The Colon
The colon is a punctuation mark (:)which is used to
direct attention to matter (such as a list, an explanation, a quotation, or
amplification) that follows.
Examples:
You may be required to bring many items: sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.
I want the following items: butter, sugar, and flour.
I want an assistant who can do the following: (1) input data, (2) write reports, and (3) complete tax forms.