Colon (punctuation): Difference between revisions

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==Punctuation mark==
==Punctuation mark==


Like a [[full-stop]] ([[BrE]], known as a period in [[AmE]]), a colon can only 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 utterance is called a [[sentence (grammar)|sentence]].)
(In the case of the full stop/period the complete utterance is called a [[sentence (grammar)|sentence]].)

Revision as of 19:59, 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 utterance is called a sentence.)