Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a definition?

Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a definition?

• A. The term ethics means morality.
• B. Ethics means morality.
• C. The term: ethics means morality.
• D. Ethics means morality; the term is ethics.

Answer: (A)

When you use a colon to introduce a definition, a lead-in signals that a term will be defined and the definition follows after the colon. In the sentence with the colon, the phrase The term is followed by a colon, then the term ethics and its meaning—morality—follow. The colon acts as a cue that what comes next explains the term being introduced. The other sentences either present a simple statement without a colon or pair two clauses with a semicolon, which doesn’t introduce a definition. So the sentence that shows the definition-introducing colon is the one with The term followed by a colon.

When you use a colon to introduce a definition, a lead-in signals that a term will be defined and the definition follows after the colon. In the sentence with the colon, the phrase The term is followed by a colon, then the term ethics and its meaning—morality—follow. The colon acts as a cue that what comes next explains the term being introduced. The other sentences either present a simple statement without a colon or pair two clauses with a semicolon, which doesn’t introduce a definition. So the sentence that shows the definition-introducing colon is the one with The term followed by a colon.