The Colon:A Fun Internal Organ or an Essential and Oft—Misunderstood Piece of

Punctuation

The Colon

Punctuation that signals a “large pause” in a sentence.

Similar pause length to a period. Usually preceded by a complete

sentence.

Clearly…We Mean This Colon

Really?

The Colonoscopy for health….

No…We Mean This One

Common Usage #1

Common Usage #1 – For Real

After the greeting in a business letter

Dear Mr. President:

Dear Senator Washington:

Dear Colonial Sanders:

Common Usage #2

“Annunciatory” (announces something!)

Like a well-trained magician’s assistant, it pauses slightly to give you the time to get a bit worried, and then efficiently whisks away the cloth and reveals the completed trick.

Independent clause: independent clause that explains or summarizes the prior independent clause

Examples

This much is clear, Watson: it was the baying of an enormous hound.

Tom has only one rule in life: never eat anything bigger than your head.

Common Usage #3

The “ah” pause

Example

I loved Starbursts as a child: no one else did.

(I loved Starbursts as a child – ah, but nobody else did.)

Common Usage #4

Introduce a part of a sentence that exemplifies, restates, elaborates, undermines, explains, or balances the preceding part.

Independent clause: list

Examples

Please bring the following: bread, rice, and milk.

Clearly the student was engaged: he had his eyes open and his pencil moving.

The literary terms were very interesting to follow: they taught much about the book.

I find fault with only three things in this essay of yours: the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Common Usage #5

Another way to introduce direct quotations.

Independent clause: “Quoted words”

Examples

George made a great point: “I think you should keep your mouth shut!”

The Allies brought many tanks with them: “They brought over 10,000 tanks into France during D-Day.”

Despite the fact that she was tired, she spoke: “I know that today was a difficult day, but we will make it through to the weekend.”

Common Error

Separating the verb from its direct object (what the verb “does”)

Wrong: Please bring: milk, eggs, and butter

Correct: Please bring the following: milk, eggs, and butter.

Super Hint!!!

A colon can be used if the sentence reads (or could read) The following… As follows...

Examples I will bring the following with me: coats, hats, and

scarves. I know that I have them (the following): the coats,

hats, and scarves. George knows that he must do the deed (the

following deed): kill his friend.

Correct These!

Take this lesson to heart nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.

One word probably sums up the responsibility of any governor “to be prepared.”

I have lived in three places Florida, Maine, and Vermont.

The little boy in E.T. did say something neat “How do you explain school to a higher intelligence.”

Correct These!

Take this lesson to heart nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.

One word probably sums up the responsibility of any governor “to be prepared.”

I have lived in three places Florida, Maine, and Vermont.

The little boy in E.T. did say something neat “How do you explain school to a higher intelligence.”