Sentence Craft · Correctness
Colons, dashes & apostrophes
Three marks that make writing sharper when used right.
Step 1 of 4 · Overview15 min read ·
| Mark | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Colon : | introduce a list, explanation or punchline after a complete sentence | One thing matters: risk. |
| Em dash — | sharp interruption or emphasis | The trade—all 500 shares—failed. |
| Apostrophe (possession) | singular 's, plural s' | the trader's desk / the traders' desks |
| Apostrophe (contraction) | missing letters | don't, can't, it's |
Don't use apostrophes for plurals: 1990s, KPIs, not 1990's or KPI's.
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