How to use Colons

1. The colon [:] is used to introduce a strong pause within a sentence.

2. It is the longest pause in a sentence short of the full stop.

3. The colon may be used to introduce a list:

The car has a number of optional extras: sun roof, tinted windows, rear seat belts, and electrically operated wing mirrors.

4. It separates clauses which could be separate sentences, but which are linked by some relationship in meaning:

My brother likes oranges: my sister hates them.

5. The colon is also used before a long quotation or a speech:

Speaking at Caesar's funeral, Anthony addresses the crowd: "Friends, Romans, countrymen ..."

6. It can also be used before a clause which explains the previous statement:

The school is highly regarded: academic standards are high, the staff are pleasant, and the students enjoy going there.

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7. The colon can be used to provide verbal emphasis, or to create dramatic effect:

There can be only one reason for this problem: his total incompetence.

8. It can be used at the end of a statement followed by an illustration:

The vase contains beautiful flowers: roses, tulips, and daffodils.

9. The colon is also used between the title and the sub-title of a book:

Magical Realism: Latin-American fiction today.

10. Following the colon, items in a list are punctuated with commas if they are a succession of individual words.

You will need four ingredients: flour, butter, milk, and sugar.

11. If the items in the list contain clauses or phrases, these may be punctuated with semicolons:

You will need the following materials: some scrap paper; a pen, preferably blue or black; some envelopes; and some good, white, unlined writing paper.

12. The colon requires careful handling. If in doubt, use separate sentences.

13. NB! The colon followed by a dash (: - ) is never necessary. [It's called a 'pointer'] The colon alone is sufficient, even before a list.