Colons for introductions

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Colons are used to introduce whatever follows them. Often, a list or a table follows a colon, but it can be as little as one character.
 


Colons to Introduce

A colon can be used to introduce something. The wording before the colon should introduce whatever follows. 

Examples:
  Visit: www.grammar-monster.com         
  Contact us by:
 
       1. Phone: 01908 311267
       2. E-mail: colin@lion-tamers.co.uk
       3. Fax: 01908 311269                                
  The following points were noted as a result of
        the fire-safety survey:

        a.   Fire exits blocked by empty PC boxes.
        b.   Batteries dead in smoke detectors.
        c.   Waste-paper bins used as ashtrays.     

Beer: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems. (Homer Simpson)

Diplomacy: The patriotic art of lying for one's country. (Ambrose Bierce)

The English country gentleman galloping after a fox: the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable. (Oscar Wilde)

grammar errors
NOT A SEMICOLON 

Do not use semicolons for introductions.
 
I spotted the following members of the crow family whilst on the moors; 

a. carrion crow
b. magpie
c. rook                   

The following personnel passed the first-aid test on Tue 24 Aug;

a. Jane Seymour (97%).
b. David Evans (91%).
c. Dawn Ellison-Smith (91%). 

NO HYPHEN 

There is no need to add a hyphen to a colon.

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Associated lessons:
 
How to use colons to extend sentences
Colons in references
Colons with bullet points
Colons with quotations
 
 

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