Grammar Smart 3rd Edition - Princeton Review 2014

F. The Colon
PART 4. Punctuation

A colon tells a reader to pay attention to what follows.

Rules For Colons

1. Use a colon when making a list.

There are four ingredients necessary to a good party: music, lighting, food, and personality.

2. A colon is sometimes used to introduce a quotation or an explanation.

On Saturday President Bush made the following statement: “This country’s economy is in trouble!”

3. A colon must follow an independent clause. The information after the colon may be an independent clause or a dependent clause.