When should you not use a colon?

A colon introduces an element or series of elements that illustrates or amplifies the information that preceded the colon. While a semicolon normally joins two independent clauses to signal a close connection between them, a colon does the job of directing you to the information following it.

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing always looks great? Grammarly can save you from misspellings, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and other writing issues on all your favorite websites.

Many people are confused about using colons, but their function is actually quite straightforward. Think of it as a flashing arrow that points to the information following it. When a colon appears in a sentence, it usually gives the silent impression of “as follows,” “which is/are,” or “thus.”

The colon in this sentence signals that you are about to learn the names of the three types of muscles the sentence already mentioned. We might silently read the sentence this way.

Colons are often used with lists, as in the example above. They can also be used to signal further clarification.

One might silently read this as:

Colons can also introduce a quotation:

READ MORE: Capitalization After Colons

Colons Separating Independent Clauses

A colon can be used to separate two independent clauses when a) the second clause is directly related to the first clause (not just vaguely related) and b) when the emphasis is on the second clause. While you can also use a semicolon or a period between two independent-yet-related clauses, the colon is a little softer than the period, but a little harder than the semicolon.

In British English, the word following a colon is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or an acronym. In American English, styles differ, but it is best to capitalize the first word after a colon if what follows forms two or more complete sentences.

Misuse of Colons

A colon should not separate a noun from its verb, a verb from its object or subject complement, a preposition from its object, or a subject from its predicate.

To illustrate, here is one of our sentences from above rewritten incorrectly.

Putting the colon here separates the verb are from its subject complements (cardiac, smooth, and skeletal).

The colon should be removed from this sentence because it separates the preposition to from its objects (Rome, Israel, and Egypt). To write this sentence correctly, the colon should be removed.

DESCRIPTION
colon symbol in a green circle with definition and example sentence
SOURCE
Created by Karina Goto for YourDictionary
PERMISSION
Owned by YourDictionary, Copyright YourDictionary

Hearing “There’s a problem with your colon” is never good news, though it’s probably worse coming from your doctor than from your English teacher. Luckily, when talking about punctuation, a few tips and hints can help you straighten out any colon-related problems (in your writing).

What Is a Colon?

A colon is a punctuation mark that introduces or points to other directly related text. It looks like two dots, one on top of the other (:) and always has a space after it.

Colons come after independent clauses. They can’t split a noun from a verb, and they can’t break up a clause or a phrase. However, the words after a colon can be a complete thought, an incomplete thought, a list of words, or even a single word.

Examples of Colons in a Sentence

Colons have many functions in a sentence. They can often stand in for the phrases such as or which is to introduce lists or emphasize a point.

I’ve got one more question: What are you doing here?
There are five people in my department: Jessica, Raul, Sean, Jamal, and me.
We moved here for one reason: opportunity.
Maribel stood and announced: “We’re having a baby.”
To Whom It May Concern: I visited your restaurant yesterday, and I have a complaint.

Do You Capitalize After a Colon?

One tricky question concerns capitalization after a colon. You only capitalize after a semicolon if the first word is a proper noun — so does the same rule apply with a colon?

It depends on your style guide. All style guides capitalize the first word after a colon if it’s a proper noun or the beginning of a quotation. But only AP style and APA style recommend capitalizing the first letter after the colon if it’s the beginning of a full sentence.

Mary was shocked: She never expected to see Nate again.
The jar was empty: Mike had eaten the last cookie.

The Chicago Manual of Style and MLA format recommend capitalizing the first letter after the colon only if it introduces two sentences, not just one.

Mary was shocked: She never expected to see Nate again. Not here, of all places.
The jar was empty: Mike had eaten the last cookie. Kelly’s stomach grumbled with hunger and irritation.

Now that the mystery of guts vs. grammar is behind us, it’s time to focus on the most mysterious part of colons: their usage. While colon rules may seem random to readers, there are several correct ways to use them in a sentence — and several times when choosing another punctuation mark might improve your writing even more.

When two sentences are directly related, you can connect them with a colon. It provides more of a pause than a comma or semicolon, but less of a pause than a period.

Thinking back, our trip to Ireland was the best: We saw some of the most beautiful terrains this Earth has to offer.
Diane deserved this degree: She got what she worked for.

Use a Colon To Point to Words

A colon also can function like an arrow, telling readers “Look at this word!” Typically, only one word or phrase follows a colon in these sentences.

There’s one more thing we need: a plane ticket.
I’ve met the love of my life: Patricia Perez.

Use a Colon To Clarify Information

Use colons between two sentences if the second sentence explains more about the first sentence. Note that both sides of the colon are complete sentences with this usage.

Life is like a road: Every path takes you somewhere.
The results are in: He is the president.

Use a Colon To Introduce a Serial List

When a serial list somes after an independent clause, you can use a colon to stand in for the phrases which include or which are.

There are three things every dog needs: food, water, and healthcare.
For the camping trip, you need to pack many things: clothing, sleeping bags, food, utensils, and cookware.

Avoid splitting up a phrase or clause with the colon in these cases. The colon should only come after a complete sentence, and before the list of items. Don’t add a colon after phrases like such as, for example, or we need.

Incorrect - We need: eggs, milk, and fabric softener.
Correct - We need the following items: eggs, milk, and, fabric softener.
Also correct - We need eggs, milk, and fabric softener.

Use a Colon To Introduce a Bulleted or Numbered List

If items appear in bullets or numbers rather than in a sentence, you can use a colon to introduce them as well. Just be sure that the sentence before the colon is an independent clause.

There are three things every dog needs:
- food
- water
- healthcare

For the camping trip, you need to pack many things:
- clothing
- sleeping bags
- food
- utensils
- cookware

Capitalization and ending punctuation are optional for single words or short phrases in bullet points or numbered lists.

Use a Colon To Introduce Extended Quotations

When providing an extended quotation (more than a few sentences) in your writing, add a colon after the sentence that introduces the quote. Then indent the quotation from the left margin, and don’t use quotation marks.

Dyer's philosophy can be summed up in his belief that our thoughts manifest our reality:
Act as if what you intend to manifest in life is already a reality. Eliminate thoughts of conditions, limitations, or the possibility of it not manifesting. If left undisturbed in your mind and in the mind of intention simultaneously, it will germinate in the physical world.

Use a Colon for Shorter Quotes

You can also use a colon instead of a comma to introduce a direct quote after an independent clause (though you should use a comma if the sentence before isn’t a complete sentence).

My father always used to tell me: “Being kind to one other is the deepest type of love.”
The cowboy uttered his final words: “Protect the ranch at all costs.”

Use a Colon Following a Salutation

You can also use a colon after the salutation in a formal letter, such as To Whom It May Concern. When addressing someone by their name in a formal way, you can also use a colon.

To Whom It May Concern:
Dear Mr. Wilson:
Dear Professor Jason Smith:

When Should You Use a Semicolon Instead of a Colon?

Semicolons are similar to colons, but they don’t provide as much of a pause or emphasis. Semicolons typically join independent clauses together — just one of the many functions of a colon.

The only time when you may want to use a semicolon instead of a colon is if your independent clauses are only loosely related, not directly related.

I hate ironing: I never do it right. (The clauses are directly related — use a colon)
I hate ironing; I also can’t stand sweeping. (The clauses are loosely related — use a semicolon)

Nataliya is so talented: She can play three instruments. (The clauses are directly related — use a colon)
Nataliya is so talented; she’s definitely going to win the music competition. (The clauses are loosely related — use a semicolon)

Why Is It Called a Colon?

Depending on the context of the sentence, colon could refer to the large intestine or the colon symbol we know and love. But how can one word refer to two really, really different things?

They’re not as different as you think. The word colon comes from the Latin colon (“section, passage”) and the Greek kōlon (“limb, part”). With a slight change in pronunciation, kolon (no line over the "o") means “meat” — so the large intestine is a “passage of meat.”

In the same way, the grammatical colon used to refer to a “passage of writing” — similar to the modern word clause. Over time, colon began to describe the dotted colon symbol used to set off a clause, rather than the clause itself.

Place the Colon Quiz

Read the following sentences and decide where you would put a colon. (Here’s a hint: Some sentences don’t need a colon at all.)

My sister moved away, she couldn’t stand the cold weather here.
Please bring sunscreen, sandals, and pool toys to the swim party.
There’s one food I can’t stand, pickles.
“Don’t call me again,” yelled Violet.
There’s a storm coming, you should find shelter.
Patty announced “I quit.”

Place the Colon Quiz Answer Key

Could you place those cool colons correctly?

My sister moved away: She couldn’t stand the cold weather here. (Colon connects two clauses)
Please bring sunscreen, sandals, and pool toys to the swim party. (No colon needed)
There’s one food I can’t stand: pickles. (Colon emphasizes pickles)
“Don’t call me again,” yelled Violet. (No colon needed)
There’s a storm coming: You should find shelter. (Colon connects two clauses)
Patty announced: “I quit.” (Colon introduces the quote)

What are the rules for using colon?

A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles. Emphasis—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. (She had one love: Western Michigan University.)

What can colons not be used for?

Misuse of Colons A colon should not separate a noun from its verb, a verb from its object or subject complement, a preposition from its object, or a subject from its predicate.

How do I know when to use a colon or comma?

Use a colon to set off a second independent clause that modifies the first. Aaron was happy today: he hopped and skipped all the way to the post office. Use colons to introduce quotations after an independent clause. Use a comma when introducing quotations after a dependent clause.