Decide whether each sentence uses a colon correctly or incorrectly.(2 points)

Question

Correct Incorrect
There are many flightless birds, including the following: the penguin, the ostrich, and the emu.

If we don’t restrict use of the park: there will be serious consequences overcrowding, water pollution, and land erosion.

A traveler to the Sonoran Desert will be reward with an amazing sight: the saguaro cactus.

A biologist summarizes: the process “We use molecular testing to determine the health of the fish.”

Answer 1

Here is the evaluation of each sentence regarding the correct or incorrect use of a colon:

1. Correct: There are many flightless birds, including the following: the penguin, the ostrich, and the emu.

2. Incorrect: If we don’t restrict use of the park: there will be serious consequences overcrowding, water pollution, and land erosion. (The colon should be a comma instead of a colon because the second part does not introduce a complete list or explanation.)

3. Correct: A traveler to the Sonoran Desert will be rewarded with an amazing sight: the saguaro cactus.

4. Incorrect: A biologist summarizes: the process “We use molecular testing to determine the health of the fish.” (In this case, the colon is incorrectly placed. The sentence should be restructured to either remove the colon or to appropriately introduce a complete statement that follows it.)

So, the final evaluation is:

• Correct: 1 and 3
• Incorrect: 2 and 4