How To Properly Use A Colon in Writing

In fact, some punctuation marks are so seldom used that typographers have done away with them altogether! One example is the “snark”. The snark has now faded into obscurity but it was a combination of a period and tilde (. ~) placed at the end of a sentence to denote an ironic or snarky comment. Go figure. ~

While colons may not be quite that obscure, we still don’t use them as much as some of the other punctuation marks out there. So, let’s take a closer look at these tricky little marks and some tips on when, where and how to use them. We’ll cover scenarios like:

• Introducing lists.
• Showing emphasis.
• Presenting dialogue.
• Clarifying composition titles.

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What is a colon in writing? Before we get into the weeds about how to use a colon, let’s look at what it is and what it does. A colon is two dots aligned vertically to one another (:). A colon is used in the following four instances:

Introducing lists. A colon can be used to introduce a list. This doesn’t have to be a bulleted list; it can also be a list made in a sentence. When making a bulleted listed after a colon, finish each line with a period, regardless of whether it’s a complete sentence or not. Furthermore, when using a colon to precede a list is that it shouldn’t be treated like a period. Don’t capitalize the first word of a list after the colon unless it’s a proper noun or in bulleted form.

• Example 1: The shopping list included the following:
  • Milk.
  • Eggs.
  • Beef.
  • Tortillas.
• Example 2: He needed to take his car for maintenance that included: tire rotation, transmission flush, and an oil change.

Showing emphasis. You can easily emphasize a point and add a little bit of suspense by using a colon. Using a colon to show emphasis is different from introducing a list because it can be treated as both a period and a comma when capitalizing the first word of the ensuing phrase. If the first word is a proper noun or the phrase is a complete sentence, you can capitalize the first word. If the phrase doesn’t stand alone as a complete sentence, treat the colon like a comma, and don’t capitalize the first word.

• Example 1: There was one solution to her problem: dedication.
• Example 2: The evidence couldn’t be denied: He had clearly emptied the fridge into his cooler.

Presenting dialogue. Using a colon to present dialogue isn’t typically used in a literary work like a novel or even that often in a news article. Using a colon for dialogue is often reserved for a shorted, pointed quotation that follows a complete sentence or for sharing the transcript of a conversation. Because a quotation is considered a complete sentence, the first word following the colon should be capitalized.

• Example 1: The lookout shouted aloft to the first mate: “Pirates off the starboard bow, beat to quarters!!”
• Example 2: Interviewer: How did you feel when you got the call that you made the team? Athlete: I was excited and a little nervous.

Clarifying composition titles. It’s not uncommon for an author to use a somewhat ambiguous title of a book to draw initial interest from readers. Sometimes, a writer will insert a colon followed by a phrase to help the reader understand which genre the book fits into or tell a bit more about the story. The phrases on both sides of the colon should be able to stand alone.

• Example 1: Bloody Jack: Being An Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy
• Example 2: Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own

Knowing how to use a colon in a sentence makes it easier to share a list, emphasize a word or phrase, show dialogue, and give clarity to what might be an ambiguous title . What about semi-colons? Learn more here and improve your writing by flexing your grammatical muscles.