Colons

Lesson 6 Colons

Essential Question

How can we use colons to add emphasis and variety to our writing?

Grammar in the World

What Do I Know?

Use the interactive exercise below to see what you already know about colons. Read each sentence and decide whether or not it is punctuated correctly. When you're done, turn the card to check your answer!

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

Learn About Colons

A colon is a punctuation mark that looks like two stacked periods.

The colon is a versatile punctuation mark.

It is often used in place of a comma for emphasis.
You can often use a colon in place of the words “that is.”
Kelly is going to two stores tonight, that is, the grocery store and bakery.
A colon’s most frequent function is to introduce a list.

There are a few rules that must be followed about when to use—and not use—a colon.

Punctuation Rules for the Colon:	Example
There must be an independent clause before the colon, but it does not matter what follows the colon.	I have two favorite types of fruit: blueberries and cantaloupe.
Do not use a colon after a verb.	Incorrect: The name of my presentation is: Top Five Tips to Avoid Plagiarism. Correct: The name of my presentation is Top Five Tips to Avoid Plagiarism.
Do not use a colon after the phrases “such as” or “consists of.”	Incorrect: You could strengthen your essay by making a few changes such as: clarifying your thesis statement, adding supporting details, and summarizing your main points in the conclusion. Correct: You could strengthen your essay by making a few changes such as clarifying your thesis statement, adding supporting details, and summarizing your main points in the conclusion.
Do not capitalize the first item in a list that follows a colon.	Incorrect: Please bring these items to school tomorrow: Pencils, paper, your laptop. Correct: Please bring these items to school tomorrow: pencils, paper, your laptop.

When to Use Colons
Use a colon after an independent clause that introduces a list in a series.	Please pick up these items at the grocery store: cake, ice cream, birthday candles.
Use a colon before appositives that follow an independent clause. (Note: you can use a comma here, but a colon is stronger.)	We went to my favorite restaurant for dinner last night: Ragazza Italian Restaurant.
Use a colon to formally introduce a quotation. Just remember that the introduction needs to be an independent clause.	My high school science teacher always said the same thing every time someone wanted to turn in a late assignment: “A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.”
Use a colon to separate two independent clauses if the second independent clause clarifies the first.	My dog kept barking all night: I’m exhausted!
Use a colon after the salutation in a formal letter.	To Whom It May Concern:
Use a colon for dialogue in a script.	JULIET: O, Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo?
Use a colon between the hours and minutes when writing the time.	Amelie tutors a third grade class at 8:30 in the morning.
Use a colon between the chapter and verse of religious text references.	One of the most familiar verses in the Bible is John 3:16.
Use a colon after warnings.	Warning: Do not enter.
Use a colon between the title and subtitle of a book, article, TV show, movie, or any other artistic work.	Have you seen the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

Do I Get It?

Use the interactive below to see how much you've learned about colons.