Colons [ : ]

1) Use the colon to introduce a list.

For example:

We need a lawyer who is:

1. aggressive
2. educated
3. well connected

2) Use the colon before a list in a sentence when introductory words such as for example or for instance, do not appear.

For example:

• We need a lawyer who is: aggressive, educated and well connected.
• But: We need a lawyer who is, for example, aggressive, educated and well connected.
• We will need to prove several points: presence, motive, and opportunity.
• But: We will need to prove several points such as presence, motive, and opportunity.

3) Use the colon before a quotation that is more than three typewritten lines long.

For example:

The contract has the following clause:

Legitimate persons are entitled to execute their pre-emptive subscription right until 23rd October, 1997. Pre-emptive right in this procedure is subscribing for the Shares and executing the pre-emptive right in buying the Shares subscribed, as described in this procedure, before the subscribers without pre-emptive rights.

4) In the US, it is common practice to use the colon to follow the salutation of a business letter. In personal correspondence, it is common practice to use a comma after the salutation.