A colon should be used to introduce a list after which type of clause?

A colon should be used to introduce a list after which type of clause?

• A. After a dependent clause
• B. After a dependent clause and before a question
• C. After an introductory phrase
• D. After a complete independent clause to introduce items or explanations that follow.

Answer: (D)

Colon use hinges on having a complete thought before it. The part on the left must stand alone as a full sentence, and the colon then signals that what follows will name items or explain/expand that idea. So you place the colon after a complete independent clause. For example: He has three goals: to learn, to practice, and to apply what he learns. Here, “He has three goals” is a full sentence, and the colon introduces the list that follows. If the left side isn’t a complete sentence, or if you only have a dependent clause or an unsupported phrase, a colon to introduce a list isn’t appropriate.

Colon use hinges on having a complete thought before it. The part on the left must stand alone as a full sentence, and the colon then signals that what follows will name items or explain/expand that idea. So you place the colon after a complete independent clause. For example: He has three goals: to learn, to practice, and to apply what he learns. Here, “He has three goals” is a full sentence, and the colon introduces the list that follows. If the left side isn’t a complete sentence, or if you only have a dependent clause or an unsupported phrase, a colon to introduce a list isn’t appropriate.