Colon

1.     COLON

A colon can be used in five ways:

a.    Lists

Use a colon to introduce a list.
- Libraries have two kinds of periodicals: bound periodicals and current periodicals.
- I need the following groceries: eggs, milk, and coffee.
Note: Do not use a colon to introduce a list after the verb to be unless you add the following or as follows.

b.    Long Quotations
Use a colon to introduce a quotation longer than three lines. This type of quote indeted on both sides, and no quotation marks are used.

-          As Albert C. Baugh and Thomas Cable state in their book, The History of the English Language:

There is no such thing as uniformity in language. Not only does the speech of one community differ from that of another, but the speech of different members of the same family, is marked by individual peculirities.

c.     Subtitles
Use a colon between the main title and the subtitle of, a book, article, or play.
   - The name of an article from the New York Time is “Space Station: Dream or Raelity?”

d.    Time
Use a colon between numbers for hours and minutes when indicating the time of day.
   - Helen left the class at 12:30.
   - Our plane arrived at 1:40, six hours late.

e.    Formal Salutations

Use a colon after the salutation of a formal letter.
   - Dear Profesor Danielson:
   - To Whom It May Concern:
In informal letters, a comma is more appropriate.
   - Dear Mom,
   - Dear Mark,

Exercise :
Insert a colon in the following sentence.

1.       I have a promise at 0930 p.m.

2.        This my best friend there are as follows John, Ann, Smith.

Answer:

1.       I have a promise at 09:30 p.m.

2.        This my best friend there are as follows: John, Ann, Smith.

Writing Academic  Eenglish , Alice Oshima and AnnHogue, 2004, London: Longman(Page: 251)

2.     The Colon
                The colon will be thought of as an equal sign; it tells the reader that what follows it is equivalent to what precedes it.

1.       Use a colon to introduce a list of items after an independent clause.
- Three countries abstained from voting: Poland, Cuba, and Canada.

2.       Use a colon to introduce a word or phrase that renames or explains an earlier idea in the sentence.
- The Hubble telescope soared into space despite a serious flaw: a distortion in one of its light-gathering mirrors.

3.       Use a colon between two complete thoughts when the second explains the first.
- It was becoming paintfully obvious to him: he was being ignored.
A less frequent use of the colon is after a list of items preceding an independent clause.
- Cuba, Brazil, and Australia: these are the largest producers of cane sugar.

4.       Use a colon after a salutation in a bussiness letter and between the hour and minutes when referring to time.
- Dear Senator Edwars:
Do not place a colon between a verb and its objects or complement or between a preposition and Its objects.
- Nonstandard: Her favourite science-fiction writers are: Ursuali LeGuin, Isaac Asimov, and Herlan Ellison.

Exercise:
Insert a colon in the following sentence.

1.       Yiddish is made up chiefly of words from four languages Russian, German, Polish, and Hebrew.

2.       John Smith was easily recognized by his black mustache, his walk, and his black hat.

Answer:

1.       Yiddish is made up chiefly of words from four languages: Russian, German, Polish, and Hebrew.

2.       John Smith was easily recognized by: his black mustache, his walk, and his black hat.

3.     Colon (: )

1.       We use this punctation to introduce a long list or series of things. The colon is often preceded by the phrase in the following, as followa, or as in, to mention three examples. Observe the use of the colon below.

a.       The members of Metallica are as follows: lars Ulrich (drums), Jason newstead (bass), Kirk Hzammet (lead guitar) and James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm).

b.      The prefix in- meaning not can be found in the following: inexpensive, intolerable an incrable.

2.       Although rarely, the colon may function to join closely related sentences. It can then be substituted by a semi colon or full stop. Pay attention to the following:

a.         He failed in the test: didn’t he prepare for it well or did the committee evaluate unfairly?

b.         One of her male friends brags all the time: as a result, most of us avoid chatting with him.

Exercise:
Insert a colon in the following sentence.

1.       The basic question remained unanswered who will contribute more funds to the project?

2.       Here are the answers to last week’s quiz 1) The capital of Riau Province is Pekanbaru, 2) Malay is the major dialect there, and 3) The famous river is the Siak.

Answer:

1.    The basic question remained unanswered: who will contribute more funds to the project?

2.       Here are the answers to last week’s quiz: 1) The capital of Riau Province is Pekanbaru, 2) Malay is the major dialect there, and 3) The famous river is the Siak.

Write Well Improving Skills, Barli Bram, 1995 Kanisius (Anggota IKAPI). Page 98