Colon Rules

Colons are used to link an independent clause with the following three things: a quotation, an explanation, or a list.

Quotation

Right!	I will never forget the last words my father ever spoke to me: “Boy, that gun’s loaded!”
WRONG!	My father’s last words to me were: “Boy, that gun’s loaded!”
Notice that the one marked “WRONG!” has a fragment before the colon.

Explanation

Right!	Perhaps I shouldn’t tell such tasteless jokes about my father: He’s still alive.
WRONG!	The reason I shouldn’t tell such tasteless jokes about my father is: He’s still alive
Notice that the one marked “WRONG!” has a fragment before the colon.

List

Right!	There are three things you should never joke about: sex, death, and politics
WRONG!	The three things you should never joke about are: sex, death, and politics.
Notice that the one marked “WRONG!” has a fragment before the colon.

Colon Quiz

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Choose the sentence that uses the colon correctly.

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Question 1

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	Sean has three kinds of game consoles: XBox, Wii, and PlayStation.
B	Sean's three game consoles are: XBox, Wii, and PlayStation

Question 2

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	His favorite system is: It depends on the type of game he's playing.
B	He has no favorite system: It depends on the type of game he's playing.

Question 3

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	Some systems are superior for certain things: Wii is best for full-body games.
B	When it comes to certain things: Wii is best for full-body games.

Question 4

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	For things like graphics or story-line: XBox has the best graphics.
B	Other systems are better for graphics or story-line: XBox games have the best graphics.

Question 5

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	I love Sean's saying about Xbox games: "It's not the woman in the graphics; it's the graphics in the woman."
B	The thing Sean says about XBox games is: "It's not the woman in the graphics; it's the graphics in the woman."

Question 6

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	That's probably why he plays his XBox most: the graphics and the story-line.
B	The reason he plays his XBox most is: the graphics and the story-line

Question 7

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	His PlayStation is not being used much anymore: The games aren't violent enough.
B	He doesn't use his PlayStation as much because: The games aren't violent enough.

Question 8

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	When I asked him why he didn't use his PlayStation much: He called it the "GayStation."
B	I asked him why he didn't use his PlayStation much: He called it the "GayStation."

Question 9

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	So I guess I was wrong about Sean having no favorite system: He does.
B	When I said Sean has no favorite system: He does.

Question 10

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

A	I've come up with a definition of a teenage boy playing XBox: a reptile with hands.
B	The definition of a teenage boy playing XBox is: a reptile with hands.

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