The colon : is a standard keyboard character, so press Shift+; on a US layout. Its job in writing is to introduce what follows, whether that is a list, an explanation or a quotation. In computing it does structural work instead. It separates hours from minutes, keys from values, and a protocol from the rest of a URL.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard US keyboard | Press Shift+; directly, it's a printable key, no code needed |
|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Colon" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 003A, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 003a, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | : · \003a (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Any device (US keyboard)
- Press Shift+;, it's printed on the keycap.
- On other layouts (AZERTY, QWERTZ) the key may be in a different position or need a modifier, use the picker methods below if you can't find it.
Windows
- Open Character Map: Win+R, type charmap, press Enter.
- Search or scroll for Colon (U+003A).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Colon" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 003A.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to :.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ∶ (U+2236) | Ratio, a mathematical operator | Use it only in a ratio such as 3∶4. Ordinary text wants the plain colon. |
| ： (U+FF1A) | Fullwidth colon, sized for CJK text | Correct inside Chinese, Japanese or Korean text. It breaks string matching elsewhere. |
| ; (U+003B) | Semicolon, a different mark entirely | A colon introduces. A semicolon joins two statements that could stand alone. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the colon?
It is U+003A, decimal 58. In HTML you can write it directly, or as : if you need to escape it.
Should there be a space before a colon?
In English, no. The colon sits tight against the preceding word. French is the common exception, where typographic convention puts a narrow non-breaking space before it.
Do I capitalise the word after a colon?
It depends on the style guide. Most British styles keep it lowercase. US styles often capitalise when what follows is a complete sentence, and Chicago capitalises when two or more sentences follow.
Why can I not use a colon in a filename?
Windows reserves it for the drive letter, as in C:, so it is forbidden in file and folder names. Classic Mac OS used it as the path separator, which is why older Mac software also rejects it.
What is the difference between a colon and a semicolon?
A colon points forward to what comes next, so it introduces a list, a definition or a quotation. A semicolon links two independent clauses that are closely related, where a full stop would feel too final.