http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aColonsSearch results for 'tag:Colons' matching tag 'Colons'en-USXMOD (Build: 3615.29165)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Colon/lqbcz/post.htm#997676Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:37:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997676grammar geekHow are you using the colon? For time or ratios, then no space. 7:30 pm, the ratio was 3:1. In text, yes, leave a space after. We don't use the + sign in text much. We do use this one: &. Leave a space before and after. It would be easier to understand what you are asking if you wrote a sentence instead of dummy text like you have.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Colon/lqbcz/post.htmTue, 24 Nov 2009 05:33:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997667an jiyoungHello, When I use a colon sign, "no space before, space after the colon sign". Is it correct? How about using "(" and ")" sign in the sentence or list things? text + space + ( + no space + text + no space0 + ) + space Is it correct? Thank youhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ICannotSentenceMeans/lppwx/post.htm#996942Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996942cool breezeThe sentence is a grammatical mess, especially the part in bold. I guess it would improve marginally if there were a colon after entered into them. What follows explains the speculative element: the cattle might deteriorate or be productive. They and them seem to be used because cattle is a plural word. In my opinion you have understood the sentence as correctly as it can be understood! I look forward to native speakers' opinions, though. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/FirstlySecondlyFinally/lpvkm/post.htm#993997Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:44:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993997philipNo 'the'. We seldom use first ly in the US. The way your sentence is constructed, I believe that a numerical listing is unnecessary. These are more often used when much longer description is involved. Some would insist on a semi-colon between the items given after a colon. I don't think it's necessary here because of the brevity of your examples. The semi-colon would be used if you had involved clauses rather than just prepositional phrases.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IntroducingAvena159/lpdxw/post.htmFri, 20 Nov 2009 06:09:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993539avena159Hi, I am Avena ava and I spent over five years as a teacher, corporate trainer and workshop leader. Now I am working in health care department and currently my project is on Colon Cleanse. We have very useful information on Colon Cleanse. You can contact me at (email removed). My personal website is Acai Berry.http://www.englishforums.com/English/YourExpertiseAgain/lgqlk/post.htm#992269Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:39:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992269grammar geekYou cannot italicize and you cannot underline? Then and only then, go ahead and use the quotation marks. Don't use the colon.http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuoteInTitleFormat/lkvnd/post.htm#970573Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:30:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:970573doctor dAmerican printing convention places the period and the comma always within the quotation marks and colons and semicolons always outside of them.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AsPointsSafetManagementPrograms/ljvrj/post.htm#965138Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:47:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:965138zazzexYou mean I use a colon like this? "As for the unsatisfactory points : safety, programs, and management of the community facilities for children appeared to be unsatisfactory." Isn't a colon used to state something same?http://www.englishforums.com/English/OneIpodAtOnHand/lwwpn/post.htm#960631Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:12:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:960631mister micawberWhat are these phrases that you are putting before the colons, Angli? The two I've seen so far make little sense. With an iPod in your hand, you can listen to it anywhere as soon you turn it on. With an iPod Touch in your hand, you can look at it anywhere as soon you turn it on.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ColonsPeriodsImages/lwvvn/post.htm#959346Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:29:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:959346cliveHi, Generally speaking, a period sounds fine to me,. eg This is a picture of Napoleon. Is this the kind of sentence you want to write? Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CommasSemicolonsSeries/lwdqn/post.htm#959334Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:18:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:959334philipThe semicolon is used in a series that has been introduced by a colon. Otherwise, it is used in place of a period to join two sentences which are so close in meaning that a period would set them apart.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ColonVsSemiColon/lggvm/post.htmThu, 22 Oct 2009 18:28:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:950023anonymousWhat is the difference between a colon and a semi-colon and when would you use one over the other?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Comma/lgdvg/post.htm#949393Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:48:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:949393philipHi, Ther is no absolute rule about this. I always use a comma. Clive I seem to remember from typing class about 100 years ago that we use the comma in personal letters, the colon in business or more formal letters. Things have changed since then, I'm sure, but I think I abide by that distinction to this day.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Comma/lgdvg/post.htmWed, 21 Oct 2009 18:02:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:949150anonymousWhen do you place a comma after the salutation and when to you place a colon?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowToWriteAFormalLetter/2/jzlv/Post.htm#943480Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:57:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:943480cliveHi, Actually, when you are writing a formal letter never use a comma after addressing who the letter is to. The proper puncuation is a colon (:), not a comma. I see nothing at all wrong with a comma. Example "Dear whom it may concern:" I suggest that you search for and read the various threads here that deal with 'To whom it may concern'. Many learners on the Forum do not realize in what circumstances and how seldomly this phrase is to be used. The appropriate greeting if you are writing to a person whose name you do not know is as follows Dear Sir Dear Madam Dear Sir or Madam. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowToWriteAFormalLetter/2/jzlv/Post.htm#943378Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:46:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:943378anonymousActually, when you are writing a formal letter never use a comma after addressing who the letter is to. The proper puncuation is a colon (:), not a comma. Example "Dear whom it may concern:"http://www.englishforums.com/English/BelieveWithoutBetterAnswerMyself/lcmgq/post.htm#933208Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:12:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933208mister micawberThe colon means that it refers to the red, but should read ' This ', not 'that'. What the writer really meant to reference by 'that', I do not know.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BelieveWithoutBetterAnswerMyself/lcmgq/post.htm#933137Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:42:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933137anonymousMy understanding is that the word that in "That is all I know" references the blue texts. The red texts after the colon (:) tells how he thinks about the things being pointed to. Am I right?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SeveralQuotationMarksTogether-English/lcbnq/post.htm#932845Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:39:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932845jingtianThanks, everyone. According to The American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style: With other punctuation Put commas and periods inside closing quotation marks; put colons and semicolons outside. Other punctuation, such as exclamation points and question marks, should be inside the closing quotation marks only if it is part of the matter being quoted. Chicago Manual of Style also says "Periods and commas precede closing quotation marks, whether double or single." But I haven't seen any examples of multiple consecutive quotation marks, one followed by another. That's the reason I want to confirm. The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage seems interesting, I will buy it. Thanks.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BelieveWithoutBetterAnswerMyself/lcmgq/post.htmWed, 07 Oct 2009 15:25:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932143anonymousI have a question about the meaning of the clause "That is all I know" in boldface in the text below (which is itself a translation from another language). My question is: Does the clause "That is all I know" refer to what is said in the previous sentences (e.g., the texts marked blue ), or what is said in the clauses after the colon (the texts marked red )? If it were true that I had the ability to guide the young -- whether I guide them right or wrong -- I would assuredly not hide it, but unfortunately I do not even have a compass for myself, and I am still blundering even now. If I blunder into a deep abyss, I have only myself to blame, but what if I lead other people on? This is the reason I'm afraid of...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SeveralQuotationMarksTogether-English/lcbnq/post.htm#931120Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:57:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931120anonymousJingtian, The New York Times style book says: periods and commas, in American usage, always go inside the closing quotation marks, regardless of grammatical logic. Another source gives this example: ...two complete thoughts joined by "and," "but," "or," or "nor." (Semicolons and colons, however, do NOT go inside.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Grammar/lbpbr/post.htm#928183Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:53:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928183cliveHi, 1.They say, 'come sunshine or high water, the post will get delivered' More accurately, this is the common saying. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" For more detalis of this, look here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service_creed The expression ' Come A or B, C' is used to mean that C will happen even if obstacles like A or B happen. Think of it as a shortened form of 'Even if A or B happen, C will happen'. That's why the word 'sunshine' is not suitable in your example. 'Sunshine' is not an obstacle. The common expression with 'high...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Grammar/lbpbr/post.htmSun, 04 Oct 2009 14:44:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:927996pensivescribe1.They say, 'come sunshine or high water, the post will get delivered' is the first clause grammatically correct, if so what is it? a phrasal adverb? and what does it describe? if i were to change the 2nd clause to active voice: come sunshine or high water,delivery of the post is guaranteed. does it make any diff.dunno if its a stupid q. 2. i want to say: 'a small man-his friends call him tiny-he still has a courage.' If you can rework it, I'll still be thankful, but what i really want to learn is the correct use of '-' ie dashes, and how to relate the part before and after them. ie 'a small man he still has a lot of courage' seems to be a comma splice on a phrase and an independent clause. 'a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Compasiion/lbwnc/post.htm#926466Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:24:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:926466avangiI was struggling to breathe. "Breathe" is a verb. I was gasping for breath. "Breath" is a noun. The second sentence is a comma splice. You might use a colon, or a semi-colon instead. As you can see, some will not get your meaning.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PluralOfSSes/2/zqhzz/Post.htm#924898Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:44:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924898anonymousTrue, Anonymous! Pluralized acronyms should not use apostrophes. As an experienced English Tutor/Mentor, apostrophes are used in possession of & in contractions (i.e., Jane's cat won't eat fish.) To place an apostrophe after an acronym or initialized words before the s , for instance, IOU's, would then cause the pluralized IOU to mean "IOU is" or "IOU possesses X" instead of IOUs as a plural (i.e., Jane owes you hundreds of IOUs!). Additionally, I always disliked the "PSS" or "P.SS" or "PPS" as a note to add an additional PS. Therefore, I've always used XPs, because, essentially it is an "Extra Postscript." Further, I've always written the s in "Ps" as a lowercase consonant since Postscript (or the Latin postscrīptum) is a single...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichSentenceIsCorrect/lrqwk/post.htm#923511Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:37:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:923511jemaasjrI'm guessing here a little, but if you want to use the colon I think you should write something like, 'the following are acceptable: visa,mastercard, and citibank' My preference would be for your first effort. Forget the all, it is redundant and at the least would need a preceding comma.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichSentenceIsCorrect/lrqwk/post.htm#923505Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:33:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:923505cliveHi, First, please note that all are incorrect because they lack capital letters. 'visa,mastercard, and citibank are all acceptable' OK or 'visa,mastercard, and citibank all are acceptable' OK, but less elegant what if i modify the 2nd sentence as: 'visa,mastercard, and citibank:all are acceptable' can just a list of nouns stand like this before the colon? No. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichSentenceIsCorrect/lrqwk/post.htmWed, 30 Sep 2009 16:28:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:923501pensivescribe'visa,mastercard, and citibank are all acceptable' or 'visa,mastercard, and citibank all are acceptable' what if i modify the 2nd sentence as: 'visa,mastercard, and citibank:all are acceptable' can just a list of nouns stand like this before the colon?http://www.englishforums.com/English/5QuestionsNeedHelp/kqwhw/post.htm#916267Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:36:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:916267philip1. You could insert 'to' between 'want, about'. It's an option. 2. Replace the first comma with a colon: replace second comma with 'and' 3. You've made my month here a living hell. 4. 2nd one - 'middle' sounds odd here; with 'street' it would sound better 5. o.k. It sounds a little odd out of context, but in the situation in would be fine. 6. 'by' adversity (conflict) 7. Both are finehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ConnectingTwoClauses/kpnhp/post.htm#912801Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:50:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:912801mister micawber1. Which punctuation mark should we use when we have two independent clauses that have (show) a relationship between them? Would a colon be correct?-- No. A semicolon or a full stop. (I presume that you are speaking of two clauses with no coordinating conjunction.) e.g. He has cookies . I don't have any . He has cookies ; I don't have any . 2. Do you think what is in parentheses is implicit in the structure and the sentence is correct (in addition to the verb "was" in the underlined part?-- Implicit through common sense, but in this sort of situation, you should write it out to assure clarity– at least the indication 'total': The total length was XXX and the total width XXX.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConnectingTwoClauses/kpnhp/post.htmTue, 22 Sep 2009 08:44:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:912796anonymousHi. Would you please answer these two questions that pertain to the issue of connecting what looks to be two clauses? 1. Which punctuation mark should we use when we have two independent clauses that have (show) a relationship between them? Would a colon be corrrect? eg, He has cookies (colon or semicolon?) I don't have them. 2. Do you think what is in parentheses is implicit in the structure and the sentence is correct (in addition to the verb "was" in the underlined part? The total length was XXX and the (total) width XXX .http://www.englishforums.com/English/NeedColonUsageExpert/kndxm/post.htmSun, 13 Sep 2009 16:14:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:900196harold kuppThe King James Bible translation of the second commandment reads: A. Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: B. Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD I have a friend who says that the colon is being used in this way: =95 syntactical-deductive: introduces the logical consequence, or effect, of a fact stated before. I say that is grammatical nonsense. Exo 20:5 could not be the logical consequence or effect of Exo 20:4. My questions are: 1. Is Sentence B the logical consequence or effect of Sentence A? 2. How is the colon being used between the two...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoColonCommaStartList/blhbb/post.htm#897521Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:55:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:897521anonymousOnly use a colon when the introduction to the list can stand on its own as a sentence. For example, "Any list of colors has to include these: red, blue, yellow, green, orange and purple." So, "Any list of colors has to include these" is a complete thought. But, "Any list of colors has to include" is not a complete thought. You dig?http://www.englishforums.com/English/WritingFollowingQuestionis-Correctly/klmkl/post.htmTue, 08 Sep 2009 22:30:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:892902anonymousStudents at McGill University in Montreal the first set of rules? Have to use a period, question mark, explanation point, comma, or semi colon to correct the above sentence to make it proper. I think a semi colon goes after Montreal also have to write the following sentence properly as well. A very popular sport. Everyone wants to watch a hockey game.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UppercaseLowecaseAfterColon/kkjrk/post.htm#887003Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:47:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:887003ferdisGenerally, no. However, I'm not sure about American usage; I believe they are a bit more liberal in capitals following a colon. The exceptions are when the word itself requires a capital --- a proper noun, for example --- or when the colon sets of a formal statement. Both your examples are correct in the usage of capitals; however, what precedes the colon should normally be a complete statement, so consider revising 'My question is:' to 'My question is this:'.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UppercaseLowecaseAfterColon/kkjrk/post.htmFri, 04 Sep 2009 19:56:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:886951anonymousShould the word following a colon be capitalised or not? Example 1, most or Most? "Beyond that there is not much you can do performance-wise: most standard plugins do not have a continuous runtime cost." Example 2, What or what? "My question is: What is the most effective thing you have done that improved your skills?"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AQuestionAboutEnglishGrammar/kkrlg/post.htm#884551Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:29:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:884551mister micawberYou have been consulting the wrong people. Without further punctuation, B is very wrong. These are your choices (note the colon in B): (A) The English language has a huge vocabulary of over 600,000 words. (B) The English language has a huge vocabulary : over 600,000 words. The colon could also be replaced by an m-dash: 'a huge vocabulary – over 600,000 words.'http://www.englishforums.com/English/StandAlonePastContinuousStory/kjmmh/post.htm#883184Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:38:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:883184ferdisWell, it's not wrong, but it is not very stylish either. It reads a bit like a police report. I'd change it to 'Their trip had taken three days, and now they were coming back .' By the way, you should turn that comma after 'faces' into a colon (or a dash if you want to avoid the emphasis).http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfColonVsSemiColon/2/dczmc/Post.htm#878425Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:02:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:878425grammar geekThe : is used for the listing of items such as "He had four cars: a red mustang, a blue corvette, a yellow charger, and a white porsche". The ; is used to link two independant clauses with the purpose of showinf an emphasized link between them such as "He must be a car enthusiast; He keeps four mint condition classic cars in his barn". Note that your second "sentence" should not have a captial letter with "He." ... enthusiast; he keeps four mint - condition classic cars...http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfColonVsSemiColon/2/dczmc/Post.htm#878423Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:48:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:878423anonymousThe : is used for the listing of items such as "He had four cars: a red mustang, a blue corvette, a yellow charger, and a white porsche". The ; is used to link two independant clauses with the purpose of showinf an emphasized link between them such as "He must be a car enthusiast; He keeps four mint condition classic cars in his barn".http://www.englishforums.com/English/Ltd/kwjhr/post.htmThu, 27 Aug 2009 21:14:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:877234anonymousI was editing a business report yesterday and came across a punctuation problem that I can't seem to find the answer for: Can you put a colon after a period? ABC Co., LTD.: or should it be ABC Co., LTD: This company always includes the period after the LTD as it is an American company. Please help!http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDontKnowWhatImDoing/kgmpb/post.htm#868492Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:03:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:868492finlessI'm looking for the repaired and correctly punctuated question to be quoted back at me. Any failure in accuracy or clarity in my OP and what I want is simply the curse of 'forum posting' where insufficient time, effort or thought goes into the question. The sentence in question is from a thread I started on a scuba diving forum and I was particularly suspicious of my use of the colon. Rewording my sentence would, presumably, remove the need to consider some of my punctuation issues but I am particularly interested in seeing the correct punctuaion applied to my sentence 'as is'. :)http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDontKnowWhatImDoing/kgmpb/post.htm#868396Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:32:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:868396anonymousI'm uncertain as to whether my use of the colon is correct or random puntuation mark scatter. :) Oh, if I've made any other errors I'm happy to be corrected. Thank you. I've signed up for Martin's Money Tips emails and thought (remembering a previous PT thread) this advice on PTs or, to give them their full title: parking tickets, might be of use?http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommasInASalutation/kgvpb/post.htm#866166Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:59:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:866166philipFirst of all, I would suggest that in an informal e-mail it makes very little difference, and I wouldn't worry about it. If you want to be absolutely correct, I think that Hi, Diane , using a colon. I agree that two commas that close together looks a little odd. After all is said and done, I'm sure it will be up to personal choice.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LetterOfApology/kzlxz/post.htm#863299Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:07:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:863299philipHello, a friend of mine had to write a letter of apology for his course in Business English. He wrote the following letter of apology. The teacher crossed nearly all of his words out. Is the letter grammatically an absolutely nonsense or what did he wrong? Thanks for your answers. Dear Mr Smith, I am writing to apologize for missing our appointment from yesterday afternoon. I know it was a very important appointment. However, let me try to explain why I missed our appointment. You certainly know my colleague Max. I had a meeting with him about the alteration of a contract you had sent me by email yesterday morning. Suddenly, Max gasped for air, and fell down from his office chair. He go t had...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AllThereAreAre/kzhwp/post.htm#861967Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:55:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:861967ferdisIt's ok, but I think it could be a little bit better. Perhaps something like: "There are neither men nor women in the world anymore: all that remain are femine men." The colon makes it a bit stronger, and changing 'there are' to 'that remain' avoids the repetition of 'are' and the resulting dubious comma that separates subject from complement.http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnColons/kzbpr/post.htm#860550Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:42:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:860550dokterjokkebrokI frequently struggle with a certain type of sentences where I believe a colon would fit nicely but it is not, technically, allowed, as far as I know. Consider these sentences. "I observed the following: his car is red." -- is a colon ok after all these forms of 'the following' or 'consider these'? "I finally understand now: his car is red!" I know a colon is used in a general-specific relationship between phrases; however, to me, a colon also means "ok, here it comes, the conclusion of it all" and I believe it to be a very strong punctuation mark. What do you think about this? How would you write these sentences? I once learnt that the clause before the colon must be a complete idea...http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnColons/kzbpr/post.htmThu, 13 Aug 2009 15:04:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:860319ferdisI frequently struggle with a certain type of sentences where I believe a colon would fit nicely but it is not, technically, allowed, as far as I know. Consider these sentences. "I observed the following: his car is red." -- is a colon ok after all these forms of 'the following' or 'consider these'? "I finally understand now: his car is red!" I know a colon is used in a general-specific relationship between phrases; however, to me, a colon also means "ok, here it comes, the conclusion of it all" and I believe it to be a very strong punctuation mark. What do you think about this? How would you write these sentences?http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichOrThatOrWith/2/kvlgm/Post.htm#859166Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:52:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:859166califjimthe colon No, it's not correctly placed in my opinion. A period is better. Let's see about that number. 200000. CJ Hmm. It worked for me. Maybe it's your editor. I don't know.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaWhichOrSemiColon/kvvrr/post.htm#856658Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:02:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:856658cliveHi, You later asked about this in a new thread, and I answered you there. Clive