Using the colon(s)

I were really bussy lately that I had no time to write my blog. But, today I take a day off from my job :p So today I give an article about colons.

We have all seen those two ubiquitous dots--the colon. People use them all the time, but are they used correctly? Take a look at the following sentence.

For our camping trip, I brought: a lantern, a sleeping bag, food, water, and a flashlight.

Was the colon used correctly here? If you said "yes," then you are probably one of the millions of people who uses the colon INCORRECTLY!

Let's begin with the easy uses. In a formal letter or business letter, a colon is often used.

Dear Sir:
We were very honored to have you come visit our company.

The second usage is to separate a title and a subtitle. When the title needs a further explanation, a subtitle can be used.

Math Applications: Using Calculus to Determine the Age of Rocks.

The most common mistake with colons is when the colon is placed right in the middle of an independent clause (a complete idea or sentence). A colon should be written AFTER an independent clause or complete idea. Take a look at the following example.Every repairman must have: a screwdriver, a hammer, and a saw.

Most people would say this sentence is fine; however, it is incorrect. Look a the part of this sentence BEFORE the colon.

Every repairman must have:

Is this a complete idea (independent clause)? NO. Could someone say, "Every repairman must have"? Of course, not. It doesn't make sense and it is meaningless. This is why the colon was not used correctly here.

So, how do you fix it? Just make the part of the sentence before the colon a complete idea. Take a look at the following sentence.

There are three things every repairman must have: a screwdriver, a hammer, and a saw.

Is the part of the sentence before the colon a complete idea?

Yes! This is a complete idea. Of course, the listener or reader might want to ask what the three things are that every repairman must have, but this is still a complete idea (independent clause).

The last common misuse of the colon is with quotations. Quotations typically have a comma before it.

The football team was tired. The coach said, "We can still win."

When the quotation adds information or explains the ideas presented in the clause (part of the sentence) before the quotation, a colon is usually better. This usage usually requires that the part of the sentence before the quote be a complete idea (independent clause).

After feeling discouraged and behind 25 points in the last basketball championship game, the coach was reminded of something Winston Churchill once said: "Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others."

Now, let's go back to the first sentence above.

For our camping trip, I brought: a lantern, a sleeping bag, food, water, and a flashlight.

Do you know what is wrong with it? You're right! The part of the sentence before the the colon is NOT a complete idea (For our camping trip, I brought). This sentence can also be fixed.

For our camping trip, I brought various essential items: a lantern, a sleeping bag, food, water, and a flashlight.