What's a common misuse of the colon?The most common misuse of the colon is using it after less than a sentence to introduce a list. I'm sure you know that a colon can introduce a list: Correct: There are three reasons our new computers will be popular: speed, cheapness, small size. Notice that this correct colon comes after a complete sentence. A common misuse of the colon is to place it after less than a complete sentence when introducing a list: Misuse: The three reasons our new computers will be popular are: speed, cheapness, small size. The part before the colon ("The three reasons our new computers will be popular are") can't stand alone as a sentence, can it? To correct the sentence, just leave the colon out: Correct: The three reasons our new computers will be popular are speed, cheapness, small size. |