When Not to Use a Colon?
Nouns and verbs, prepositions and their objects, verbs and their subject complements, and subjects and predicates should not be divided by a colon.
Here is an example of one of our previously written sentences rewritten improperly.
The body consists of three different types of muscle: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
By placing the colon here, the verb “are” is distinguished from its subject complements, “skeletal,” “cardiac,” and “smooth.”
My dream destinations after graduation are Egypt, Israel, and Rome.
The colon (:) in this statement divides the preposition “to” from its objects (Rome, Israel, and Egypt). The colon needs to be eliminated in order to construct this statement correctly.
I want to travel to Egypt, Israel, and Rome when I graduate.
Finally, after “including,” “especially,” or other comparable expressions, colons should not be used. These words are effectively replaced by a colon, as we already discussed, therefore putting them before a colon would be unnecessary.
How to Use a Colon? | Definiton & Rules
A punctuation mark is a sign or character used in writing for the structure and organization of written language and also to show meaning, tone, and emphasis. Punctuation, mainly marks and signs, serves for sentence separation, pointing out pauses, clarification of meaning, and giving emphasis.
Each of these punctuation marks delineates explicit rules and conventions on the appropriate use that go a long way in enhancing the clarity and coherence of written communication in general.
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