A colon before a list

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herbivorie

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I have seen a style guide that says we should use a colon before a list.

For example,

The roles of the manager include the following:
1. Implement risk management and loss control policies.
2. Maintain and actively promote a safe and healthful working environment.
3. Take prompt, appropriate action to correct unsafe conditions.

Is a colon like the above one always necessary in English, or does it depends on the style guide?
I mean, is it grammatically okay if I use a period instead of a colon when I don't have to follow a style guide?
 

Raymott

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I always use a colon. That makes it obvious that you're introducing a list. For example your list might be set out linearly, as below.
"The roles of the manager include the following: Implement risk management and loss control policies, maintain and actively promote a safe and healthful working environment ..."
In this case a period is wrong.
 

Barb_D

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Some styles may allow you to omit the end punctuation before a bulleted or numbered list. You need it in running text, as shown above. Using a period in either format would be wrong.
 

Tdol

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"The roles of the manager include the following: Implement risk management and loss control policies, maintain and actively promote a safe and healthful working environment ..."

I'd use a colon too, but I wouldn't use an upper case letter after it.
 

Raymott

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I'd use a colon too, but I wouldn't use an upper case letter after it.
Nor would I usually. I copied that and forgot to change it.
 
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