In this example, the stuff after the colon is a list. But you could also put an independent clause, which is essentially a complete sentence, after a colon: This sentence is a case in point.

Example: Purcell-Gates (1997) explains: "[Children] begin to learn about reading and writing from birth, in their homes and communities, as they observe others using print for various real life ...

Using a colon or semi-colon can be confusing Credit: Getty - Contributor When to use a colon. A colon has a number of functions and is indicated by two full-stops, one above the other.

The colon ( : ) and semicolon ( ; ) are frequently used incorrectly in place of each other. The two punctuation marks serve very different purposes, and should not be used interchangeably. Colon. A ...

For example: The band has three members: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash. As Grammarly explains , the colon in that sentence is working as a stand-in for the words who are .