The Learning Hub Colons Writing Handout Series Grammar, Mechanics, & Style

Although the colon is not a common punctuation mark, it is commonly used after an independent clause to introduce a list of items, to answer a posed question, or to link related information. Use colons sparingly, but when used correctly they can be a great tool.

Introducing a List A colon can be used to introduce a list at the end of a sentence that links back to information earlier in a sentence. The colon will usually replace a preposition or prepositional phrase in the sentence.

Appropriate: The band has performed most often in three countries: The United States, The United Kingdom, and Germany.

Inappropriate: The band has performed at: Madison Square Garden, Tampa Stadium, and Sam Houston Coliseum. Note: The colon separates the preposition at from its objects.

Combining Independent Clauses Sometimes, the information you want to add after a colon might itself be an independent clause (a complete sentence), a dependent clause (incomplete sentence), or just a single word or a few words. If this information adds to, explains, or answers the information in the first part of the sentence, then a colon is appropriate.

Appropriate: Led Zeppelin did something that few other bands could: perform at Madison Square Garden six times in seven days. Appropriate: One word can describe Led Zeppelin’s success: legendary. Inappropriate: Led Zeppelin was performing: it was a sold-out crowd. Note: In this case, a semicolon would be more appropriate than a colon, because we have two independent clauses rather than an independent clause with a dependent clause.

Some writers will capitalize the first word of the clause following the colon, while other writers do not. This choice will depend on context and on a particular writer’s style. Make sure you know your instructor’s preferences on this “rule” before using a colon to separate two independent clauses in your papers.

Lowercased Example: Led Zeppelin music is available in three formats: vinyl, compact disc, and digital downloads. Capitalized Example: Led Zeppelin music is available in three formats: Vinyl, compact disc, and digital downloads.

Last Edited: 6/28/2016 [email protected] | (217) 206-6503 By: PA, AA, MB, CB, SC BRK 460 | www.uis.edu/thelearninghub thehub # Dialogue Commas and colons can both be used after dialogue is introduced. However, colons are utilized when the quoted material is formally introduced and is not integrated as part of the sentence. Other times, a comma or colon is not necessary if the quoted material is a continuation of the sentence.

Necessary: Lead vocalist Plant once iterated: “I used to be better looking than this.”

Unnecessary: “If it’s not been received in the evidence,” Judge Klausner noted about the band’s copyright case, “it’s the basis of a mistrial” (Diehl, 2016).

Quotations Use a colon to introduce a quotation longer than one sentence that is embedded in your paragraph.

The band members are never afraid to discuss their colorful experiences, as indicated at a press conference: “Everything that we talk about is American, from our music tastes more or less…”

Use a colon to end a paragraph that introduces a block quotation after it. See our Block Quotations handout for more information.

Robert Plant addressed the media and said: We used to call ourselves the band of nods because if you missed a cue, we'd just wait a bit and nod. It had nothing to do with opiates, we were just nodding. Those nods have turned into middle-aged grins. (Gensier, 2012).

Other Common Uses Scripts Verses Use colons to introduce the text of questions Use colons to separate chapters and verses in and answers (i.e. in interviews). some religious texts.

Q: In what year was Led Zeppelin’s first Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that there is a tour? season for everything. A: The band’s first tour was in 1968. Citations Time Use colons to separate the year and the page Use colons to separate the hour and the minute number in ASA (American Sociological measurement. Association) parenthetical citations

The concert is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. (Plant and Franklin 2067:57)

Diehl, M. (2016, Jun. 14). Led Zeppelin appear in court for start of colorful “Stairway” trial. . Retrieved from http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/led-zeppelin-appear-in-court-for-colorful-start-of-stairway-trial-20160614 Gensier, A. (2012, Oct. 10). Robert Plant’s 14 best lines from Led Zeppelin movie event: “Sometimes we were fu—ing awful.” Billboard. Retrieved from http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474723/robert-plants-14-best-lines-from-led-zeppelin-movie-event-sometimes-we-were-fu **All information without a parenthetical citation stating otherwise comes from www.ledzeppelin.com

Last Edited: 6/28/2016 [email protected] | (217) 206-6503 By: PA, AA, MB, CB, SC BRK 460 | www.uis.edu/thelearninghub thehub #