The colon is a mark of anticipation, as the following rules illustrate.
Use a colon in the following cases:
1. To introduce a list, summary, long quotation, or final clause that explains or amplifies what precedes the colon
These men have one thing in common: They are all short.
2. Following the words as follows or the following
The recipe called for the following ingredients: unsweetened chocolate, evaporated milk, sugar, flour, salt, eggs, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and chopped nuts.
The concept of "as follows" may be implicit.
"In our country we have three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either."
3. In formal salutations
Dear Senator Goldwyn:
4. With ratios
5:2
5. To indicate dialogue
Rebecca: How are you?
Brian: Alive.
6. To separate a title and subtitle
Simple Essays: A Book of English Compositions
Note: Do not place a colon immediately after a verb
Wrong: Prerequisites for the course are: two years of philosophy, knowledge of history, and fluency in English.
Right: Prerequisites for the course are two years of philosophy, knowledge of history, and fluency in English.
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