Colons with Lists
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Colons with Lists
Rule 1: Use the colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list of items when introductory words such as namely, for example, or that is do not apply or are not appropriate.
Examples:
You may be required to bring many items: sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.
I want the following items: butter, sugar, and flour.
I want an assistant who can do the following: (1) input data, (2) write reports, and (3) complete tax forms.
Rule 2: A colon usually does not precede a list unless it follows a complete sentence.
Examples:
To be successful in sales, one should do the following: (a) dress appropriately, (b) ask customers about their needs, and (c) follow through.
To be successful in sales, one should (a) dress appropriately, (b) ask customers about their needs, and (c) follow through.
Rule 3: With tabular format, a colon customarily precedes a list. If the introductory statement is a complete sentence and the listed items are complete sentences as well, the listed items are capitalized and punctuated as complete sentences.
Examples:
To be successful in sales, one should do the following:
(a) Dress appropriately.
(b) Ask customers about their needs.
(c) Follow through.
If the listed items are each a separate completion of the introductory statement, the listed items are punctuated accordingly and are not capitalized.
To be successful in sales, one should:
(a) dress appropriately.
(b) ask customers about their needs.
(c) follow through.
It is also acceptable to use and before the last phrase, making the listed items a continuation of the introductory statement. As continuations, they would be punctuated with commas and not capitalized.
To be successful in sales, one should:
(a) dress appropriately,
(b) ask customers about their needs, and
(c) follow through.
Note:
Similar treatment can be applied to single words or phrases in list form, including bullets, or numbers. The rule of thumb is to be consistent.
To be successful in sales, one should:
dress appropriately,
ask customers about their needs, and
follow through.
To be successful in sales, one should:
• dress appropriately.
• ask customers about their needs.
• follow through.
Note: With lists, you may use periods after numbers and letters instead of parentheses.
For our meeting on Tuesday, please:
a. e-mail the agenda to me by Monday afternoon.
b. call me 15 minutes before the meeting is set to begin.
c. distribute the notes to all the board members after the meeting.
Pop Quiz
Add punctuation if needed.
1. The following are required (a) wet suits, (b) fins, (c) snorkels.
2. Please bring (a) wet suits, (b) fins, and (c) snorkels.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. The following are required: (a) wet suits, (b) fins, (c) snorkels.
2. Please bring (a) wet suits, (b) fins, and (c) snorkels. (CORRECT)
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
What is the rule about colons when they are used as you do on this site? How is this usage defined?
Examples:
Rule 1:
Rule 2:
Rule 3:
Note:
The Chicago Manual of Style’s Rule 6.59 says, “A colon introduces an element or a series of elements illustrating or amplifying what has preceded the colon.”
When you are listing items by bullets – is just the first word capitalized?
· Job Shack
· Mixing Area Concrete/Mortar Cement
· Bulk Sand and Gravel
· Tile/Brick
· Toolbox Layout
· Use Area Dry Heated
· Resin Cement Storage and Mixing Area
· Brick Saw Cutting Area with Power and Water Requirements
· Reinforcing Steel Laydown Area
Capitalization with bullet lists is a matter of style. In general, we favor minimizing capitalization.
Which is correct or more correct?
1. Water can exist in three forms — solid, liquid or gas.
2. Water can exist in three forms – solid, liquid or gas.
3. Water can exist in three forms – solid, liquid or gas.
4. Water can exist in three forms; solid, liquid or gas.
We recommend Water can exist in three forms: solid, liquid, or gas.
Our Rule 1a of Colons and Rule 1 of Commas provide more information.
As we stated, the articles are optional in your sentences. We would need to see a specific sentence in order to comment on articles within a different sentence. Your sentences are all fine with the changes we indicated.
I’m at a bit of a loss on this one. Back to back colons seems incorrect for some reason, but I can’t seem to find a better solution:
He played against many top level teams including: MLS teams: Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, and San Jose Earthquakes; English Premier League’s Swansea City; and Liga MX’s Club Leon.
For parallel construction, we suggest:
He played against many top level teams, including MLS’s Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, and San Jose Earthquakes; English Premier League’s Swansea City; and Liga MX’s Club Leon.
What about a colon that comes after an abbreviation?? Do you drop the period in the abbreviation?
To wit: “Current temperature in Washington D.C: 85 degrees.” Or “…D.C.: 85 degrees” ?
Do not drop the period in an abbreviation appearing before a colon. However, there should be a comma after “Washington.” (You would not need periods in “DC” if you were following Chicago Manual of Style guidance.)
Would I put a comma after “but limited to: ”
or just leave it as it is?
Accommodations can include, but are not limited to, allowing additional time to take a test, reading the test directions aloud, reading the entire test aloud, allowing the student to take the test in a distraction-free area, sectioning the test into several sessions, allowing multiple breaks while testing, and having the student highlight key words prior to beginning the test (Ward, 2005).
As per our Rule 2 of Colons: “Avoid using a colon before a list if it directly follows a verb or preposition that would ordinarily need no punctuation in that sentence.”
The colon in this case would effectively, although not immediately, follow the verb include, which is not recommended. However, you could place this list in a tabular format if desired.
Accommodations can include, but are not limited to:
(a) allowing additional time to take a test
(b) reading the test directions aloud …
(You may use commas at the end of each line if desired.)
How would you use colons and semicolons in this instance?
The following centers have not submitted the correct forms to the Job Corps as of December 31, 2017:
Region 1: John Smith
Region 2: Bonnie Nelson
The colon after the complete sentence and prior to your “list” is correct. We see no need for semicolons. Inserting colons into the list items seems unnecessary since you are emphasizing the centers over the people. Otherwise, it’s a matter of writer’s preference.
The following centers have not submitted the correct forms to the Job Corps as of December 31, 2017:
Region 1, John Smith
Region 2, Bonnie Nelson
OR
Region 1 (John Smith)
Region 2 (Bonnie Nelson)
Do I need the 3 colons in this bulleted paragraph?
Your company should have developed rescue policies and procedures in advance to address a fall rescue situation:
-In-house rescue service:
– Per ANSI, only authorized rescuers should attempt a rescue
– Professional rescue agency:
– Per ANSI, requires a meeting with your rescue agency
This appears to be as much a matter of style as rule. We would not use any colons nor any hyphens or dashes to begin lines, but if you insist on them, you might consider:
Your company should have developed rescue policies and procedures in advance to address a fall rescue situation.
In-house rescue service:
– Per ANSI, only authorized rescuers should attempt a rescue
Professional rescue agency:
– Per ANSI, requires a meeting with your rescue agency
OR
As per ANSI, your company should have developed rescue policies and procedures in advance to address a fall rescue situation.
In-house rescue service: Only authorized rescuers should attempt a rescue.
Professional rescue agency: A meeting with your rescue agency is required.
I think I understand the rules of using a colon to precede a list, but I now find myself wondering what constitutes a list! Here is the example:
You only have to watch TV to discover several different interviewing styles.
Former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman has a hard-hitting, confrontational style.
Martin Bashir, who interviewed Michael Jackson, is far more amenable.
And Mrs Merton, who was played by the late Caroline Aherne, relied on charm and coy humour.
(There is a single line space between each of the above lines.)
I am wondering whether the full stop after “styles” should be replaced with a colon. Do the three lines following the introductory line meet the definition of a list, even though they are not bulleted/numbered points? Any help would be much appreciated.
There are many styles and variations of lists. Your example could be considered a vertical list; therefore, a colon after the word styles would be acceptable. Or, with the line spaces removed and just a single space between them, the sentences could be placed sequentially to constitute a paragraph.
Can I use colon while giving a list of questions?
Example:
I will answer all kind of hypothetical questions:
1. What can happen if hypertension is left
untreated?
2. What happens when we don’t drink water?
3. What would happen if you fell into a
blackhole?
4. What would happen if you stopped
eating?
Yes. Also, the word “kind” should be plural (kinds) to agree with the plural noun questions.
I want to make a list of a girl counting off on her fingers. This is not a business document but a novel. I prefer to write out the number vs using a number in parenthesis. Should I use a cama or colon?
One: Followed by a complete sentence. Two: Followed by a complete sentence. Three: Followed by a complete sentence. If you recommend a colon does that mean the first word of the sentence should be capitalized?
Or
One, followed by a complete sentence. Two, followed by a complete sentence. Three, followed by a complete sentence.
Thanks for your help.
This comes down to writer style and preference. Within this particular context, either a comma or a colon would achieve the objective. It just depends on whether you want to communicate with a pause (comma) or a stop as an introduction (colon).
When can you (do you) use back to back colons. Here is an example from Roland Barthes (Camera Lucida, 1980): “It is this kind of question that Photography raises for me: questions which derive from a stupid or simple metaphysics (it is the answers that are complicated): probably the true metaphysics.”
I’ve seen colons used elsewhere to separate items in a list, where the “list” is a group of sentences related to one topic.
There is rarely a need for two colons in a single sentence. We would replace the second colon in your example sentence with a comma.
In place of the colon, I would use dashes or parentheses: “Gillette also put together the “costume”–the hat, pipe, lens, and cape–that we associate with Holmes to this day.
That works too.
A good set of rules for using the colon (“:”)
Thanks for the post!
I was able to show this to my A-level English students in Spain (obviously the Spanish equivalent). This has helped them to grasp the complicated world of English grammar colons!
I will certainly show them more articles from you when they get confused about grammar again!
I hold a bachelor’s of science degree and have been successful throughout my various careers in several different industries. However, even in grade school, a significant obstacle for me has always been my spelling and grammar. I have reviewed the rules for colon usage and applying them and believe the following sentence conforms to those rules under Rule 1.
Kenneth has requested that this information be sent to you, as our research department has located approximately $99,725.00 in cash assets for which you: Carolyn Anne St. Charles, born on September 19, 1941, and who has a prior connection to Ames, Iowa, has a legal entitlement.
Is this usage of a colon incorrect? Would only the use of a comma between “you” and “Carolyn” in the above sentence be grammatically correct?
The part of your sentence that reads “Carolyn Anne St. Charles, born on September 19, 1941, and who has a prior connection to Ames, Iowa,” constitutes an appositive further describing “you.” Therefore, it should be set off with a comma rather than a colon. Also note that the word “has” near the end of the sentence should be “have,” which becomes apparent when you remove the appositive from the sentence:
Kenneth has requested that this information be sent to you, as our research department has located approximately $99,725.00 in cash assets for which you, Carolyn Anne St. Charles, born on September 19, 1941, and who has a prior connection to Ames, Iowa, have a legal entitlement.
Does this correctly use the colon and semicolon, or do I need to break up this sentence?
Researchers seem to focus on these: three omega-3s, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); and two major omega-6s, linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid.
Thank you!
With such technically complex sentences, we can sometimes use parentheses and brackets rather than punctuation to clearly convey our meaning. We suggest:
Researchers seem to focus on three omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid [ALA], eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and two major omega-6s (linoleic acid [LA] and arachidonic acid).
If you were to list several things on a report lets say, would the proper way be
DOB: 1/11/65
DOL: 1/20/20
Injury: Back, Neck
OR is the proper way
DOB :1/11/65
DOL :1/20/20
Injury : back, Neck
It is not necessary to put a space before a colon. Therefore, your first entry is correct.
I will sometimes follow a colon with a numbered list that I separate with semicolons (and the last element being preceded by semicolon + “and”). For example:
> Then again: 1. I have yet to generate an “extremely good algo” and; 2. maybe I am not smart enough to participate in the industry!
Is that acceptable and if so, then should the first word after each number (not including 1) be lower or upper case? Thanks!
We probably wouldn’t recommend this format in formal writing. If your sentence contains only two items in the series following the colon, you might consider writing it as:
Then again: 1) I have yet to generate an “extremely good algo,” and 2) maybe I am not smart enough to participate in the industry!
What is the best way to confer the the word “help” in the following sentence applies to all of the statements that follow? Is a colon required after “help” to be sure that the reader understands that the intent of the sentence is to state whole allergen testing helps to do all the things listed.
Whole allergen testing is used to help confirm a suspected allergy, to determine the cause of a reaction, or to rule out an allergy altogether.
Our Rule 2 of Colons says, “Avoid using a colon before a list if it directly follows a verb or preposition that would ordinarily need no punctuation in that sentence.” Therefore, a colon is unnecessary.
When citing a source, which way would you use the colon? I share articles and put the name of the source, time, date, etc. before I post the article. I was wondering, when sharing the source it comes from how should it look?
1. Per: (enter source like newspaper name)
or
2. Per (enter source like newspaper name):
We favor your second option.
To check your account, please provide the following details:
*Registered full name:
*Complete service address including postal code:
*Are you the account holder? (Yes/No):
Thank you.
Does the colon on ” *Are you the account holder? (Yes/No):” is not needed? Or did I write it correctly?
We see no reason why the last colon would be necessary. Perhaps “Yes” and “No” could follow the question with the obvious need for the answer to be circled.
Thank you for this blog! I need to send out notices on storage units. Would this be the correct way to denote ownership of an item? Do the owners of the item have to appear on the same line as the colon or would the names be considered a list referred to by the colon as presented by the software we use? Thank you.
REGISTERED OWNERS:
JOHN DOE JOHN DOE
Either style would be acceptable. You could also separate the names with a comma.
Shouldn’t phrases that introduce lists always be followed by a comma, and complete sentences by a colon? I have seen in many privacy policies as well the lists following a colon and the items in the list starting in capitals. Is this wrong or is there a difference when it comes to technical things?
As the post indicates, a phrase that introduces a list is customarily followed by a colon, even if it is not a complete sentence. We are not familiar with the use of a comma in this instance.
Should I use a colon or parentheses or something else, semi-colon for the last set (noted by *)?
We have seen empty beer bottles, candy wrappers, and McDonald’s packaging (smashed paper, food bits, and covered in ketchup).
OR
We have seen empty beer bottles, candy wrappers, and McDonald’s packaging: smashed paper, food bits, and covered in ketchup.
Thank you.
We favor using parentheses. In addition, you could reword as follows:
We have seen empty beer bottles, candy wrappers, and McDonald’s packaging (smashed paper and food bits covered in ketchup).
Do I need to use the word “and” before “watching the dancing lights” or before “homicide”? To me, using “and” makes it sound like the list is a complete list of items (things that I’ll “never do anywhere else” or that are “lurking on the island”), but I’m intending to list just some examples, not present a complete list.
1)
We participated in things we’ll never do anywhere else: sewing rabbit skin into hats and shoes; observing whale hunting and harvesting; eating walrus and the mussels in its stomach; eating pheasant; watching the dancing lights from my porch with no one around.
2)
She also shared with me some of the shadows lurking on the island, which was poor in social services: alcohol and drug use, child abuse, domestic violence, suicide, homicide.
Thank you!
Using “and” is optional in your examples. You could also use “etc.” at the end of the list to avoid the implication that the list is complete.
My question is whether the sentence below is punctuated correctly, or if the phrases should be separated by a semicolon and the first words of each be lower case. Thank you.
The symbols on the side panels signify six Corporal Acts of Christian Mercy: Feed the hungry. Give drink to the thirsty. Clothe the naked. Give shelter to travelers. Visit the sick. Visit the imprisoned.
Since you are not using a tabular format, we recommend the following:
The symbols on the side panels signify six Corporal Acts of Christian Mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter to travelers, visit the sick, and visit the imprisoned.
What is the correct punctuation for a list that uses the words “first” and “second” instead of numbers? Example below. Is there another colon after “first” and “second?” Thank you!
The barn was designed with two goals in mind:
First, education, offering walking farm tours to help guests better understand sustainable farming. Second, entertainment, featuring private lunches, dinners and corporate events.
If your list contains only two items following the colon, you might consider writing it as:
The barn was designed with two goals in mind: 1) education offering walking farm tours to help guests better understand sustainable farming and 2) entertainment featuring private lunches, dinners, and corporate events
If you must use “first” and “second,” we would write it as follows:
The barn was designed with two goals in mind: first, education offering walking farm tours to help guests better understand sustainable farming and second, entertainment featuring private lunches, dinners, and corporate events.
What is the best way to list shows in a program regarding colons, semicolons, and commas? For instance:
Mary Smith’s favorite shows include: My Fair Lady (ABC Theater), Camelot (DEF Theater), Rent (GHI Theater), and Les Mis (JKL Theater).
Or would this be correct:
Mary Smith’s favorite shows include: My Fair Lady (ABC Theater); Camelot (DEF Theater); Rent (GHI Theater); and Les Mis (JKL Theater).
Your first example sentence with the commas is correct. Semicolons are used to separate units of a series when one or more of the units contain commas. See our Punctuation Rules for more information.
Do we require a line break after colons? I’ve never used one but they seem to be more common and I’m not sure if this is due to word processing styles not being defined properly. Thank you.
Example:
The client endorses the following:
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Fear
OR
The client endorses the following:
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Fear
This seems to be a formatting preference rather than a punctuation rule. Spacing is the writer’s choice.
Does this look correct or should I omit the colon or use something else?
She imagines all the things that the tree must have seen over the last 50 years: All of the children climbing on it, the tire swing that she used to love daydreaming in, her brother climbing up to the top, and all the squirrels that used to play around and on it.
The colon is fine; however, our Rule 1a. of Colons says, “Use a colon to introduce an item or a series of items. Do not capitalize the first item after the colon (unless it’s a proper noun).” Therefore, do not capitalize the word all immediately following the colon.
I’m working on an article that has a bulleted list.
It’s punctuated like this:
The following is needed for independence:
*Physical: the person must be physically able to care for themselves.
*Emotional: the person must have the ability to make intelligent and safe choices.
*Financial: the person must show they can earn income and use it wisely.
It was suggested that I use a hyphen instead of the colon within the list. Which is correct, colon or hyphen? Thanks.
We favor using hyphens within the bulleted list.
The following is needed for independence:
*Physical – the person must be physically able to care for themselves.
*Emotional – the person must have the ability to make intelligent and safe choices.
*Financial – the person must show they can earn income and use it wisely.
Similar treatment can be applied to single words or phrases in list form, including bullets or numbers. The rule of thumb is to be consistent.
To be successful in sales, one should:
• dress appropriately.
• ask customers about their needs.
• follow through.
I like the bullet-point example because in business emails, using letters such as a, b, and c may appear as if you are talking down to a colleague.
Many of your clauses before colons are in fact not a complete sentence.
For example, “To be successful in sales, one should.”
As an editor, I see an overuse of the colon, especially when leading into a block quote.
For example, “Smith and Wesson (1974) have stated that:
Colonic irrigation is a very necessary procedure…”
Whereas of course, not being a complete sentence, the correct styling should be
“Smith and Wesson (1974) have stated that
colonic irrigation is a very necessary procedure.”
All that is to say, we need to encourage fewer colons, not more!
We are not familar with any rule in American English stating that a colon must only follow a complete sentence. Your examples seem to be a style preference. See our Rules for Colons.