Ms. de la Fressange is a canny businesswoman who knows how to market her brand: herself.

[tesoke]

Hi, in the following sentence, from a GRE test, I have problem with the punctuation. I cannot understand using : before herself!! Why?

Despite her relaxed and flexible style, Ms. de la Fressange is a canny businesswoman who knows how to market her brand: herself.

 

[cyberpedant]

I don't know if there's an actual "rule" for this usage, but it's not unusual. The colon serves to focus the reader's attention on the following word.

 

[GreenWhiteBlue]

The colon may be followed by examples or an explanation. Here, we are told what "her brand" means, and it is "herself": the main "brand" marketed by Ms. de la Fressange is nothing else than Ms. de la Fressange.

 

[tesoke]

Thanks a lot.