Yesterday we talked about how a colon warns a reader that a list is coming. The important thing to remember is that you must have a complete thought before the colon and the list. Look at this sentence:
I eat only three fruits: oranges, apples, and bananas.
Notice that the words before the colon are a complete thought. They can stand on their own as a sentence.
Not every list inside a sentence gets a colon in front of it. Look at this sentence:
I eat only oranges, apples, and bananas.
We have a list of three fruits in this sentence. However, the list is worked right into the sentence. There is no complete thought before the list begins. Therefore, we do not use a colon before the list.
Here is a pair of sentences that say basically the same thing. One sentence uses a colon. The other does not.
I have invited three people to the party: Mary, Don, and Rick.
I have invited Mary, Don, and Rick to the party.
Do you see how the first sentence makes a statement before the list begins? That statement requires a colon before the list. The second sentences merely lists the names as part of the statement.
Always use a colon before a list if the words before the list are a complete thought.
▶It’s your turn. Look at these two sentences. Which one needs a colon? Mom bought jam, bread, and peanut butter. Mom bought these things jam, bread, and peanut butter. I hope you put a colon in the second sentence.