How to use a colon in English?

I have an assignment on writing and i have already chosen topic "how to use colon in English". I would like to receive your help on my essay research.thanks

There are three main uses of the colon:

between two main clauses in cases where the second clause explains or follows from the first:
That is the secret of my extraordinary life: always do the unexpected.
It wasn't easy: to begin with, I had to find the right house.
to introduce a list:
The price includes the following: travel to London, flight to Venice, hotel accommodation, and excursions.
The job calls for skills in the following areas: proofing, editing, and database administration.
before a quotation, and sometimes before direct speech:
The headline read: 'Taxi Driver Battles Gangsters'.
They shouted: 'Our families are starving! We need land!'

-- from Oxforddictionaries.com

Great quiz, since more students right now oversees the power of colon in writing.
The abuse of colon would make ur writing less formal and more loose.
See the extract from the "Elements of Style" by E.B White and Strunk.

Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation.

REMOVED BY KEVIN.
PLEASE JUST POST LINKS WHEN NECESSARY RATHER THAN PASTING IN THE CONTENT.

:-) THANKS!!! Here it is: drgrammar.org/frequently-asked-questions
Again , from the Brible of writing, "Elements of Style"

It is very helpful. My thanks to all your help.

hey guy, I also have a problem in my research essay is that I short of references. Would you mind introducing some books relate to punctuation especially colon and semicolon?.thanks

Use it between two main clauses, before a quote, and to intorduce a list.

Hi Hang Pham,
The one I like is already mentioned above: Strunk and White. The Elements of Style. (That is the classic about grammar and style.)
You can also search for books by Diana Hacker.
You can also reference the website mentioned above: drgrammar.org/frequently-asked-questions

:-)
Does that answer your question?

Thanks for all help. I hope with your help I will have good point,hi. Againt thanks a lots!

Using semi colon in this sentence?

swimming is more than a sport; it's a way of life.

is it ok to use the semi colon since these two clauses are related?

Semi-colon ok? (medicine; English)

Is this sentence grammatically alright?
Thanks in advance

For instance, Biology and Chemistry helped improve my insight into medicine; English helped improve my writing skills; Statistics and Calculus helped improve my problem solving and analytic skills.

That works fine!