Colons must be preceded by complete sentences but can be followed by words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
What follows a colon explains or enhances what precedes it.
- She prefers one drink to all others: chocolate milk.
- Fred was one of the company’s most dedicated employees: he always arrived an hour early and was usually the last person to leave.
- Juan was a pleasant dude: he made friends easily and always seemed to be smiling.
Colons also introduce lists.
- She doesn’t travel much and has been to only three states: New York, Arizona, and California.
- He opened the package and was pleased to see everything he’d ordered: paper plates, napkins, macaroni and cheese, apple juice, oatmeal cookies, a six-pack of socks, and a toothbrush.
- The drink is healthful and contains simple ingredients: bananas, milk, peanut butter (the kind with no trans fat), and unsweetened cocoa.