How to Use a Colon in a Sentence

Do you feel hopelessly lost when it comes to the use of the colon? Does it haunt you in your sleep? Do you find yourself asking questions like 'how do I use this piece of punctuation'? Well, be prepared for a long-awaited restful night and the answers to your undaunted questions. In this wikiHow article, you will learn the importance of the colon and the uses in compound sentences and lists.

• Try associating colons with lists and other ways of naming things successively, such as a grocery list. For example: “There are so many things I need to purchase for the party: balloons, streamers, food, soda, gifts, and plates.”
• Remember, there is still need for an ‘and’ before the last word you are listing when using a colon. For example: “There are so many things I need to purchase for the party: balloons, streamers, food, soda, gifts, and plates.”
• When a colon follows quoted matter, the colon goes outside the quotation marks. For example: "There were three people to whom he sang 'The Girl From Ipanema': his mother, his sister and his best friend."
• If a colon is followed by a complete sentence, capitalize the first word after the colon. For example: "While in Venice, he did something he had never done before: He took a gondola ride."

• Never use a colon to introduce a list that is the complement of a verb or the object of a preposition.
  • The toys we took to the sleep over were: army men, hot wheels, and Barbie dolls.(incorrect--colon separates the verb from its complement)
  • We took these toys to the sleep over: army men, hot wheels, and Barbie dolls. (correct)
  • We have vacationed in: Philippines, China, Thailand, and Hong Kong. (incorrect--colon separates the preposition from its object)
  • We have taken a vacation in the following countries: Philippines, China, Thailand, and Hong Kong. (correct) or you delete the colon and simply say
  • We have vacationed in Philippines, China, Thailand, and Hong Kong. (correct)
• Always remember to use a colon between independent clauses when the second clause gives a fuller explanation of what is stated in the first clause.
  • Family camp had an enormous effect on families: they came home with a different perspective on life and with a genuine love for each other.
• Do not forget to use a colon between chapter and verse of Biblical reference.
  • John 3:16
• Remember to always use a colon between the hour and the minute of a time reference.
  • 11:11 P.M.

• How to Tell the Difference Between Alot, Allot and A Lot
• How to Use Commas
• How to Use Apostrophes
• How to Use These and Those