Use a colon (:) before a list of items or details.
Do not capitalize the first letter of each item in a list when the items are included in a sentence. Include one space after the colon if what follows is not a complete sentence. Include two spaces after the colon if what follows is a complete sentence.
• Gloria’s mom sent her to the store to get these things: a 10-pound bag of potatoes, a gallon of 1% milk, and a dozen eggs.
• This is what I know: She picked up the money, deposited it in my bank account, and gave me the receipt.
Capitalize the first letter of each item in a list when the list is in column form.
• Johnny’s schedule included the following classes:
History
Art
Trigonometry
Drafting
Band
Tennis
Use a colon before an appositive phrase or clause, which is a group of words that defines or identifies another word or group of words.
• One of the lamps is cyan: a combination of blue light and green light.
• Gina stated the first portion of the Apostle’s Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.
• Dear Dr. Marcos:
• To whom it may concern:
• Dear Madam:
Use a colon to divide the parts of time, chapters, and scripture references.
• 5:18 P.M.
• 19:24:36
• Chapter 6: Part II
• Chapter III: Section C
• John 3:16
• The Noble Qur’an: Surat 15
Use a colon between the city/state and the publisher in a book reference.
• Rosenthal, Marvin J. The Pre-wrath Rapture of the Church. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1990), p. 53.