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The colon is primarily used to introduce or separate items within a sentence; in addition, it is used in specific grammatic conventions.
Most commonly, the colon is used when writing a list after words such as "as follows'" or "the following." In addition, a colon is used before a list if what precedes it is a complete sentence. To create more variety in compound sentences, a colon can be used to combine two independent clauses if the second clause illustrates, restates, or defines the first. Last, for certain grammatic conventions a colon is always used: between hours and minutes expressed in numbers, between chapters and verses in the Bible, and to separate the title from the subtitle of a book. While there are a few exceptions (for example between hours and minutes), in typewritten text, the colon is followed by two spaces.
Click on one of the four uses to see a description of that use and some examples to illustrate it.
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