colon
/ˈkoʊɫən/
introduces what follows—a list, explanation, or elaboration
colon in a sentence
“She had one goal: victory. A colon says 'namely' or 'as follows.'”
Origin of colon
Greek kolon (limb, clause)
Related Words
ellipsis
indicates omission, trailing off, or suspense
parenthetical
an inserted phrase that adds information without changing the main sentence
appositive
a noun phrase that renames or explains another noun
semicolon
joins independent clauses without a conjunction; signals close relationship
em dash
sets off parenthetical content with emphasis—like this—or signals a break
en dash
indicates ranges or connections between items