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DC Foster Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Colon following the verb to be
I've heard conflicting views on whether or not you can use a colon after a verb (even though the Chicago Manual of Style says you shouldn't).
The following are some sample sentences that seem to me to be wrong buy I want to make sure (or know why they're wrong). I want my students to have some clear cut rules they can follow when using the colon.
1) The first strategy is: she needs to 10 new words a day.
2) The second strategy is: Guess.
3) There are some strategies that can help her to improve her English. First: setting goals that she needs to reach, like: finishing her studies and looking for a job.
The following are some sample sentences that seem to me to be wrong buy I want to make sure (or know why they're wrong). I want my students to have some clear cut rules they can follow when using the colon.
1) The first strategy is: she needs to 10 new words a day.
2) The second strategy is: Guess.
3) There are some strategies that can help her to improve her English. First: setting goals that she needs to reach, like: finishing her studies and looking for a job.
Top answer
Hello, DC Foster—and welcome to English Forums. Thank you for registering as a member. DC Foster I've heard conflicting views on whether or not you can use a colon after a verb (even though the Chicago Manual of Style says you shouldn't).
- Hello, DC Foster—and welcome to English Forums.
- Thank you for registering as a member.
- DC Foster I've heard conflicting views on whether or not you can use a colon after a verb (even though the Chicago Manual of Style says you shouldn't).
- I agree with Chicago.
- In your examples, at least, the text following the colon is far too short and straightforward to warrant that punctuation's possible use for structural clarification; on the contrary, the colons just impede both flow and understanding.
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1 Answers
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Hello, DC Foster—and welcome to English Forums. Thank you for registering as a member.
DC FosterI've heard conflicting views on whether or not you can use a colon after a verb (even though the Chicago Manual of Style says you shouldn't).I agree with Chicago. In your examples, at least, the text following the colon is far too short and straightforward to warran
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