Using a colon with a list not just

When To Use a Colon #1 A. Before a list or an explanation that

EXAMPLE A. The charter review now includes the following people: the mayor, the chief

EXAMPLE #1 A. Her recipe for gunpowder included saltpeter, dry oatmeal, and ground-up charcoal.

EXAMPLE #2 A. His favorite breakfast cereals were Rice Krispies, Cheerios, and Wheaties. A.

Let’s Practice! YES! �Which of the following is correct? The Question ▪ A) The

Let’s Practice! �Which of these is correct? The Question ▪ a) Mankind has only

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Using a colon with a list …not just the eyeballs on your text message face! : ) L. 5. 2 a: Use punctuation to separate items in a series.

When To Use a Colon #1 A. Before a list or an explanation that is preceded by a clause that can stand by itself. A. If you took off the list, and the preceding clause can NOT stand alone, then you should NOT be using a colon.

EXAMPLE A. The charter review now includes the following people: the mayor, the chief of police, the fire chief, and the chair of the Town Council. A. MAIN CLAUSE: A. The charter review now includes the following people: B. LIST THAT FOLLOWS MAIN CLAUSE: A. the mayor, the chief of police, the fire chief, and the chair of the Town Council.

EXAMPLE #1 A. Her recipe for gunpowder included saltpeter, dry oatmeal, and ground-up charcoal. A. no colon after "included“ because “Her recipe for gunpowder included” cannot stand on its own! B. How can you fix it so that you CAN use a colon? A. Her recipe for gunpowder included the following: …

EXAMPLE #2 A. His favorite breakfast cereals were Rice Krispies, Cheerios, and Wheaties. A. no colon after "were“ because “His favorite breakfast cereals were” cannot stand on its own.

Let’s Practice! YES! �Which of the following is correct? The Question ▪ A) The potion contained: fruit, biscuits, and glue. ▪ B) The potion contained fruit, biscuits, and glue. ▪ C)The potion: contained fruit, biscuits, and glue. The Answer ▪ B) The potion contained fruit, biscuits, and glue. The Explanation ▪ The phrase before the colon cannot stand alone. Therefore, there should be no colon!

Let’s Practice! �Which of these is correct? The Question ▪ a) Mankind has only one choice left stop burning fossil fuel. ▪ b) Mankind has only one choice left, stop burning fossil fuel. ▪ c) Mankind has only one choice left: stop burning fossil fuel. The Answer ▪ c) Mankind has only one choice left: stop burning fossil fuel. The Explanation ▪ The clause before the colon can stand alone. The words after the colon further explain the “one choice. ”