Conventions of Composition Rule 41

Rule: Use colons to introduce lists, definitions, and complete sentences. [For complete sentences, capitalize the first letter after the colon.] Colons may not be preceded by verbs. What a colon introduces must end the sentence.

Examples:

Wrong: I went to the store to buy: flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Better: I went to the store to buy all my ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Correct: He wanted to help cook for the feed: a Hotchkiss ritual involving late-night food.

Correct: Proctor wants to save his wife: "She believe in the Gospel, every word!" (70).

Wrong: My objections to your plan are as follows: the danger, the uncertainty, and the expense, and I shall have nothing to do with it.

Better: I shall have nothing to do with your plan. My objections are as follows: the danger, the uncertainty, and the expense.

Practice putting a colon where one could work:

1. We brought everything we needed for the trip a camera, a phone charger, and good attitude.
2. Over the summer, I read Prep, The Catcher in the Rye, and Into the Wild.
3. After reading the report, I have one question, how can the company stay afloat?

Resources for further explanation of how to use colons:

Grammar Book's Colons

The Punctuation Guide's Colons