What is a colon?
One dot above a period, it's the punctuation equivalent of a good movie trailer.
Wikipedia says, "The most common use of the colon is to inform the reader that what follows the colon proves, explains, or lists elements of what preceded it."
What does it do?
It creates anticipation for something more. Where the sentence before it is vague, the items that come after it add specifics and further explanation.
It can* . . .
- introduce a list
Ex: I have three sisters: Daphne, Rose, and Suzanne.
- reveal a logical consequence
Ex: There was only one possible explanation: the train had never arrived.
- shows apposition
Ex: Luruns could not speak: He was drunk.
- introduces speech
How do I write a sentence using one?
Follow the basic pattern: Complete Sentence || Colon || Further Information
Before the colon . . .
- Make the sentence grammatically complete
- Make it vague
- Let it build suspense
- It should leave the reader asking a question
After the colon . . .
- It must answer the question raised in the preceding sentence
- It needs to add specific information that informs the preceding sentence
How to tackle your colon writing assignment due Thursday 25 October 2012
The assignment:
Write 5 sentences, each using a colon to introduce a descriptive element.
- All simple in structure
- 1 using an appositive middle branch
- 2 using out-of-order adjective middle branch
- 1 in the active voice (no middle branch)
- 1 in the passive voice (no middle branch)
My Examples:
1. Paris Hilton, ditsy and vapid, wears unintelligent clothing: shirts with, not one, but two grammatical errors on them. (out-of-order adjectives middle branch)
2. La Sierra's event this Friday, the Haunted High School, should bring many interesting people: thrill seekers, nerds, scaredy-cats, and people with nothing better to do on a Friday evening. (appositive middle branch)
3. Parent-teacher conferences, informative and scary, reveal the truth about certain types students: they are lazier than their parents thought. (out-of-order adjectives middle branch)
4. Mr. Frieden assigns a lot of work: grammar assignments, essays, reading, and annotating. (active voice)
5. The presidential debate was watched by all different kinds of Americans on Monday evening: Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, and even non-citizens.
You will assess one another on this assignment on Friday. It's out of 50 points. Here's the link to the scoring guide: Colon Usage Assignment Scoring Guide
*Examples taken from wikipedia.org
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