Hi,
I think this question belongs here. What is the recommended length of the content after a colon. I think what come after a colon are details, elucidating the points in the sentence or that have been brought out, but what is the recommend length? When should I resort to another paragraph?
(How long can I go with this as I try to lay out the details of the points brought out??)
The following points have been brought out at our last meeting: (It's a statement with a past time reference, so I'd say 'The following points were brought out at our last meeting:)
Are you going to write your list as separate points down the page? eg as bullet points, each beginning on a separate line.
The following points were brought out at our last meeting:
Customer Service - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Productivity - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If so, my preference is to try to stay on the same page, or at least only go to one extra page.
Or are you going to write them in this way?
The following points were brought out at our last meeting: Customer Service, Productivity, Cost . . . .
Here, my preference is to keep the list short, eg so that the reader can remember the points listed as he reads on. Obviously, this can't be a long list, and it doesn't give much chance to supply details of each point.
Have you concidered writing it in this way, with a period instead of a colon? This approach avoids your concern about length. It allows each point to be explained and discussed in one or more separate sentences.
The following points were brought out at our last meeting. Customer Service requires considerable improvement. Productivity is continuing to decline. Cost per widget is unacceptable.
Best wishes, Clive