What is a colon in writing? A total beginner here!

[LarryBrown]

Hi everyone! I'm a first-year student, and I keep seeing these little dots : in my textbooks and I'm too embarrassed to ask my professor.

What is a colon in writing? Is it just a fancy pause? I've been using commas for everything and my essays feel so run-on. I saw my friend use one like this: "She loved one thing: chocolate." It looked so professional! Can someone explain the basic rule in simple terms? I really want to improve my writing but grammar rules make my head spin. Any help would be amazing!

 

[ElisaMartins]

A colon ) is basically a “heads up” punctuation mark. It tells the reader: “What comes next will explain, name, or list what I just mentioned.”
So your friend’s example works because “She loved one thing” sets up something specific, and after the colon you get the answer: chocolate.
Common uses:

• List: I brought three things: pens, snacks, and a charger.
• Explanation: I couldn’t go out: I had a lab at 7 a.m.
• Quote: He said this: “Don’t panic.”
  Also, the part before the colon should usually be a complete sentence.