1.1.3.- The colon

Collaborative Warm-up Exercise about the Use of Comma and Semicolon

https://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/writing-comma-semicolon1.html 

What symbol is it?

Introductory Game: Chain Memory

🧠 Chain Memory: Public Relations Colon Edition

(Focus: Correct use of the colon in PR contexts)

🎯 Objective

Students practice using the colon (:) correctly in professional public relations language while building a memory chain.

A player is eliminated if they:

• Forget part of the chain
• Misuse the colon
• Change the original sentence structure
• Add grammatically incorrect content

📚 Grammar Rule (Before Playing)

A colon must:

1. Follow a complete independent clause (a full sentence).
2. Introduce one of the following:
• A list
• An explanation
• Details
• A quotation

Correct example:

The press release includes the following updates: a leadership change, a new product line, and a revised strategy.

Incorrect example:

The press release includes: a leadership change, a new product line, and a revised strategy. ❌
(Not a complete sentence before the colon.)

🎮 How to Play

Step 1: Choose an Introductory Sentence

Select a PR-focused sentence that is a complete clause before the colon.

Example starter:

The crisis communication plan includes the following actions:

Step 2: First Player Begins

Player 1 repeats the full introductory sentence and adds one appropriate PR-related item.

The crisis communication plan includes the following actions: issuing a public statement.

Step 3: Next Player Repeats and Adds

Player 2 repeats the entire sentence and adds another item.

The crisis communication plan includes the following actions: issuing a public statement, notifying stakeholders.

Step 4: Continue the Chain

Each new player:

• Repeats everything exactly
• Adds one grammatically parallel item
• Maintains professional PR language

 

⚖ Elimination Rules

A player is out if they:

• ❌ Forget an item
• ❌ Add something unrelated to PR
• ❌ Break parallel structure
• ❌ Misuse the colon
• ❌ Alter the introductory clause

 

What colon uses do you know?

 

What is a colon?

 

A colon is a punctuation mark that’s used to connect sentences, put emphasis on a word or phrase, or introduce a quote or explanation.

 

There are two types of colon uses: the grammatical and the non-grammatical ones.

 

There are seven grammatical uses of colon:

 

1.- Lists

Taylor Swift has written a few songs about John Mayer: 'Dear John,' 'Paper Doll,' and 'Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve.'

Colons are used to introduce lists.

 

2.- Nouns or noun phrases

The movie had everything I wanted: action and suspense.

Colons can be used before a noun or a noun phrase.

 

3.- Quotes

He ended with the immortal words of Neil Young: 'Rock and Roll can never die.'

Colons can introduce a quotation.

 

4.- Examples

There is one big reason we don’t talk about Bruno: His premonitions frightened the family.

A writer may use colons to illustrate their point by providing certain examples. 

 

 

5.- Titles and subtitles

Colon-oscopy: The Best Punctuation Puns 

A colon can be used to separate a movie, book, or another piece of work’s title from its subtitle. 

 

6.- Between independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first

I have very little time to learn the language: my new job starts in five weeks.

 

7.- To add emphasis

After three weeks of deliberation, the jury finally reached a verdict: guilty.

The colon can be used to emphasize a phrase or single word at the end of a sentence.

 

There are five non-grammatical uses of colon:

 

1.- Time

11:11 a.m.

The colon is used to separate hours from minutes, with no space before or after the colon.

 

2.- Ratio

2:1

The colon is used to express a ratio of two numbers, with no space before or after the colon.

 

3.- Biblical references

Genesis 3:1

The colon is used in biblical references to separate chapter from verse, with no space before or after the colon.

 

4.- Other references

Punctuation Quarterly 4:86-89

The colon is used to separate the volume from page numbers of a cited work, with no space before or after the colon.

 

5.- Correspondence

Dear Ms. Smith:

Cc: Tom Smith

Attention: Accounts payable

PS: Don’t forget your swimsuit.

The colon is frequently used in business and personal correspondence.

 

Sources:

Anthony O’Reilly (2022) When to Use a Colon, With Examplaes on https://www.grammarly.com/blog/colon-2/  (Searched on the 18th of February 2023.

 

The punctuation guide (2023) Colon on https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/colon.html (Searched on the 18th of February 2023.

 

Collaborative online exercise about the uses of colon, semicolon and comma

https://www.learnenglish-online.com/writing/punctuation/tests/colonsemicolons.html 

Individual online exercise about the use of colon and semicolon

https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/semicolons_and_colons_1.asp