everything you need to know about the colon
By Walt Jackson
- fun colon facts
- six reasons to use a colon
- a semicolon is not a colon
- a dash is not a colon
- colon warnings
- an exit exam on the colon
fun colon facts
- A recent survey conducted by Cosmopolitan magazine determined that the colon is the most misunderstood punctuation mark, at least for Cosmo's readers.
- The human colon, a branch of the intestines, and the much misunderstood punctuation colon, which points to a branch of the sentence, both are derived from the Greek word kolon that has only one meaning: branch.
- Think of a colon as two small eyes gazing at a spot: the spot where the writer wants to direct the reader's attention.
- Think of a colon as the equivalent of the phrase that is.
six reasons to use a colon
- Use a colon to introduce a series.
IU Southeast has six divisions: education, arts and letters, nursing, and natural, social, and physical sciences.
- Use a colon to divide two complete thoughts that are the same .
He was very tall: his head scraped the ceiling.
- Use a colon to add
emphasis.
After weeks of study, she wanted one thing: a vacation.
- Use a colon
to introduce a long quotation.
Who can forget Hamlet's soliloquy: "To be or ...
- Use a colon for separations in references, time, and
titles.
New York: Harper Collins Publishers
It is 9:33 a.m.
"Do not covet your neighbor's ox" (Exodus 20:17).
- Use a colon in the salutation of a formal letter.
Dear Chancellor:
a semicolon is not a colon
Semicolons are used to separate two complete thoughts that are related to each other but that do not mean the same thing.
Yesterday it rained; today's forecast is sunshine.
Because the two complete thoughts do not mean the same thing, they are frequently connected with both a semicolon and words like however, on the other hand, and nevertheless.
Yesterday it rained; however, today's forecast is sunshine.
Colons, however, are used to join two complete thoughts that do mean the same thing. The second thought restates or elaborates on the first.
Yesterday it rained: all day the clouds pelted us with precipitation.
a dash is not a colon
Dashes are used in informal writing to indicate an abrupt interruption of ideas. Dashes are used at the beginning, middle, and end of a sentence. Used to excess, dashes can weaken your writing—so watch it!
A vacation—that was the only thing she wanted.
One thing—a vacation—was all she wanted.
She wanted only one thing—a vacation.
Colons, on the other hand, are used to focus readers' attention at only the end of a sentence. Colons are used in formal writing.
After weeks of study, she wanted one thing: a vacation.
colon warnings
- Do not use a colon after a verb.
Wrong—The topic of the pamphlet is: the colon.
Right—The topic of the pamphlet is the colon.
- Do not use a colon after
consists of or such as.
Wrong—Pack useful items such as: an MLA guide, ...
Right—Pack useful items such as an MLA guide, ...
- Do not capitalize
the first item in a list included in a sentence.
Right—Learn how to use the following machines:
computer, printer, ...
- Do capitalize the first item in
a list in a column.
Right—Learn how to use the following machines:
- Computer
- Printer
- You do not have to capitalize the first word in a complete thought
after a colon, but you may.
Right—I was disappointed: misspelling spoiled my essay.
Right—I was disappointed: Misspelling spoiled my essay.
an exit exam on the colon
Place a colon in each of the following:
- Dear Screamer
- Mondays through Thursdays the Writing Help Center opens at 8 00 a.m., but on Fridays and Saturdays it opens at 9 00 a.m.
- Who can forget the Center's slogan "We'll help you write."
- After weeks of research, she wanted just one thing MLA guidelines.
- He knew it was important to revise his paper a good revision would mean a higher grade.
- IU Southeast offers degrees at all levels associate, bachelor, and master.
