Colons
Colons can be used in different ways. Colons are most often used in front of list but can also be used to show a further explanation, conclusion or example.
Lists and colon
Colon can introduce a list of items
There were three gods that fought beside the Greeks: Poseidon, Athena and Hera.
The colon is placed at the beginning of the list. The clause before the colon should be a main clause: a clause that makes sense by itself. Essentially the colon shows that we are explaining or introducing the three gods.
The three gods that fought beside the Greek were: Poseidon, Athena and Hera.
In this case the colon would be misplaced because the clause before (The three gods that fought beside the Greeks were) is not a main clause.
The colon points forward: from an idea to a conclusion, from a cause to an effect, from an introduction to a conclusion, from a general statement to an example (Fowler, 2015).
Here are some other examples of a colon for lists:
- Bellerophon proved he was a hero through many deeds: he killed the Chimera, he defeated the Amazons and freed the Lycians.
- The cake recipe requires the following ingredients: flour, cheese, wasabi and an inflatable dingy.
- Patroclus knew he only had three options: run, fight or die.
- He presented several symptoms of hubris: pride, vanity and stubbornness.
Colons and introductions
Colons can also be used to link a main clause to another clause, phrase or word. We can use a colon when the second clause, phrase or word further explains the first clause.
For example ,
- It is clear why Bellerophon was considered a hero: he slayed the Chimera
- in this case it explain ‘why’
- He was sure of one thing: avoid the fiery breathe
- here it explains what he was sure of
- After listening to the queen’s complaints, Proteus came to his conclusion: Bellerophon must die.
- Explains what the conclusion
- Zeus had made his decision: Bellerophon must be punished.
- Explains what the decision
- Zeus, I believe that we are left with one choice: release the gad flies!
- Explains what the one choice was
- Achilles was more than a man: he was a god.
Note: the second part of the sentence, after the colon, should not begin with a capital letter (unless it is a proper noun). This is the general convention in British English. In American English, A capital is sometimes use.
Here some clause starters that we used this week: