Page 938 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 938
In her purse, Dot carried: a pen, a checkbook, her credit card,
and a lipstick.
This sentence is incorrect because a complete sentence does not
come before the colon. Below, the sentence is corrected.
In her purse, Dot carried the necessities: a pen, a checkbook,
her credit card, and a lipstick.
It is also correct—and sometimes simpler—to integrate a list into a
sentence without using a colon.
In her purse, Dot carried a pen, a checkbook, her credit card,
and a lipstick.
A colon is used to introduce a restatement or clarification of an idea. A
complete sentence must come before the colon.
Examples of a Colon to Introduce a
Restatement or Clarification
Brian says his kids have just one method of locomotion: running.
The word running restates and clarifies method of locomotion. It is
introduced with a colon.
The workers were enthusiastic in their praise of Ed’s managerial
style: He believed in fixing the problem, not in fixing the blame.
