Unnecessary Colons

A colon announces that something--a series, a restatement, or an explanatory equivalent--will follow and end the sentence. However, do not use a colon when the final word itself implies that something will follow.

Wrong - The Valeria Line is carried in: department stores, men's stores, and on Valeria's own Web site.

Right - The Valeria line is carried in department stores, men's stores, and on Valeria's own Web site.

Wrong - The two files were: created separately, named differently, but backed up on the same hard disk.

Right - The two files were created separately, named differently, but backed up on the same hard disk.