To introduce a list
We need these items for our tour: a bag, a basket, a water bottle, packed food, fresh fruits and vegetable.
We need these people for our assignment: Ram, Shyam, Mohan and Sohan.
I want you to arrange these things for dinner: mix veg, naan, dal makhani etc.
If we rephrase these sentences, we don’t need colon. Examples:
We need a bag, a basket, a water bottle, packed food, fresh fruits and vegetable for our tour.
We need Ram, Shyam, Mohan and Sohan for our assignment.
I want you to arrange mix veg, naan, dal makhani and salad for dinner.
To introduce a formal quotation.
Our director said in the meeting: Tell us what you can do for the company and don’t ask what company can do for you.
To emphasize a word, phrase or clause
My business failed because of one thing: absence of planning
I can achieve success through one principle: principle of best service
You are missing something: how you should make the best use of your time
Greeting in a business letter
Dear Sales Manager:
Dear Mr. Ram:
Title and Subtile of a book
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Between two sentences, when second explains the first
I ignored him: I knew he would waste my time.
I wanted to meet him: I wanted to learn nuances of business from him.
He ignored the call: he knew it was from bank manager for whom he had no time.
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