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The Colon
Summary: How to use the colon in English. Featured Article

Featured 70 ways to improve your

By: Richard Flynn
English Learning a new language
Audience: All
Category: Punctuation can be hard work, so here are 70
Topic: Spelling and Punctuation practical tips for improving your
First Published: 12th Dec. 2006 English that you can do outside of
Last Edited: 25th Jan. 2019 school or college

When do we use the colon in English?

Other Articles of Interest
1) To introduce quotes
A colon can be used before a quote, especially if the quote is given on a separate The Semi-Colon

line.

A quote can be introduced like this:

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Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote English Grammar (39)
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(Source) (20)

General Articles (28)

2) Before a list
Learning English (46)
Punctuation (4)
Spelling (5)
Teacher Training (1)
Teaching English (128)
A colon can introduce a list in a sentence.
Teaching English for Specific
A list can be introduced like this: item, item,item. Purposes (14)
Teaching English in Asia (7)
3) Before an explanation Teaching English Using Games

BIG W & Activities (18)

Teaching Tips (53)
Ad It’s a party and you’re all invited.
Telephoning (14)
Ad
BIG W Vocabulary (3)
Writing (7)
Shop the range.

A colon can introduce an explanation.

The police made several arrests: there was a lot of trouble after the match. Submit Your Article

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4) To separate titles from sub-headings.
the English language for
Punctuation: the colon.
publication on our web site.

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