Can you use such as after a colon

They are also used to denote a quotation mark in material that is already being quoted. Quotation marks are used to inform a reader either of something that was spoken or something that is being directly copied from another work.

Quotes should also be placed around a word if it is used in a specific context or otherwise bears special attention. In informal applications, quotations can also be used to denote something that is ironic.

Question and exclamation marks are used to note interrogative and exclamatory sentences. Neither of these punctuation marks are commonly used in academic writing. In general, a writer should not be shouting at the reader in formal writing. The lack of conversation makes any question rhetorical, and revising the question in a statement would be the better course.

Hyphens are most commonly used to pair compound words. Throw-away, high-speed-chase, merry-go-round, user-friendly. Dashes are generally not in common use but denote a tangent within a thought. En dashes essentially are the same glyph as hyphens but fill a different purpose. Dashes are able to substitute for commas and semicolons in the right situation. They can replace commas to note non-essential information or semicolon to note an example.

Despite, and because of this versatility dashes should not be frequently employed in your writing. The multitude of applications make dashes easy to overuse taking away from, rather than adding to clarity in your writing. Two closely related sentences —For the most part, you should use a semicolon only where you could also use a period, but want to demonstrate a relationship between two complete sentences.

Good grades are integral to student success; a strong support network is also important. Skip to main content. Punctuation: Colon and Semicolon. Colon A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles. Example incorrect :The very best peaches are: those that are grown in the great state of Georgia.

Example incorrect : My favorite cake is made of: carrots, flour, butter, eggs, and cream cheese icing. This violates the rule that the material preceding the colon must be a complete thought.

Look, for example, at the following sentence:. Example incorrect : There are many different types of paper, including: college ruled, wide ruled, and plain copy paper.

The colon should simply be removed. Ask yourself a question: does the material preceding the colon stand on its own? One way to tell if the colon has been properly used is to look only at the words that come in front of the colon. Do they make a complete thought? If not, you may be using the colon improperly. Check above to see if you have made one of the most common mistakes. If it is important that you follow one of these styles precisely, be sure to use the appropriate manual to look up the rule.

If the following phrase is a complete independent clause, you may choose to capitalize it or not. Whichever approach you choose, be sure to be consistent throughout your paper.

Example with an independent clause, showing two different approaches to capitalization: The commercials had one message: The geeks shall inherit the earth. The first thing to know when talking about dashes is that they are almost never required by the laws of grammar and punctuation.

To set off material for emphasis. Think of dashes as the opposite of parentheses. Where parentheses indicate that the reader should put less emphasis on the enclosed material, dashes indicate that the reader should pay more attention to the material between the dashes. Dashes add drama—parentheses whisper.

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercise. Tel Email elcreg uvic. Toggle navigation Menu. Using Colons and Semi-Colons. Introduction The most common punctuation marks in English are probably the period and the comma. The colon A colon consists of two dots, one above the other: The colon is often used to introduce a list of items.

For example: You will need to bring three things to the party: some food, something to drink, and a small gift for the hostess.