Question

Which sentence correctly uses a colon? A. I edited the article and found: comma splices, sentence fragments, and misplaced modifiers. B. Anna was happy: to go skiing with her sister. C. Talia decided that: she would accept admission into New York University over Harvard University. D. I made just one request for the camping trip: I wanted to stay in a cabin instead of a tent. E. This is what they told me: Because the apartment was too small, and cold for them.

Answer 1

The answer would be D. "I made just one request for the camping trip: I wanted to stay in a cabin instead of a tent."

Generally colons are used after phrases that are complete sentences. "I made just one request for the camping trip" is a complete sentence, and should therefore have a colon after it.

Answer 2

D) I made just one request for the camping trip: I wanted to stay in a cabin instead of a tent.

Colons are used between two independent clauses to show that the second sentence is explaining the first sentence.