Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a quotation?

Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a quotation?

• A. He whispered: "Follow your heart."
• B. He whispered, "Follow your heart."
• C. He whispered; "Follow your heart."
• D. He whispered: Follow your heart.

Answer: (A)

Using a colon to introduce a quotation means the part before the punctuation is a complete statement that leads into the exact words spoken. When the speaker’s words follow an introductory clause like “He whispered,” a colon can be used to set off the quotation, and the quoted words themselves form a complete sentence: “Follow your heart.” That makes the sentence read clearly and emphatically as the spoken words. This is why He whispered: "Follow your heart." is correct. The colon properly signals that what follows is the direct quotation, and the quotation marks show the exact words spoken. The other punctuations don’t fit this rule: a comma before the quotation wouldn’t fulfill the colon requirement; a semicolon isn’t used to introduce a quotation directly after a speaking verb; and leaving out quotation marks around the spoken words breaks standard quotation conventions.

Using a colon to introduce a quotation means the part before the punctuation is a complete statement that leads into the exact words spoken. When the speaker’s words follow an introductory clause like “He whispered,” a colon can be used to set off the quotation, and the quoted words themselves form a complete sentence: “Follow your heart.” That makes the sentence read clearly and emphatically as the spoken words.

This is why He whispered: "Follow your heart." is correct. The colon properly signals that what follows is the direct quotation, and the quotation marks show the exact words spoken.

The other punctuations don’t fit this rule: a comma before the quotation wouldn’t fulfill the colon requirement; a semicolon isn’t used to introduce a quotation directly after a speaking verb; and leaving out quotation marks around the spoken words breaks standard quotation conventions.