Colon Before a List
Question
The recipe called for three simple ingredients, flour, butter, and salt.
Answer choices
- ingredients:
- NO CHANGE
- ingredients;
- ingredients —
A Correct answer: A) ingredients:
"The recipe called for three simple ingredients" is a complete independent clause, so a colon is the correct mark to introduce the list of ingredients. A semicolon would be wrong (semicolons join independent clauses, not lists). A dash with a space would also work, but the colon is the standard ACT-preferred answer here.
The other options either introduce a grammatical error or change the intended meaning. The ACT consistently rewards the most concise, grammatically correct option.
Read the sentence with each option substituted in. The version that preserves meaning while obeying the underlying rule is the correct answer; on the ACT, that is almost always the shortest option that still works.
The underlying rule
A colon is used after an independent clause to introduce a list, an example, or an explanation. The clause before the colon must be a complete sentence.
Why each wrong answer is wrong
- B) NO CHANGE: This option either uses an incorrect punctuation mark before the introduced list or breaks the rule that the clause before a colon must be independent.
- C) ingredients;: This option either uses an incorrect punctuation mark before the introduced list or breaks the rule that the clause before a colon must be independent.
- D) ingredients —: This option either uses an incorrect punctuation mark before the introduced list or breaks the rule that the clause before a colon must be independent.
Study tip
Test for a colon: does the clause before it stand alone as a complete sentence? If yes, a colon is allowed. If no, you need to rewrite.
More Easy Punctuation
- Comma Before a Coordinating ConjunctionThe hike was long and exhausting, but the view from the summit was worth every step
- Semicolons in a Complex ListThe conference featured speakers from Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon, and Madison,
- Apostrophe with a Plural PossessiveThe students' projects were displayed in the auditorium for the science fair.
- Colon Before a ListThe recipe called for three simple ingredients, flour, butter, and salt.
- Commas Around a Nonessential PhraseMy oldest brother who lives in Toronto is flying down for the holidays.