Colons:When and How to Use Them (grammatically,

not anatomically)

Some examples of colons

“There was even a word for it in Newspeak: facecrime, it was called” (Orwell 54).

“There are three superstates in 1984: Oceania, East Asia, and Eurasia.”

“The Party believes that controlling history is power: ‘He who controls the past, controls the future’” (Orwell 316).

When to use a colon

A colon means “note what follows.”

When to use a colon

“There was even a word for it in Newspeak: facecrime, it was called” (Orwell 54).

RULE 1: Use a colon to combine two independent sentences if the second sentence clarifies or explains the first sentence.

Colon vs. Semicolon

The colon has less power to separate than a semicolon:

a semicolon makes you stop for a second, while a colon tells your eyes to move on to the next sentence.

When to use colons

EX. “There are three superstates in 1984: Oceania, East Asia, and Eurasia.”

RULE 2: Use a colon before a list of items, (especially after the expressions as follows and the following).

When (not) to use colons

However, when using a colon to introduce a list, do not use the colon to separate a verb or preposition from its complements.

Just remember, you must have a complete sentence before the colon.

INCORRECT: “At the amusement park we rode: the tea cups, the ferris wheel, and the MindEraser.”

CORRECT: “At the amusement park we rode the tea cups, the ferris wheel, and the MindEraser.”

When (not) to use colons

However, when using a colon to introduce a list, do not use the colon to separate a verb or preposition from its complements.

Just remember, you must have a complete sentence before the colon.

INCORRECT: “Our family has lived in: California, Arizona, and Texas.”

CORRECT: “Our family has lived in California, Arizona, and Texas.”

When to use colons

EX. “The Party believes that controlling history is power: ‘He who controls the past, controls the future’” (Orwell 316).

RULE 3: Use a colon before quotes if the quote is introduced with a complete sentence

, and use them to introduce long, formal statements.

When to use Colons

• RULE 4: In time, use a colon between the hour and minute.

• 6:15 P.M.

• 8:30 tomorrow morning

When to Use Colons

• RULE 5: Between chapter and verse in Biblical references. Also, between volume and issue number.

• Psalms 8:9 (Biblical reference)

• The Week Magazine 11:541

When to Use Colons

• RULE 6: Between a title and subtitle

• Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors

When to Use Colons

• RULE 7: After the salutation of a business letter

• Dear Ms. Weinberg:

• Dear Sir or Madam: