The Correct Use of Colons

When do you use a colon?

After an independent clause to introduce a list.

Ex. I need three things from the store: milk, eggs and bread.

This sign for Fuddruckers Greatest Hamburgers is incorrect. There should be a colon instead of a period. Also, they spelled “Dinning” instead of Dining Room.

Colons can also be used before quotes.

Ex. As John F. Kennedy said: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

“Piracy: It's just easier, man.”“Oh, I’d sure like to watch [any *expletive* movie]!”“That’s cool, you have three minutes?”“Yeperoo!”“OH LOOK HERE I AM ENJOYING MY MOVIE”“What I’m trying to say is: ad based streaming services for feature films. Give it a try.”

This conversation is courtesy of a random tumblr site. There are two colons used and both are incorrect.

Correct Examples

There was only one thing left to do: win the race.

The major holidays coming up are as follows: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

To summarize: we found the campsite, gathered firewood, ate dinner and got attacked by bears.

When it comes to using colons, do not do the following:

1.use a colon to separate a preposition from its objects.2.use a colon to separate a verb from its objects3.use a colon after "such as.”4.pick up the main clause again (after a word, phrase, or clause

has been introduced by a colon, the sentence must end with the introduced element)

Example of number 4. We were offered a choice of desserts: chocolate cake, an assortment of cookies, and a fruit cocktail, but we were too stuffed to eat another bite.

*The sentence should end with fruit cocktail, and then begin a new sentence.

The Power of a Colon

Work Citedhttp://www.tumblr.com/tagged/two+misused+colons

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bLeHo5L3oxk/S9hN2zFB1OI/AAAAAAAAALU/cQGSyXjE1tE/s1600/i+love+grammar.jpg

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/cbu/lowres/cbun119l.jpg

http://www.funnytypos.com/dinning-room-misspelling/