By American English, Colons

Sorry - I had a very small window and got mixed up. Yes, I meant Option 1.I don't know where this idea about the colon being American English came from. I never use a colon to introduce a simple quote.

JaCKo__007 wrote: A coma question! I've found that American based writers use commas after 'i.e.', but what of it in British English and does it then apply to eg. as well? Does a comma go after i.e. or e.g.? Both abbreviations i.e. and e.g. are preceded by a mark of punctuation, usually a...

I have NEVER used a colon before a direct quotation, so it's not a "default" American English style.

Hi again, I didn't realize that I had done so! I should have used a comma. You do use a colon in formal American English business letters. I must have been in "work mode" and didn't realize what I was doing!

I learned the American rules for punctuation: periods and commas always go inside the quotation marks; colons and semi-colons always go outside; and question marks and exclamation points go where they actually make sense. I agree it's not logical, and sometimes I want to rebel and put that period...

All, taiwandave, I stand corrected. You are right, for I am sure I do use "it's" to represent "it has". MM thank you for confirming that a complete phrase is required to the left of the colon. I wonder if there is some British English versus American English at play? Because this quote is...