Writers: Here’s How a Colon Works

Posted on August 5, 2025 by mitchteemley

Tips for Writers

Colon [ˈkōlən] – Noun – A punctuation mark (:) used to precede a list of items or words. Also useful as a means of eliminating unnecessary words. Illustration:

Note: My Real Memoir will be back next week.

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About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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43 Responses to Writers: Here’s How a Colon Works

  1. joynealkidney says:
    August 5, 2025 at 11:31 am

    Yikes, the bane of my summer! (The biologic infusion is helping. Another next week. Side effects are scary, but. . . . )

    Very clever illustration, Mitch!

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says:
    August 5, 2025 at 11:31 am

    A colonoscopy of sorts

    Reply
  3. juliansummerhayes says:
    August 5, 2025 at 12:01 pm

    “General to specific” is how I like to remember it; it’s sort of gone out of fashion save for lists in the business world but not a n-dash to follow. Do you have a favourite grammar book Mitch? I’ve several which I love to return to as often as possible. Take care, Julian

    Reply
  4. L.G. says:
    August 5, 2025 at 12:30 pm

    🙏🙏

    Reply
  5. atimetoshare.me says:
    August 5, 2025 at 12:31 pm

    What goes in must come out.

    Reply
  6. Scott says:
    August 5, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    Very probing reflection.

    Reply
  7. thomasstigwikman says:
    August 5, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    Before I opened the post I thought it would be medical advice, but it was punctuation. Probably more useful for authors.

    Reply
  8. Michael Williams says:
    August 5, 2025 at 1:21 pm

    LOL! the diagram is spot on! Mike

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says:
    August 5, 2025 at 1:32 pm

    Thanks. You made me laugh,

    Reply
  10. Mae Faurel says:
    August 5, 2025 at 2:10 pm

    😂🧡😂

    Reply
  11. robstroud says:
    August 5, 2025 at 2:59 pm

    I’ve always found the balanced use of colons to be quite satisfying.

    Reply
  12. randydafoe says:
    August 5, 2025 at 3:18 pm

    Given the definition, I think my writing could use more colons and fewer words!

    Reply
  13. Lightness Traveling says:
    August 5, 2025 at 3:21 pm

    Appendix? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Reply
  14. missparker0106 says:
    August 5, 2025 at 3:29 pm

    Ah, but my guilty pleasure is a semi-colon. 😂

    Reply
  15. Mr. Ohh's Sideways View says:
    August 5, 2025 at 5:55 pm

    I guess in writing the colon stops the crap instead of holding it for later. 🤣😎🙃

    Reply
  16. Christina says:
    August 5, 2025 at 7:06 pm

    And when we can’t get our words out because we don’t know where to begin, it might be a case of information constipation!

    Reply
  17. Stefan says:
    August 5, 2025 at 7:40 pm

    Colons are important. Thank you for raising the public consciousness on careful colonic control.

    Reply
  18. C.A. Post says:
    August 5, 2025 at 8:58 pm

    😂😂 Maybe that’s where YOUR words come from, but not mine, even though as a child I WAS called a “potty mouth”!😂😂

    Reply
  19. Herb says:
    August 5, 2025 at 9:39 pm

    That’s really clever.

    Reply
  20. ibarynt says:
    August 6, 2025 at 1:46 am

    Why was I thinking of the organ? 🤣

    Reply
  21. Thotaramani says:
    August 6, 2025 at 8:59 am

    Illustrative meaning of : Mitch▶️:⁠-⁠)

    Reply
  23. Nancy Homlitas says:
    August 10, 2025 at 4:53 pm

    Haha! The cow patty at the end needs picked up or buried. 🙂

    Reply
  24. alphaandomega21 says:
    August 12, 2025 at 4:47 pm

    So a colon stops verbal diarrhoea!

    Reply

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