51 While its use has been debated for centuries, the serial comma clarifies the meaning of
sentences. Therefore, you should use it consistently whenever writing a list.
THE COLON Colons (:) appear at the end of a clause and can introduce:
■
A list when the clause before the colon can stand as a complete sentence on its
own
Incorrect:_The_classes_he_signed_up_for_include:_geometry,_physics,_Amer-_ican_literature,_and_religion._Correct'>Incorrect: The classes he signed up for include: geometry, physics, Amer-
ican literature, and religion.
Correct: He signed up for four classes: geometry, physics, American liter-
ature, and religion.
■
A restatement or elaboration of the previous clause
Incorrect: Shari is a talented hairdresser: she is also the mother of two
children.
Correct: Shari is a talented hairdresser: she attends a seminar each month
and has been a professional for over twenty years.
Incorrect: My teacher wasn’t in class today: he graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Correct: My teacher wasn’t in class today: he had to fly to Houston to pres-
ent a paper.
Colons have the effect of sounding authoritative. They present information more con-
fidently and forcefully than if the sentence were divided in two other types of punctuation
marks. Consider the following:
My teacher wasn’t in class today: he had to fly to Houston to present a paper.
My teacher wasn’t in class today. He had to fly to Houston to present a paper.
The first example, with the colon, has the tone that conveys, “I know why this happened,
and I am going to tell you.” It sounds more authoritative. This can be effective in your essay,
but because you never want to appear pompous, it should be used sparingly.
