English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [colons]

This tag is for questions about the usage of colons.

The colon, also known as a dot-point, is a punctuation mark consisting of two equally sized dots centered on the same vertical line. It is depicted by the symbol :.

Usage

  • It informs the reader that what follows the colon proves, explains, or lists elements of what preceded it
  • It can be used after an independent clause to direct attention to a list, an appositive, or a quotation
  • It can be used between independent clauses if the second summarizes or explains the first
  • It may be used after the salutation in a formal letter
  • It is most commonly used to indicate hours and minutes
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What does a sentence/title take (from 'em', 'en', dashes or 'colon') at the end while describing the list or some content?

I often find it confusing using something at the end of the sentence or title that describes a list or content below it. The sentence example: Here is the list of services we provide (':', '--' or '-'?) [The list of services here] The title…
Maulik V
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Use of colon after words

Good afternoon! Let's say I want to give an example and I write : Example: The text of my example. Am I grammatically correct? Should I use colon after the word example in the text above? What else can I use?
Jess3032
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When to properly use colon?

Which of the following instructions is correct? Solve the following equations: 1-5 equations or Solve the following equations. 1-5 equations I'm not sure if I need to use a colon or just a period.
AYA
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How to use colons while defining multiple words in a sentence?

Is there a particular way to combine all these terms and definitions after the colon? The Four Nobel Truths are: One, Dukkha, desire to want what you had and not wanting what you did not have; Two, Samudaya, suffering comes from wanting stuff;…
Trush Patel
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Must a complete sentence precede a colon?

Take this sentence: I want the following: butter, sugar, and flour. The part of the sentence that appears before the colon seems to not contain a noun; I seems to be an object, want seems to be a verb. There seems to be no object. It seems like it…
saySay
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Using a colon to introduce a proper title

Is it appropriate to use a colon to introduce a title of a book/publication/etc in the middle of a sentence? For instance, consider the following example My hard work resulted in a book: "X" with co-authors A, B, and C. The other way I can think of…
user57711