{"id":195,"date":"2025-04-17T16:35:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/colons-the-signposts\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T20:45:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:45:47","slug":"colons-the-signposts","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/colons-the-signposts\/","title":{"raw":"Semicolons and Colons: Learn It 2","rendered":"Semicolons and Colons: Learn It 2"},"content":{"raw":"[caption id=\"attachment_2690\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"262\"]\"Road Figure 1<\/strong>. This road sign warns drivers to pay attention to wildlife as they continue on. Colons similarly remind the reader to pay attention to what they will read next.[\/caption]\r\n

Colons: The Signposts<\/h2>\r\nThe colon is like a sign on the highway, announcing that something important is coming. It acts as an arrow pointing forward, telling you to read on for important information. A common analogy used to explain the colon is that it acts as a flare in the road, signaling that something meaningful lies ahead.\r\n\r\nThe colon is not just used to introduce a list; it is far more flexible. The colon can appear after the first word(s) of a sentence, just before the final word(s) of a sentence, or even between two independent clauses. It can be used to provide emphasis, to explain, or to summarize. Thus, it is one of the most powerful punctuation marks.\r\n

Using Colons<\/h2>\r\nUse the colon when you wish to provide emphasis.\r\n\r\n
\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • To address this problem, we must turn to one of the biologist\u2019s most basic\u00a0tools: the petri dish.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • My grandfather, a\u00a0research scientist, gave me some critical\u00a0advice about petri dishes: don\u2019t drop them.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>Use the colon to introduce material that explains or summarizes what has preceded it.\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
      \r\n \t
    • The petri dish: one of the biologist\u2019s most basic\u00a0tools.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • In low-carbon steels, banding tends to affect two properties in particular: tensile ductility and yield strength.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • The research is conclusive: global warming is really happening.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>Use the colon to present a list or series, particularly when there is a lot of similar material to join or when the items in the list include commas.\u00a0When you are using a colon in this way, the colon usually gives the idea of \u201cas follows\u201d or \u201cwhich is\/are.\u201d\r\n\r\n
      \r\n
        \r\n \t
      • A compost facility may not be located in the following areas: within 300 feet of an exceptional-value wetland, within 100 feet of a perennial stream, or within 50 feet of a property line.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • A backyard compost pile can process many items: fruit and vegetable scraps; crushed egg shells; spoiled soy, rice, almond, or coconut milk; loose leaf tea.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>
        Be careful! Do not include a colon after words like \u201cfor example\u201d or just because you have a list.<\/section>\r\n

        Correct Use of Colons<\/h3>\r\nTo ensure you are using a colon correctly, check to see if you could substitute a period for your colon. If not, your colon is not correct.\r\n\r\n
        Example 1: <\/strong>The three primary colors are: red, blue, and yellow. (The colon is not necessary to introduce this list because the first part of the sentence is grammatically incomplete without including the colors.)\r\n
          \r\n \t
        • This sentence is incorrect:<\/strong> \u201cThe three primary colors are\u201d is not a sentence.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nExample 2:<\/strong> I am going to the store to buy groceries: milk, bread, and cheese.\r\n
            \r\n \t
          • This sentence is correct:<\/strong> \"I am going to the store to buy groceries\" works as a standalone sentence.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>You may use a colon with \u201cas follows\u201d or \u201cthe following.\u201d\r\n\r\n
            Example 1:<\/strong>\u00a0I am going to clean my apartment as follows: first, I\u2019m going to dust; then, I\u2019m going to vacuum; and finally, I\u2019m going to make a mess all over again.Example 2:<\/strong> College success requires the following: determination, effort, and a bit of humility.<\/section>Note that some style guides require a capital letter after a colon when what follows is a complete sentence. Others do not. Ask your teacher!\r\n\r\n
            Example 1:<\/strong> I am thrilled to be part of a college community: Education is my future.\r\n
              \r\n \t
            • This sentence is correct:<\/strong> Capital \u201cE\u201d is sometimes required by various style guides since \"Education is my future\" is a full sentence.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nExample 2:<\/strong>\u00a0I am thrilled to be part of a college community: The future.\r\n
                \r\n \t
              • This sentence is incorrect:<\/strong> Capital \u201cT\u201d in \"The\" is not correct because \"The future\" is not a full sentence.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>
                Is the colon used correctly in the following sentences? Select yes or no. [ohm2_question]34366[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>
                Understanding the functions of the semicolon and colon will help you use them effectively. Remember, a semicolon connects complete ideas or items in a list that have internal commas. Colons act as signposts to alert readers to important information.