Practice Questions

A colon should not interrupt a prepositional phrase (consists of). The prepositional phrase needs to be complete before the colon.

Colons are often used to introduce long or formal quotations.

A colon should not follow a verb (is) that connects a subject to its complement.

A colon must follow an independent clause. 'I need' or 'I need to buy' are not independent if 'the following' is missing in some contexts, but 'The items I need to buy are' is also weak. The most formal and correct structure uses an explicit introduction like 'the following'.

The colon introduces an independent clause or phrase that explains or expands upon the first independent clause.

A colon is the standard punctuation mark used to introduce a formal list after a complete independent clause.

Maintenance' is correct.

You' requires 'are'.

Indefinite pronouns like 'everybody' are singular.

People' is plural, requiring 'are'.