This is my sister trying to grade. I told her that a comma was at least some right, because look at how wrong it is without it (I call it the Not Less Right school of grammar).

She's gonna just give them a freebie, because apparently...they're not at colons yet. That's the one she liked best, Steph--thanks!

Did I mention university? Maybe in the past.

I am still trying to read the sentence that references a slayer. That's what comes after "every generation has..." when I read it.

My decoration, Jesse!!! Glad to see it's still flying!

Informally I would go with a dash, but more formally probably the comma. I wouldn't use the colon and comma, that seems overkill to me. But then, the other night I proofread my roommates application essays or this fellowship, ad she was ALL ABOUT using colons. Madness. I made her take several out.

You do feel the original comma is either wrong or clunky, Steph?

It's clunky at best.

She's gonna just give them a freebie, because apparently...they're not at colons yet. That's the one she liked best, Steph--thanks!

Colon, woo! (That would be a good ad campaign for a fiber supplement.)

Did I mention university?

By university, they should know the colon.

My decoration, Jesse!!! Glad to see it's still flying!

I always think of you! OK, this year I don't think of you every single time, but that's because I see it every day! Which is awesome.

I wouldn't use the colon and comma, that seems overkill to me.

IT IS SO ON, BITCH. Bring it. I will fend you off with my colon.

Wait. That doesn't sound right.

In other good news, guess what's on my block??

Jesus?

I would go with an m-dash or colon. But I find the longer I teach, the less I correct individual grammar errors in student papers. There's usually bigger fish to fry. Speaking of which, I should get back to grading.

(Tim was reading over my shoulder and just asked, "Did you just threaten meara over punctuation? Isn't that...excessive?"

"You should read the conversations about muffalettas," I said.)