English Stack Exchange
English Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [colons]

Questions related to the use of the colon (":") in English.

The colon resembles two points, one at the base line, and one directly above at the mid line (:). It is used to introduce a logical consequence of the immediately preceding statement, introduce a description, introduce an appositive independent clause, separate the main title of a work from the subtitle, or, occasionally, introduce speech.

235 questions
9
votes
7 answers

Colons after a single word (e.g. "Example:")

Everywhere I look, I seem to be finding examples of colons being used after a single word. "Examples: The dog is brown. The cat is white." "Recommended: Take this twice a week. Not recommended: Take this twice a day." "Rule: Start at 5 Add 7 each…
Bergam0t
  • 109
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
6
votes
2 answers

Usage of colon in English writing

It seems colons are used more restrictively in English than in my native language (German), so I'm having a bit of trouble with it. Do you think the use of the colon in the following sentences is good style in English, or should I better replace the…
Frank
  • 271
2
votes
1 answer

Do you need a colon after by?

I am organizing a school magazine and on each photo we must put the name. I was wondering when you write the word by, do you need the colon after it? Example: Photo By: Jane Doe By Jane Doe
user297601
  • 21
2
votes
1 answer

Can the colon introduce only two objects?

"Here are two choices: pizza and hot dogs." Would that be correct, or can the colon only introduce three or more objects?
chraosn
  • 29
2
votes
1 answer

Colon after 'Destination'

in a novel, if I write this at the start of chapter: Destination: New York. Destination New York. Should I use the colon or not?
MoniqueH
  • 859
1
vote
2 answers

Use of colon when addressing someone

When addressing someone in an email (I understand grammar rules are pretty loose in this medium), should the sentence after the colon start with a capitalized letter? For example: Example A: I'm going to bring my car. David: What about you? Example…
Ray
  • 534
1
vote
0 answers

When is it okay for a colon to precede a dependent clause that is not a list or example?

While browsing through an ACT study guide, I have encountered the following sentence (as part of a discussion of old signs seen along the highways): After all, there they are: advertising products and businesses that no longer exist. The study…
Brad
  • 111
1
vote
0 answers

Can a colon be placed at end of page

I'm reviewing a book for a friend. He wrote the sentence, "Tom Smith relays the following anecdote about the his baby's first exposure to the zoo:" Then the page breaks and the anecdote is on the next page. Is it ok to have a colon at the end of a…
WannaBeCorrect
  • 11
1
vote
0 answers

Sentence colon or comma

Is this the best way to write this sentence below? Moving forward, I hope to apply my experience to a cause that I am passionate about: education.
Cindy Nelson
  • 11
1
vote
2 answers

Usage of colon in English and math writing

I always have problems with the use of colons when writing math papers. The following examples come from a published paper in a prestigious American journal. Here is an example where the colon is not used: ... can be written as "The equation is…
emeryville
  • 167
1
vote
1 answer

Sentence fragment with Colon (Kurt Vonnegut)

I read this sentence from Vonnegut, and I was wondering whether this is a sentence fragment. He places a colon after a dependent clause, but aren’t colons allowed after independent clauses only? And there, I’ve just used a semicolon, which at the…
bugsyb
  • 260
1
vote
3 answers

Sentence Structure on a single sentence

Is this a single sentence. I know I can break this into multiple sentences, but I would like to phrase this in a single, non-run-on sentence. "Sometimes, I enjoy cooking: Whenever guests come over, I always spend hours prepping in the kitchen, and I…
Capt31
  • 11
1
vote
1 answer

Must an independent clause follow a colon (if it's not a list)?

I wrote this sentence: The unregulated internet we are accustomed to won out over another vision for the World Wide Web: a tightly controlled, "government-sponsored broadband network that would have delivered video from TV stations and other…
Trevor Dixon
  • 151
0
votes
1 answer

Question regarding combining two independent clauses using colons

After doing research on the proper way of combining two independent clauses using colons, I wanted to confirm that the examples below are using them correctly. From my research, the second independent clause should interpret or amplify the…
Delos
  • 9
0
votes
0 answers

Can I use a colon at the end of an incomplete sentence (see two example)?

Thank you for your help. Examples are provided below. Example A. Some people feel they must...: Prove their worth all the time. Put others down all the time. Example B. The pairings were as follows: Women: Janet: Alone, and with Phil. Karla:…
Rottex
  • 1
1
2