The colon is often used to introduce explanatory elements often in the form of a list The colon takes the place of such as namely or for example Colons cont ID: 1044347
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1. Writing LabColons
2. ColonsThe colon is often used to introduce explanatory elements, often in the form of a list.The colon takes the place of “such as,” “namely,” or “for example.”
3. Colons cont.The colon must be preceded by a complete sentence.Correct: I hate this one course: English.Notice the full sentence before the colon.Note that your list may include only one word.Incorrect: One course that I hate: English is the course I am failing. The statement preceding the colon is not a full sentence.
4. Colons cont. 2The colon takes the place of the following phrases: such as, for example, namely.Do not use these phrases in combination with the colon.Correct: Some mammals have no hair, namely, whales, porpoises, and bottle-nosed dolphins.Incorrect: Some mammals have no hair: namely, whales, porpoises, and bottle-nosed dolphins.
5. Colons cont. 3Do not use a colon after a linking verb, which connects the subject to the complement.Correct: There are three parts to the chemistry course: lecture, recitation, and laboratory.Incorrect: The three parts of a chemistry course are: lecture, recitation, and laboratory.
6. That’s all, folks!This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson SeriesLessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb HixonTo find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson