Questions tagged [colons]
Questions related to the use of the colon (":") in English.
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Should the first word after a colon be capitalized?
Should the first word after a colon be capitalized? Which of the following is correct?
For example: This.
For example: this.
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What is the difference between using a colon and a semi-colon to join two sentences?
I've seen a few questions on this site relating to semi-colons, which I believe I correctly understand, but what I'm not as clear about is colons. For example:
The man ate the apple; it tasted ...
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What are the rules on when to use commas, colons, semicolons and dashes?
What are the rules on when to use commas, colons, semicolons and dashes?
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Sentences ending with both a colon and a question mark
How should sentences that end with both a colon and a question mark be formed? Two examples are below, both questions, but one in which the colon presents a piece of information and the other in which ...
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Is it proper to use a colon followed immediately by a hyphen?
I have seen some writing where people have a list or a figure in writing and they will write something like this:
The information is provided in Image
3:-
Is that correct? Is this a British ...
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4
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Colon usage in English
I have always thought that colons were used to clarify, expand, provide evidence for the preceding sentence, or show an example. I have heard that this is not true. (Truly, it is a shame if it is so: ...
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1
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What punctuation should follow after a list introduced by a colon?
The whole department: John, Jeff, Jean, and the accountant [?] were thrown into jail.
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Can I use two colons in a sentence?
Can I use two colons in a sentence? A typical example would be something like the following:
Note: I have substantial experience with the following languages: Python, Java, C++, and Perl.
I have ...
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7
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Colons after a single word (e.g. "Example:")
Everywhere I look, I seem to be finding examples of colons being used after a single word.
"Examples:
The dog is brown.
The cat is white."
"Recommended: Take this twice a week.
Not recommended: ...
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Punctuation after "P.S."
Somewhere in the craggy quagmire of my memory, I seem to recall that the nuns of my grade school days taught me that a P.S. (post script) is followed by a colon, i.e. P.S.:
Alas, the periods after ...
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What is the correct punctuation after "as follows"?
I am consistently confused by by the usage of "as follows", in particular, I don't know if I should end "as follows" with a period, or with a colon.
Should I always use a colon, or ...
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Why ; is called semicolon and what is its history? [closed]
Semi- is a Latin prefix meaning "half" and colon is another punctuation.
Should I therefore say that semicolon is a halved colon?
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Punctuation to introduce a list: comma vs. colon vs. nothing
Which of these sentences is written correctly?
Angela has three brothers, Mark, Adam, and Ryan.
Angela has three brothers: Mark, Adam, and Ryan.
Angela has three brothers Mark, Adam, and ...
user7362
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2
answers
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Can you use a colon to introduce just a single item instead of a list?
Colons are usually used to introduce a list of some kind after an independent clause; however, would it work for a single item? For example, can you write
For 3 years, I ate hamburgers: my friend's ...
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1
answer
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Comma, colon or either in my text?
The author used a comma in the following text; I would have used a colon. Any thoughts?
"She is one of only a few lawyers with the necessary skills to advise on such deals[:][,] a significant ...
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Understanding appositives and the use of the m-dash ( — )
My understanding of a dash is that it sets off a lengthy appositive, but can also be used to introduce a summary. Consider the following passage from Stephan Jay Gould:
If evolution worked ...
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A colon after "following"
When I reference to the next sentence or sentences using the term following, is the preferred way to use a colon or a full stop?
An example:
Consider the sentence 'I wash the clothes'. Replacing ...
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1
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A trail of colons
I find I often, when writing, want to string colons together. Here is a recent example:
These two moments would be likely candidates for retelling: they both connect the people of San Andrés Tuxtla ...
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Punctuation following an interruption with a dash
I am not sure what the correct punctuation to use when ending a clause that was introduced with a dash when the next character in the main sentence is a punctuation mark.
Take the following contrived ...
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1
answer
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Colon between "that is" and formal definition
Is it appropriate to use "that is" followed by a colon when defining something formally? I have the following example:
Let γ be the set of groups that hold variables accessed by C, that is:
...
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Can I use a colon twice in one sentence?
Can I use a colon twice in a sentence? For example, I would like to punctuate the following sentence as shown:
These are hugely important factors for S. Oliver Canada as we’re dealing with a brand: ...
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Correct colon and semi-colon usage?
I thought of this while walking and wanted to write it down. I would like to know if I am using punctuation correctly in this sentence-- particularly the use of the colon and semi-colon. And please ...
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punctuation if dash introduces question-sentences
He worried--why X; what will happen if Y?
It seems that this construction expresses the idea best, but it creates a few punctuation questions.
Should the first semicolon be question-mark? Is there ...
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What to do about multiple sentences following a colon?
For example:
It happened only a handful of times in my lifetime: once when I went to the store. It just had to be done. There was no choice. Another when heading to the beach in 2013...
Should I ...
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Should a colon be used following a dependent clause to introduce a quote? [duplicate]
Doing some editing and came across a sentence in which a colon is used to introduce a quote. Is the colon justified in this case? SENTENCE ENDS:
...wearing a T-shirt that says: "When the going ...
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1
answer
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Colon after 'Destination'
in a novel, if I write this at the start of chapter:
Destination: New York.
Destination New York.
Should I use the colon or not?
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1
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What is the correct punctuation to use in this case?
If I have a sentence like:
The royal family is extremely rich: The sled that pulls the princess
is shaped like a golden swan, the celebrations last 3 days, and the
bride and groom walk under a ...
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vote
2
answers
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Using colons and semi-colons in dialogue
I've often heard writers say they don't like using colons and semi-colons in dialogue specifically and I don't often see colons and semi-colons in dialogue, but sometimes it just seems like it's by ...
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sentence fragment with colon
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21588388-georgias-governor-faces-ethics-questions-not-first-time-raw-deal
...., he has two options: accept the charges or rebut them.
Is the sentence ...
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Colon Before a List of Questions
Is the use of the colon correct in this sentence?
She pushed the thought aside because she didn't want to ask herself
questions like: Where did he go? Was he even real? Was she going crazy? She ...
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answer
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How to interpret two clauses separated by a semicolon, then followed with a colon
If two clauses separated by a semicolon are then followed with a colon, does the colon apply to only the second clause, after which it appears, or does it apply to both clauses being considered as a ...
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2
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Using a semicolon between elements in a list [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it proper usage to replace a comma in a list with a semi-colon in this situation (see details)?
Is it ever appropriate to use semicolons to separate elements in a list that ...
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Using the Chicago Manual of Style, do colons go inside or outside quotes?
I have the following sentence:
The program identifies particular “targets” and “identifiers:” the “targets” are people who are suspected of committing a crime.
Does the colon go inside the quotes ...
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