How to Use Colons in a Sentence

Colons (:) are infrequently used and as a result, many people are confused by them. The rules here will show you how to use colons properly in your writing.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a related list: I went to the store and bough many items: milk, eggs, cheese, bread, and beef.

2. Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a related phrase: All the guest speakers' stories had one common theme: the value of getting an education.

3. Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a quotation: In "Holy Sonnet XIV", John Donne uses violent imagery to describe the experience of God: "batter my heart, three-personed God."

4. Use a colon to separate parts of a title: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope or Field Mice: A Survey of their Habitats and Mating Patterns.

Tips & Warnings

• When using a colon in a sentence, make sure it is preceded by a complete sentence.
• Do not use a colon to introduce a list if it is not preceded by a complete sentence. An incorrect example: I went to the store and bought: milk, eggs, cheese, bread, and beef.

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