No Colon After 'To Be' Before a Simple List
The Colon
Rulebase Summary
Do not use a colon to introduce a simple list or set of examples that follows a form of the verb 'to be' (am, are, is, was, were) in running text. The sentence should flow naturally without interruption. Exception: if the list is long enough to be tabulated (formatted as a vertical list), then a colon is appropriate. In tabulated lists, items do not need capital letters or end punctuation.
Examples
A. The witnesses were: Mr. Hall, Mrs. Diaz, and Officer Brandt.
A. The witnesses were Mr. Hall, Mrs. Diaz, and Officer Brandt.
No colon after 'were' — the list flows naturally.
A. My responsibilities are: filing, scheduling, and answering phones.
A. My responsibilities are filing, scheduling, and answering phones.
Simple list after 'to be' verb needs no colon.
Transcript Notes
Court reporters must decide whether to tabulate long lists or run them inline. Tabulating makes items visually distinct but may appear incomplete or add transcript length. Either approach is acceptable.
The biggest problem word is 'include.' Do not fall into the trap of putting a colon after 'include,' 'includes,' or 'included' when the words in front of it do not form a complete, standalone sentence. The underlying grammatical principle is that we do not separate a verb from its completer word, nor a preposition from its object.
Resist the urge to automatically place a colon in front of every list — there is no such rule. Whether a colon belongs depends entirely on the grammar of what precedes it.
Style Guide References (2)
Morson's
BGGP