Question

Choose the sentence with the correct usage of 'colon' in it.

• A. A balanced diet: should contain vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates.
• B. A balanced diet should contain the following: vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates.
• C. A balanced diet should contain vitamins: minerals: and carbohydrates.
• D. A balanced diet should: contain the following vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates.

Answer 1

The correct option is B A balanced diet should contain the following: vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates.

The colon is used to separate elements not part of the grammatical structure of main clauses. One of the main functions of a colon is to introduce a list.

Option B is correct since the colon here introduces a list - it is used right before the beginning of the list.

Option A is incorrect since "should contain" is part of the grammatical structure of the main clause. A colon can be added after "contain", or it can be omitted.

Option C is incorrect since multiple colons cannot be used in the same sentence. Moreover, a colon is not used to separate elements in a series. Here, a comma is the correct punctuation needed.

Option D is incorrect since the sentence after the colon is part of the main clause and does not require a colon.