Colons are a very handy writing tool—they can add variety and style to almost any piece of work.  However, many writers are quick to use colons in places where they do not belong.  One such place is after an incomplete sentence.

The most important rule that writers must remember about colons is that colons should follow only complete sentences.

The example below contains a colon, although the colon is unnecessary. 

Ex. The three things I hate about Texas summers are: mosquitoes, wasps, and humidity.

The words that lead up to the colon do not form a complete sentence on their own.  Therefore, the colon should simply be removed.

Ex. The three things I hate about Texas summers are mosquitoes, wasps, and humidity.

A complete sentence must precede the colon, no matter what the situation is.  Take a look at the following illustration.

Ex. The qualities we look for in job applicants are

• Punctuality
• Dependability
• Dedication
• Honesty

Notice how the colon after are is omitted because the sentence is incomplete, even though a bulleted list follows.  Here is another way the writer could introduce the bulleted list:

Ex. We look for the following qualities in job applicants:

• Punctuality
• Dependability
• Dedication
• Honesty

The colon is included in this example because it follows a complete sentence.

Along with our website, we recommend the following site:  The Grammar Curmudgeon.  The site’s grammar and word usage FAQs, writer’s guide, and word trivia provide writers with organized, valuable resources.

Test your understanding by deciding whether or not a colon should be used in each of the following sentences.

1. Certain things must be present in order for me to enjoy camping ( : / no colon ) cool weather, fresh water, and a spacious tent.

2. Among the people attending the car show are ( : / no colon ) Stacy, Darren, Mike, and Josh.

3. The university requires several documents when students apply to its graduate school, including ( : / no colon ) transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and writing samples.

4. The university requires several documents when students apply to its graduate school   ( : / no colon ) transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and writing samples.           

Answers

1. Certain things must be present in order for me to enjoy camping: cool weather, fresh water, and a spacious tent.

2. Among the people attending the car show are (no colon) Stacy, Darren, Mike, and Josh.

3. The university requires several documents when students apply to its graduate school, including (no colon) transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and writing samples.

4. The university requires several documents when students apply to its graduate school: transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and writing samples.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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