The colon is used to separate two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first. In such usage, the colon functions in much the same way as the semicolon. As with the semicolon, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless the word is ordinarily capitalized.
The median household income in 2014 was $53,719, which means that half of American households make less than this amount, and half make more. Since the median is significantly below the average, it tells us that there are more households with below-average household income than above-average, and that the average is distorted by a small percentage of high-income households.
National Averages. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average salary for all Americans was $51,017 in 2012, down very slightly from 2011's mean of $51,100. That is still 8.7 percent below the average salary in 2007.Women made 77 percent of what men make on average across the country in 2012.ational Averages. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average salary for all Americans was $51,017 in 2012, down very slightly from 2011's mean of $51,100. That is still 8.7 percent below the average salary in 2007.