Mekita Rivas, SNR communications associate, publishes a biweekly feature called "Grammar Guru."
Every other week, the Grammar Guru will share writing tips to help make your work as polished as possible. Some of these tips may address common spelling errors, while others will examine the many nuances of the English language.
Grammar Guru Tip #39
A colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a word, phrase, clause, list or quotation. The colon indicates that what follows proves or explains the sentence before the colon.
Example:
NOT: He chose UNL for: its environment, its affordable tuition and its student activities. ("He chose UNL for" is not a complete sentence.)
BUT: He chose UNL for three main reasons: its environment, its affordable tuition and its student activities.
Pro tip: Think of the colon as a gate, inviting one to go on.
Example: There is only one thing left to do: clean up the kitchen.
Need some grammar guidance? The UNL Style Guide (http://unlcms.unl.edu/ucomm/styleguide/) is a great resource for all university employees. If you have writing questions that the style guide doesn't answer, feel free to email the Grammar Guru at mrivas@unl.edu.