually be reserved for situations in which you want your writing to sound informal or conversational. (See also informal and formal writing style, diction, and English, varieties of.)

colons

Introducing Explanations or Examples

Punctuation and Capitalization with Colons

Colons in Titles, Numbers, and Citations

Unnecessary Colons

The colon separates two elements, the second of which explains, amplifies, or illustrates the first.

INTRODUCING EXPLANATIONS OR EXAMPLES

A colon may introduce a complete sentence, a list, or a phrase.

Following my grandmother's Asian traditions, we brought incense to burn at the gravesite, and food: a bowl of rice, fruit, a main dish for his spirit to eat. [Following the colon is a list of kinds of food.]

— Grace Ming-Yee Wai, "Chinese Puzzle"

[T]he presence of the other, particularly minorities, in institutions and in institutional life resembles what we call in Spanish a flor de tierra (a surface phenomenon): we are spare plants whose roots do not go deep, vulnerable to inclemencies of an economic, or political, or social nature. [Following the colon is a complete sentence expanding on the Spanish phrase.] — Arturo Madrid , "Diversity and Its Discontents''

A colon may precede a quotation that has been formally introduced or that is longer than one sentence. (See also block quotations.)

In her autobiography, prolific mystery writer Agatha Christie (1977) describes the excitement she and her friends felt as young girls standing on the edge of
adulthood and contemplating the future:

The real excitement of being a girl—of being, that is, a woman in embryo —was that life was such a wonderful gamble. . . . The whole world was open to you—not open to your choice, but open to what Fate brought you. You might marry anyone. . . . — Hilary Lips, Women, Men, and Power

A colon lends emphasis to an appositive phrase or clause at the end of a sentence.

I learned from my father while in the first grade one valuable lesson that still affects me now: never be afraid to ask questions. — Grace Ming-Yee Wai, "Chinese Puzzle"

PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION WITH COLONS

A colon is always outside quotation marks.

The following are his favorite "sports": eating and sleeping.

Capitalization of the first word of a complete sentence or a formal question following a colon is optional, but if a series of sentences is introduced by a colon, all the sentences should begin with capital letters. If a quotation beginning with a capital letter follows a colon, the capital is always retained.

We had to keep working for one reason: The [or the] deadline was upon us. [complete sentence following colon]

The coach issued the following statement: "It ain't over 'til it's over, and it ain't over yet." [quotation following colon]

Begin a list, series, phrase, or word following a colon with a lowercase letter. I have only three questions: when? where? and why?

COLONS IN TITLES, NUMBERS, AND CITATIONS

A colon separates the title and subtitle of a book or article.

American Voices: Multicultural Literacy and Critical Thinking

A colon separates numbers in time references and in Biblical citations.

11:01 a.m. [11 hours, 1 minute] Genesis 10:16 [Chapter 10, verse 16]

In the expression of proportions, the colon indicates the ratio of one amount to another.

The cement is mixed with the water and sand at 5:3:1. [The colon is read as the word to. ]

Colons are often used in mathematical ratios.

7:3 = 14:x

A colon follows the salutation in business letters.

Dear Ms. Jeffers:

Dear Personnel Director:

Dear George:

A colon is also used in footnote and reference citations. For examples, see the appendix, The Research Paper.

UNNECESSARY COLONS

Do not insert a colon between a verb and an object or complement.

The three modes of transportation under consideration are:/train, plane, and automobile.

Do not insert a colon between preposition and object.

I applied at schools in:/ Indiana , Missouri , and Arizona

Do not insert a colon between including, such as, or for example and a list.

The doctor told him to stay away from spicy foods such as:/ barbecue, salsa and hot sauce, and curry.

Do not use a colon where a semicolon is appropriate. The elements separated by a colon are usually grammatically unequal, and what follows the colon explains or illustrates what precedes it. A semicolon separates grammatically equal or parallel elements.

As long as 1 could remember, 1 had been told that a female followed three men during her lifetime: as a girl, her father; as a wife, her husband; as an old woman, her son. [A colon separates the independent clause and the list. Semicolons separate the three parallel items in the list because they contain commas.] — Jade Snow Wong, "Fifth Chinese Daughter"

Order a custom essay now!