The Colon ( : colon )

How to use the colon correctly

The colon is used to introduce a specification or a quotation.

Colon for specification

The colon introduces a specification in the form of examples, definitions or extra information concerning something previously mentioned in the same sentence. It carries the reader from the general to the particular, from the vague to the precise, from the abstractExisting as a thought or feeling rather than as a something concrete, material, tangible. to the concreteHaving substance, clarity and definition..

• That’s all gravity isgeneral statement referring to something previously mentioned: colon introducing a definition the distortion of the space-time fabric, affecting how things move the definition (of gravity).
• The reason patterns often appear in nature is simplethis (along with the colon) points us forward - we now expect to read about this simple reason: colon introducing the previously mentioned reason The same basic physical or chemical processes occur in many patterned substances and organisms as they form the reason why patterns often form in nature.
• To sum upthis (along with the colon) tells us we can expect a summary of something previous mentioned in the text: colon introducing summary research suggest it’s probably fine to listen to music while you’re studying - with some caveats the promised summary.

Colon for introducing reported speech or a quotation

• We could open an envelope asking the question: colon introducing the previously mentioned question “Are you a green or a red card?” the reported question.
• A classic quote (attributed to physicist Richard Feynman, but in this form also paraphrasing Niels Bohr) surmises: colon introducing the previously mentioned 'classic quote' “If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand it.” the 'classic quote' mentioned at the beginning of the sentence

Colon for introducing a list

Formatted lists are often introduced by a colon:

• To sum upthis (along with the colon) tells us we can expect a summary of something previous mentioned in the text: colon introducing summary research suggest it’s probably fine to listen to music while you’re studying - with some caveats. It’s better ifthe promised summary: colon introducing bulleted list
  • it puts you in a good mood;
  • it’s not too fast or too loud;
  • it’s less wordy (and hip-hop, where the words are rapped rather than sung, is likely to be even more distracting);
  • you’re not too introverted.