Colon (punctuation): Difference between revisions
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imported>Hayford Peirce (surely an utterance is vocal, he muttered) |
imported>Ro Thorpe No edit summary |
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Like a [[full-stop]] ([[BrE]], known as a period in [[AmE]]), a colon can follow a grammatically complete utterance. The same is true of the [[semi-colon]]. | Like a [[full-stop]] ([[BrE]], known as a period in [[AmE]]), a colon can follow a grammatically complete utterance. The same is true of the [[semi-colon]]. | ||
(In the case of the full stop/period the complete phrase is called a [[sentence (grammar)|sentence]].) | (In the case of the full stop/period the complete phrase is called a [[sentence (grammar)|sentence]].) | ||
Unlike the full-stop and semi-colon, which merely mark an ending, a colon points forward, 'delivering' what is promised before it: | |||
:I have something to tell you: you were right after all. | |||
Revision as of 21:17, 20 March 2009
A colon is a mark consisting of two points arranged vertically (:). As a punctuation mark it is used in many languages. It is also used in mathematics to show ratios: a ratio of five to four can be written 5:4.
Punctuation mark
Like a full-stop (BrE, known as a period in AmE), a colon can follow a grammatically complete utterance. The same is true of the semi-colon. (In the case of the full stop/period the complete phrase is called a sentence.)
Unlike the full-stop and semi-colon, which merely mark an ending, a colon points forward, 'delivering' what is promised before it:
- I have something to tell you: you were right after all.