Colons and dashes

Colons

ETS’s punctuation topics name commas, semicolons, and apostrophes. Colons and dashes are not named, but a correct answer choice on the test can use them, so this page is background worth knowing.

A colon comes after a complete sentence and introduces something that explains, illustrates, or lists what that sentence announces. What follows the colon can be a complete sentence or just a list or phrase. A quick test: if the words before the colon could not stand on their own as a sentence, the colon is wrong.

Colons introduce explanations, examples, and lists. The part before the colon makes a general statement, and the part after it spells that statement out.

The clause before the colon must be a complete sentence, but the clause following it can be either a main clause or a sentence fragment. So a colon never comes right after a verb or a preposition, or after words like including, such as, or because. Write The kit includes a tent, a stove, and a lantern, not The kit includes: a tent, a stove, and a lantern.

Let’s look at how this works in a list.

I need three things from the store: milk, onions, and bread.

The general claim of needing three things is clarified by the list of three specific items that follows the colon. The first clause is a complete sentence, but the list that follows the colon is not.

Colons are also used to introduce examples and explanations.

The applicant has all the required qualifications for the job: glowing recommendations, three years of experience, and a track record of boosting student inclusion in gym classes.

Once again, the general statement before the colon is clarified by the information that comes after it. A colon can also introduce a full sentence:

The game was canceled: the field was under two inches of water.

Practice question

In second grade, Melvin wanted to be a mail carrier, but by fifth grade, his ambitions had changed, he now planned to become an astro-paleontologist and be the first to discover evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Select the correct version of the sentence.

a. NO CHANGE
b. In second grade, Melvin wanted to be a mail carrier, but by fifth grade, his ambitions had changed he now planned to become an astro-paleontologist and be the first to discover evidence of extraterrestrial life.
c. In second grade, Melvin wanted to be a mail carrier, but by fifth grade, his ambitions had changed: he now planned to become an astro-paleontologist and be the first to discover evidence of extraterrestrial life.
d. In second grade, Melvin wanted to be a mail carrier, but by fifth grade, his ambitions had changed he now planned to become an astro-paleontologist: and be the first to discover evidence of extraterrestrial life.
e. In second grade, Melvin wanted to be a mail carrier, but by fifth grade: his ambitions had changed: he now planned to become an astro-paleontologist and be the first to discover evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Correct answer:

Dashes

Dashes can be used singly or in pairs. A dash is not a hyphen. A hyphen joins words, like chocolate-chip, while a dash (—) is longer and sets off an idea from the rest of the sentence.

A single dash is used like a colon to add emphasis to a statement.

Kayla had four overripe bananas—perfect for a double batch of banana bread.

A pair of dashes can replace the pair of commas around nonessential information. Dashes are especially useful when that information already contains commas, as a list does. You can use either two dashes or two commas, but you cannot mix and match them.

INCORRECT: Banana bread—made healthier by halving the sugar, sells for one dollar a slice when the band holds its weekly bake sale.

INCORRECT: Banana bread, made healthier by halving the sugar—sells for one dollar a slice when the band holds its weekly bake sale.

CORRECT: Banana bread—made healthier by halving the sugar—sells for one dollar a slice when the band holds its weekly bake sale.

Practice question

The band’s weekly bake sale—featuring banana bread—chocolate-chip cookies, and brownies brought in enough money to pay for a three-day trip to Orlando, Florida.

Choose the correct answer:

a. NO CHANGE
b. The band’s weekly bake sale—featuring banana bread, chocolate-chip cookies, and brownies, brought in enough money to pay for a three-day trip to Orlando, Florida.
c. The band’s weekly bake sale—featuring banana bread, chocolate-chip cookies, and brownies—brought in enough money to pay for a three-day trip to Orlando, Florida.
d. The band’s weekly bake sale featuring banana bread, chocolate-chip cookies, and brownies brought in enough money to pay for a three-day trip to Orlando, Florida.
e. The band’s weekly bake sale: featuring banana bread, chocolate-chip cookies, and brownies—brought in enough money to pay for a three-day trip to Orlando, Florida.

Correct answer: