Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

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Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

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“I have two sons, Bill and Ben”: comma or colon?

I wrote, “I have two sons, Bill and Ben.”

An editor said that the comma should be a colon. That opinion is backed up by various style guides which say a list (and presumably “Bill and Ben” is a list) should be preceded by a colon. I still feel that a colon is unnecessary, though I probably would use a colon if I had five sons not two. Would I use a colon with three sons? I’m not sure.

Had I written, “I have two sons, Bill and Ben, both in their twenties” there would surely be no question of a colon being required. It seems odd to me that omitting the final phrase, “both in their twenties” forces the first comma to become a colon.

I would be interested in others’ views.

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Comments

Punctuation can sometimes be a matter of personal preference. In your sentence, "I have two sons, Bill and Ben," the comma is commonly used before listing things. Some people prefer to use a colon instead, like this: "I have two sons: Bill and Ben."

However, using a colon might seem a bit formal for just two items. It's more commonly used for longer lists.

If you're unsure, you could rewrite the sentence to avoid the list format altogether, like this: "I have two sons named Bill and Ben."

In the end, both the comma and the colon are correct, so you can use whichever feels right to you.

elizabethwilliams_7 Jun-07-2024

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In this case, using a comma is appropriate. A colon typically introduces a list or emphasizes a point, but in your sentence, the phrase "Bill and Ben" is simply providing additional information about your sons. Therefore, a comma is more suitable for this context.
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Guo Apr-23-2024

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I agree the colon precedes a list, but a list composed of at least three items. In your example, the colon would seem to be too strong. However, I don't have a citation or formal support for my position.

In legal documents, to be extra clear, I often use a colon, and plus, I would add numbering, like this: "I have two (2) sons: (i) Bill; and (ii) Ben."

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