Grammar and reading terms · SAT Reading and Writing, ACT English, ACT Reading
Colon
Colon: A punctuation mark that follows a complete independent clause to introduce a list, explanation, example or quotation.
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What it means
The words before a colon must form a complete sentence. What follows can be a single word, a list or another sentence that explains or illustrates the first part.
A colon should not separate a verb from its object or a preposition from its object.
Example
Correct: 'The recipe needs three ingredients: flour, eggs and milk.' Incorrect: 'The recipe needs: flour, eggs and milk.'
On the exam
Colons appear in SAT Boundaries questions and ACT punctuation questions, often alongside dashes.