The forum descriptions are:

Chat Forum – off topic discussion.
Classifieds – For Sale – Advertise items you want to sell.
classified Classifieds – Wanted – Request items you’re looking for.

They should be:

Chat Forum – off–topic discussion.
Classifieds – For Sale – Advertise items that you want to sell.
classified Classifieds – Wanted – Request items for which you are looking.

The site may have a new look, but I think we all expect the same level of pedantry as existed previously. 🙂

The site may have a new look, but I think we all expect the same level of pedantry as existed previously

Please terminate your sentences with a full stop.

🙂

Si , you need a holiday , a few weeks on a game reserve should help 😉

And a colon after

The forum descriptions are

but not after

They should be

Please explain your reasoning.

Please terminate your sentences with a full stop.

I don’t know what you mean.

And a colon after

The forum descriptions are

but not after

They should be

Please explain your reasoning.

Again, I’m unsure as to your question? 😉

Again, I’m unsure as to your question?

That is not a question, that is a statement. As such, it does not need a question mark.

It’s all hideous…my eyes are hurting.

That is not a question, that is a statement. As such, it does not need a question mark.

It was a question given the rise in inflection that would have been in place at the end of the sentence had that sentence been expressed orally. As it was instead expressed in prose, the appropriate punctuation mark was used.

Bring it on. 🙂

The use of colons in both cases is wrong.

Your, missing, the point. This, sites legendary for it’s grammatical error’s. Plus I think, your’ll find that the proper word for colon is bowel

In which case it should be:

I’m unsure of what your question was meant to be?

You also need to seek out your friend, the comma.

No, the usage of the colon was correct. However the inconsistent application troubled me somewhat.

In which case it should be:

I’m unsure of what your question was meant to be?

I think that that is a simply difference of style.

You also need to seek out your friend, the comma.

Where do you think that I have omitted a comma?

No, the use of colons in both cases is incorrect.

IHN Just **** off to Africa you posh boy

IHN; just **** off to Africa, you posh-boy

Tut 😉

No, the use of colons in both cases is incorrect.

Please explain your reasoning. 🙂

I think that the site is running more slowly since last night’s work. Is it just myself who is experiencing this?

Allthepies… use of colons.

“It is important to note that the clause that comes before the colon can stand alone and make complete sense on its own.

If the initial clause cannot stand alone and make complete sense, you should not use a colon.”

“The forum descriptions are” and “they should be” do not make complete sense as they are.

Is it just myself who is experiencing this?

Is it just me who is experiencing this?

No, its not.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

No it’s not.

FoxyChick – who are you quoting on the usage of colons and why should we pay any attention to their stipulations ?

Oh, Simon…go stipulate yourself.

Yeah, up yer colon!

Oh, Simon…go stipulate yourself.

if you cannot substantiate then surely we’re free to ignore ?

“If the initial clause cannot stand alone and make complete sense, you should not use a colon.”

which surely excludes common usage of the colon ?
eg
My favourite foods are: (makes no sense alone)

Marmite
lentil soup
chocolate muffins

in which case, what should we use instead of the colon ?

To introduce a list.

The second main use of the colon is to introduce a list. You need to take care; many people assume that a colon always precedes a list. This is not the case. Again it is important to remember that the clause that precedes the colon must make complete sense on its own.

Have a look at these examples:

The potion contained some exotic ingredients: snails’ eyes, bats’ tongues and garlic.

The magic potion contained sesame seeds, bran flakes and coleslaw.

In the first sentence, the clause preceding the colon has a subject and a predicate and makes complete sense on its own ‘The potion contained some exotic ingredients.’ In the second sentence a colon should not be used, as the clause that would precede it would not make sense alone ‘The magic potion contained’.

So, in your example…

My favourite foods include the following:
Marmite
lentil soup
chocolate muffins

Or…
The following are my favourite foods:
Marmite
lentil soup
chocolate muffins

But whatever you do, don’t take my word for it.

Oh, and I’ve quoted from one of the hundreds of grammar websites, all saying the same thing.

go stipulate yourself

but surely, in the absence of a reference, you were the one stipulating ? whereas, as usual, I was seeking to abandon pointless rules

in which case, what should we use instead of the colon ?

Your gob!

I’m sorry, I know it’s childish and unnecessary, but I couldn’t resist it! 😀

It’s not helpful or constructive, so I’m going to bed now.

Your gob!

I can’t find that on my keyboard :o)

While we are at it, would it be rude of me to ask everyone here not to put OT in the chat forum before topic headings? The whole point of having a chat forum is where off topic topics go, so putting OT is now superfluous. Thanks you.