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All the Leo Messi fans here in this sub: if he joined either City or Chelsea, would you then hate him?
IS the use of colon in the sentence above is correct? Actually I don't know the proper use of colon. While making the sentence above, it generally felt appropriate to me to use colon. And would somebody explain me the proper use of colon in any kind of sentences?
The use of the colon is correct. It's acting as an introductory address similar to To Whom It May Concern:.
I'm guessing you want to write something on reddit. It's the only place I know where they talk about a sub (sub-reddit). I would write it like this:
Note the declaration "To all..." Also, you would not use quotes because you're the one talking, and you don't quote yourself!
Assuming this is your purpose, slight changes in phrasing may be preferred to convey different meanings. Let's say Leo Messi fans love good old Leo, and hate all the players on the other team. And you want to point out the absurdity of hating someone just because they are on a team. Then I would say,
On the other hand, let's say he's thinking about moving, and you want to know if his fans will stop being his fans merely because he's playing for another rival team. Then I would say,
It's correct. Two of the uses of colons are to describe a list or to introduce a quote or someone's statement as it is.
However, I'd add inverted commas to show that it is a statement or a direct speech.
(To) All the Leo Messi fans here in this sub: "If he joined either City or Chelsea, would you then hate him?"
Okay, and a list example -
The checklist for our picnic is: a torch, a tent, a bed, a cycle... and so on.
