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Colons 1
Introducing a list or a quote
The assessment is based on certain criteria: engagement with audience, technical ability, evidence of improvising, and creativity.
The introduction does several things: it sets the tone, provides background information, and explains why the topic is important.
Johnson (2004) offered this perspective: “The birth order of a child in the family is influential” (p. 6).
Signalling evidence
Colons offer an explanation or evidence of the sentence that precedes it. To check if you have used the colon correctly (for both this use and that of Part 1 previously) insert the phrase “namely” (or “&hllip;and that is…” or “…and those are…”) where the colon is. It should still make sense.
Check to see if that strategy works for the following examples.
Bob had only one thing on his mind: getting out of there.
Severe measures are needed to save the Eurozone: reducing national debt, cutting public sector spending, and curtailing borrowing.
He has taken the first step to recovery: admitting he has a drinking problem. .
1.True or false: All quotes should be introduced with a colon.
False ✔
Why: There are different ways to incorporate a quotation into your work and the colon is just one way.
2. Yes or no: Information on both sides of the colon should be independent stand-alone sentences.
No ✔
Why: There needs to be a complete, stand-alone sentence only prior to the colon. Following the colon may be just one word, an incomplete sentence, or a complete sentence.
3. There is only one thing I can say in Jim’s case_ he got what he deserved.
Insert the correct punctuation
: ✔
Why: A colon is appropriate in places where you have the words “and that is [that] …” . It can only correctly be a colon here because the clause following the colon represents an explanation of the initial statement.