Proper Use of the Colon: Seven Rules for Using Colons

Posted on June 2nd, 2009 in Grammar by Athlyn Green

How to use the colon correctly in written material.

In a recent article, I spoke about proper use of the semi-colon. A related mark is the colon. Using a colon correctly isn’t difficult, once you memorize a couple of simple rules. This article details seven common uses for the colon.

How to Use the Colon

The Colon and Lists

The colon is used to introduce a list:

The hefty woman loved fatty foods: hamburgers, fries, onion rings, and pork chops.

The Colon and a Restatement

The colon is used in a restatement that illustrates or amplifies what has gone before the colon:

The job requires specific skills: applicants have to know computer programming inside and out.

The Colon and Capitalization

When a colon introduces two or more sentences, these are capitalized:

Veronica had to make a choice: Should she choose Henry, the reliable carpet salesman? Should she choose handsome Jack, the dashing rogue?

Read more in Grammar

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The Colon and “As Follows”

The colon can be used effectively when using “as follows.”

The steps are as follows: first, draw a line in the soil; second, sprinkle in the seeds; third, water well.

The Colon in Formal Communication

To Whom it May Concern:

Editor:

The Colon and Parentheses

The colon goes outside of closing parentheses or brackets:

A startling change was noticed in the parrot (African Grey): the bird quit talking and turned its back on its caretakers.

The Colon and URLs

The colon is used in URLs, with no spaces before or after the colon:

http://www . . .

Knowing how to use a colon correctly will help you to craft well-written sentences. While grammar may be a challenging undertaking, learning these 7 basic rules for colons can lend polish to your written works.

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11 Responses to “Proper Use of the Colon: Seven Rules for Using Colons”

Michael Eboh
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:47 am

I am glad you did this. thank you.
Rana Sinha
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:20 am

Good and useful rules, thanks!
Steve
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:45 am

Thanks for this article: lovely, short and informative (notice the colon .
OhSugar
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 am

Excellent educational post. Thanks for sharing it.
Mr Ghaz
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 am

Excellent post!!..this is wonderful and very helpful tips…I really liked it..Thanx for sharing this great work.
Jo Oliver
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:57 pm

Boy did I need this lesson!
Bullwinkle Muse
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 am

In conjunction with your previous article on the correct use of semi-colons, this is an invaluable aid in proper punctuation.
Athlyn Green
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 pm

It really helps to memorize certain grammatical rules. This is time-saving when you write much material.

I often see semi-colons and colons inside parentheses.

I have my Chicago Manual of Style and wish I could commit the whole thing to memory!
Westbrook
June 11th, 2009 at 12:28 pm

Athlyn, I enjoy writing about the correct way to use the English language. A couple articles that I have submitted some time ago continue to get hits. I Always try to explain any concept as simply as possible. I like your article on the usage of colons and am posting it on my blog, wdcplace.blogspot.com.
C L Eckles
June 11th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Great article! I’d recommend this to students and professionals alike.
Athlyn Green
June 13th, 2009 at 10:04 am

Hi Westbrook,

Thanks for posting the article on your blog.

Hi C L,
I’ll be checking more of your articles and bookmarking them accordingly.