How to Use the Colon
Punctuating With the Mark of Expectation
Most beginning writers know that colons can be used to introduce lists. However, colons can also be used in a much broader sense: to set up expectation (as the colon in this sentence just did). Colons are thus very useful, and they can add variety and flavor to a piece of writing; however, they must be used correctly.
Introducing a List
When using a colon to introduce a list, make sure that the word preceding the colon is a noun:
- Seven students went to the ball game on Friday night: Josh, Taylor, Courtney, Nick, Nathan, Patrick, and Jasmine.
Do not use a colon if the word that would precede it is a verb:
- The seven students who went to the ball game on Friday night were Josh, Taylor, Courtney, Nick, Nathan, Patrick, and Jasmine.
Content in the above sentences is the same. The difference lies merely in stylistic wording and writer preference. Which version is correct? They both are. However, only the first version requires a colon.
No Colon With Prepositions and Introductory Phrases
Beginning writers often insert an unnecessary colon after a preposition:
- After getting off work, Steve went to: the bank, the store, and then home.
But notice that the colon adds nothing to the sentence. The preposition to is all that is needed to show the proper relationship of ideas.
Likewise, a colon is not needed if the list is introduced by a phrase ("such as"):
- At the store, Steve bought several items, such as beef, bread, oranges, and lottery tickets.
Setting Up Expectation
In his book Sin Boldly!, David R. Williams, Ph.D., describes the colon as a mark that announces, “Here it is”; that is, it fulfills the expectation set up in the previous part of the sentence:
- The band played the last song Bill wanted to hear after Holly dumped him: “The Goodbye Girl.”
- Holly said there was one thing about Bill that always annoyed her: He spent money too freely.
When an independent clause follows the colon, as in the second sample above, the first word may be capitalized or not, depending on writer preference and style requirements; however, writers should be consistent in capitalizing or not.
Colons and Semi-Colons
Do not confuse colons with semi-colons. Despite their similar names and appearances, the two punctuation marks are used for very different purposes.
Test Yourself
Where are colons needed in the following passage? (Answer appears at end of article.)
- Todd is a big fan of bands of the ‘60s the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, the Who. He says there is one thing he’d like to do before he dies play bass like John Entwistle.
Use a colon to set up expectation, whether in introducing a list or in using a word, phrase, or clause that fulfills the expectation of the prevous part of the sentence. However, do not use a colon if a verb, preposition, or introductory phrase is used instead. (Answer: Place colons after “’60s” and “dies.”)
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