Author:
Peter Berry
Date Of Creation:
18 February 2021
Update Date:
15 May 2024
Content
The two points (:) are a punctuation mark used to grab the reader's attention or to indicate an emphatic pause on what will be said next. For example: This year we will visit three European cities: Berlin, Prague and Budapest.
In the same way as a semicolon, a colon is used before providing a conclusion, consequence, or explanation.
This punctuation mark is read as a short pause, shorter than the period and followed but longer than the comma. The colon is always written next to the word or sign that precedes it and with a space with respect to the sign or word that follows it.
Uppercase or lowercase after the colon?
The word that follows the colon can be written:
- Capitalized when the text below is a quote or in the head of a letter. For example: Estimated: Thank you for contacting us. / Napoleon said: "Dress me slowly because I'm in a hurry."
- With lowercase when the statement is an enumeration or maintains a semantic link with the text that precedes it. For example: We were all: my sister, my dad and me.
Uses of the colon
- Before an enum. For example: Just two three Argentine provinces: Río Negro, Neuquén and Córdoba.
- After an enumeration. For example: Bright, spacious, modern and comfortable: this is how the department we buy should be.
- Before a textual quote (The next word is capitalized and quotes are used). For example: As Aristotle said: "Man is a political animal".
- After the greeting in a letter or document (The word that follows is written on the next line and begins with a capital letter). For example: Dear friend: I am writing to tell you that next month I will be visiting.
- In administrative and legal texts, a colon is placed after the verb, which is written in capital letters. For example: The President of the Argentine Nation DECREES:
- To link propositions that they maintain a bond with each other without appealing to any nexus. Some relationships that are expressed through the colon are:
- Conclusion or summary. For example: Half the team got intoxicated the night before: we don't play the game.
- Cause effect. For example: The company went bankrupt: all the employees stayed on the street.
- Explanation or verification. For example: A good diet is characterized by its variety: It should include meats of all kinds, vegetables, legumes, fruits and cereals.
- Exemplification. For example: Andrea is an excellent actress: was awarded several times.
Examples of sentences with a colon
- Vacationing in Brazil is an excellent option for this summer: It is cheap, there are many places that we still do not know, it is close and we have discounts if we buy tickets with my credit card.
- The candidate did not exceed 1.5% of the votes: will not compete in the general elections.
- Many songs are better live than their original version: A missile on my plate Soda Stereo is a clear example.
- A good part of the deputies got up from their bench as soon as the session started: there was no quorum at the time of voting.
- After the victory in the elections, the president assured: "A new, better stage begins".
- English, Chinese and Portuguese: Those are the languages you must know if you want to work in this company.
- This year, I read three books by Mario Vargas Llosa: Aunt Julia and the Scribe, The Goat Party Y Celta's dream.
- Job creation, low inflation and increased exports: These should be the priorities of the next government.
- The Beatles were four: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison.
- As Kurt Cobain said: "It is better to catch fire than to vanish slowly."
- The deputy assured: "It is the kickoff to end hunger in our country."
- We had to spend our savings on car repair: We will go to Europe next year.
- The President of the Nation DECREES: That a holiday be granted on October 28, 2019.
- Paris is an excellent destination: the city is beautiful, there are many museums to visit and the food is exquisite.
- In the zoo there are animals of all kinds: penguins, bears, cows, birds and camels.
- I'm very tired: I'll stay home tonight
- Having a dog is too much responsibility: You have to take him out for a walk several times a day, take him to the vet and bathe him.
- There is an alert for strong storms: classes were suspended throughout the city.
- In addition to the Beatles, there are several bands that I would have liked to see live: Queen, The Doors, Led Zeppelin and The Who.
- The hurricane was terrible: there are 1000 evacuees.
- As that saying goes: "Not by much getting up early it dawns earlier."
- Sometimes it seems crazy: the other day I saw her on the street talking to herself.
- I know several countries in America: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras.
- Inflation was too high this year: the government suspended almost all road works.
- The following measure was announced: those who earn the minimum wage will not pay VAT.
- The president of the Honorable Chamber of Deputies of the Nation RESOLVES:
- Lenny Kravitz already said it once: "Rock and Roll is dead."
- Dear grandmother: My mother told me that you will come visit me.
- To whom it May concern: I am writing to you to extend my sincere thanks for the invitation you have extended to me.
- You didn't just lie to me: you also betrayed me.
Follow with:
Use of point | Use of the asterisk |
Use of the comma | Use of parentheses |
Use of quotation marks | Use of ellipsis |