SAT Reading & Writing: Using Colons to Introduce Lists
22+ practice questions in Praczo
The concept, explained
- 1
A colon is used to introduce a list, an explanation, or a quotation.
- 2
CRITICAL RULE: The clause BEFORE the colon must be a complete, independent sentence. You cannot place a colon natively between a verb and its objects or a preposition and its objects.
- 3
Correct: "She packed three items: a map, a compass, and water." (Before colon is a full sentence).
- 4
Incorrect: "She packed: a map, a compass, and water." ("She packed" is not an independent clause).
- 5
Incorrect: "The materials include: wood, steel, and glass."
- ✗ Placing a colon immediately after "such as," "including," or a passive verb ("are:").
- ✗ Using a semicolon instead of a colon to introduce a list.
SAT-style practice
Which passage correctly uses a colon?
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