student asking question

What's the meaning of : and how to use : ?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

A colon ":" is used to introduce an item or a list of items after a complete sentence or an independent clause. It can also be used to reveal an answer or a meaning to something that was previously said. It must always be placed after a full sentence or a clause which is independent. Ex: You know what to do: study. Ex: I have three pets: a dog, a cat, and a rabbit. Ex: The recipe calls for five ingredients: butter, sugar, flour, eggs, and milk.

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