1. Writing Lab
Colons

2. Colons
The colon is often used to introduce explanatory elements, often in the form of a list.
The colon takes the place of “such as,” “namely,” or “for example.”

3. Colons cont. The colon must be preceded by a complete sentence.
Correct: I hate this one course: English.
Notice the full sentence before the colon.
Note that your list may include only one word.
Incorrect: One course that I hate: English is the course I am failing.
The statement preceding the colon is not a full sentence.

4. Colons cont. 2
The colon takes the place of the following phrases: such as, for example, namely.
Do not use these phrases in combination with the colon.
Correct: Some mammals have no hair, namely, whales, porpoises, and bottle-nosed dolphins.
Incorrect: Some mammals have no hair: namely, whales, porpoises, and bottle-nosed dolphins.

5. Colons cont. 3
Do not use a colon after a linking verb, which connects the subject to the complement.
Correct: There are three parts to the chemistry course: lecture, recitation, and laboratory.
Incorrect: The three parts of a chemistry course are: lecture, recitation, and laboratory.

6. That’s all, folks!
This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series
Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon
To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson