Colon
A colon is a punctuation mark dividing a sentence. The colon looks like two dots positioned vertically (:). The colon has a diversity of uses. It introduces a list, an explanation, or a quote, and connects two related sentences [1].
In modern English writing, a colon comes after an independent clause and precedes something that answers or explains that clause. Colons introduce more information or tell the reader that more details are coming in the sentence.
There are a number of great ways of using colons to improve your writing. Here are several examples of how they fit in sentences:
1. List.
Danny plays four sports: football, basketball, snooker, and tennis.
2. Explanation.
I didn’t eat the pizza: it had way too many potatoes.
3. Description.
She hated the team’s jerseys: brown and red with purple stripes.
4. Definition.
My neighbour has a “green thumb”: excellent gardening skills [2].
Additionally, the colon usually follows the salutation in a business letter; stands between the chapter and verse numbers in a biblical citation; between the title and subtitle of a book or article; and between numbers or groups of numbers in expressions of time and ratios [3].
⠀ 1. Retrieved from: Thesaurus.com [https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/how-do-you-use-a-colon/].
⠀ 2. Retrieved from: English Sentences [https://englishsentences.com/colon/].
⠀ 3. Retrieved from: ThoughtCo [https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-colon-punctuation-1689868].