diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 8dd92fb7e..4758f601c 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Type: Package
 Package: datawizard
 Title: Easy Data Wrangling and Statistical Transformations
-Version: 0.13.0.1
+Version: 0.13.0.2
 Authors@R: c(
     person("Indrajeet", "Patil", , "patilindrajeet.science@gmail.com", role = "aut",
            comment = c(ORCID = "0000-0003-1995-6531")),
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index c28ecc63f..388c5a822 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # datawizard (development)
 
+CHANGES
+
+* The `select` argument, which is available in different functions to select
+  variables, can now also be a character vector with quoted variable names,
+  including a colon to indicate a range of several variables (e.g. `"cyl:gear"`).
+
 BUG FIXES
 
 * `describe_distribution()` no longer errors if the sample was too sparse to compute
diff --git a/R/extract_column_names.R b/R/extract_column_names.R
index c245f4bab..a3d120d3f 100644
--- a/R/extract_column_names.R
+++ b/R/extract_column_names.R
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@
 #'   tasks. Can be either
 #'
 #'   - a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., `column_name`),
-#'   - a string with the variable name (e.g., `"column_name"`), or a character
-#'     vector of variable names (e.g., `c("col1", "col2", "col3")`),
+#'   - a string with the variable name (e.g., `"column_name"`), a character
+#'     vector of variable names (e.g., `c("col1", "col2", "col3")`), or a
+#'     character vector of variable names including ranges specified via `:`
+#'     (e.g., `c("col1:col3", "col5")`),
 #'   - a formula with variable names (e.g., `~column_1 + column_2`),
 #'   - a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 #'     (e.g. `1` or `c(1, 3, 5)`),
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@
 #' ```
 #'
 #' @examples
-#' # Find columns names by pattern
+#' # Find column names by pattern
 #' extract_column_names(iris, starts_with("Sepal"))
 #' extract_column_names(iris, ends_with("Width"))
 #' extract_column_names(iris, regex("\\."))
@@ -129,6 +131,9 @@
 #' numeric_mean_35 <- function(x) is.numeric(x) && mean(x, na.rm = TRUE) > 3.5
 #' extract_column_names(iris, numeric_mean_35)
 #'
+#' # find range of colum names by range, using character vector
+#' extract_column_names(mtcars, c("cyl:hp", "wt"))
+#'
 #' # rename returned columns for "data_select()"
 #' head(data_select(mtcars, c(`Miles per Gallon` = "mpg", Cylinders = "cyl")))
 #' @export
diff --git a/R/select_nse.R b/R/select_nse.R
index 8f9eba096..5120691a9 100644
--- a/R/select_nse.R
+++ b/R/select_nse.R
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@
 # Possibilities:
 # - quoted variable name
 # - quoted variable name with ignore case
+# - quoted variable name with colon, to indicate range
 # - character that should be regex-ed on variable names
 # - special word "all" to return all vars
 
@@ -146,31 +147,63 @@
   # use colnames because names() doesn't work for matrices
   columns <- colnames(data)
   if (isTRUE(regex)) {
+    # string is a regular expression
     grep(x, columns)
   } else if (length(x) == 1L && x == "all") {
+    # string is "all" - select all columns
     seq_along(data)
+  } else if (any(grepl(":", x, fixed = TRUE))) {
+    # special pattern, as string (e.g.select = c("cyl:hp", "am")). However,
+    # this will first go into `.eval_call()` and thus only single elements
+    # are passed in `x` - we have never a character *vector* here
+    # check for valid names
+    colon_vars <- unlist(strsplit(x, ":", fixed = TRUE))
+    colon_match <- match(colon_vars, columns)
+    if (anyNA(colon_match)) {
+      .warn_not_found(colon_vars, columns, colon_match, verbose)
+      matches <- NA
+    } else {
+      start_pos <- match(colon_vars[1], columns)
+      end_pos <- match(colon_vars[2], columns)
+      if (!is.na(start_pos) && !is.na(end_pos)) {
+        matches <- start_pos:end_pos
+      } else {
+        matches <- NA
+      }
+    }
+    matches[!is.na(matches)]
   } else if (isTRUE(ignore_case)) {
+    # find columns, case insensitive
     matches <- match(toupper(x), toupper(columns))
     matches[!is.na(matches)]
   } else {
+    # find columns, case sensitive
     matches <- match(x, columns)
-    if (anyNA(matches) && verbose) {
-      insight::format_warning(
-        paste0(
-          "Following variable(s) were not found: ",
-          toString(x[is.na(matches)])
-        ),
-        .misspelled_string(
-          columns,
-          x[is.na(matches)],
-          default_message = "Possibly misspelled?"
-        )
-      )
+    if (anyNA(matches)) {
+      .warn_not_found(x, columns, matches, verbose)
     }
     matches[!is.na(matches)]
   }
 }
 
+# small helper, to avoid duplicated code
+.warn_not_found <- function(x, columns, matches, verbose = TRUE) {
+  if (verbose) {
+    insight::format_warning(
+      paste0(
+        "Following variable(s) were not found: ",
+        toString(x[is.na(matches)])
+      ),
+      .misspelled_string(
+        columns,
+        x[is.na(matches)],
+        default_message = "Possibly misspelled?"
+      )
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+
 # 3 types of symbols:
 # - unquoted variables
 # - objects that need to be evaluated, e.g data_find(iris, i) where
diff --git a/man/adjust.Rd b/man/adjust.Rd
index 64e50d9d3..48b321b8f 100644
--- a/man/adjust.Rd
+++ b/man/adjust.Rd
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@ out). If \code{NULL} (the default), all variables will be selected.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/assign_labels.Rd b/man/assign_labels.Rd
index cca14cc85..e6fd24252 100644
--- a/man/assign_labels.Rd
+++ b/man/assign_labels.Rd
@@ -38,8 +38,10 @@ labels are omitted.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/categorize.Rd b/man/categorize.Rd
index ca013ce2b..dbecbf5e6 100644
--- a/man/categorize.Rd
+++ b/man/categorize.Rd
@@ -89,8 +89,10 @@ group. See 'Examples'.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/center.Rd b/man/center.Rd
index f143f64b2..4774020ab 100644
--- a/man/center.Rd
+++ b/man/center.Rd
@@ -72,8 +72,10 @@ against the names of the selected variables.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/convert_na_to.Rd b/man/convert_na_to.Rd
index 91121ff94..702e0eb2e 100644
--- a/man/convert_na_to.Rd
+++ b/man/convert_na_to.Rd
@@ -41,8 +41,10 @@ replace \code{NA}.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/convert_to_na.Rd b/man/convert_to_na.Rd
index 2529294b7..fe308d61e 100644
--- a/man/convert_to_na.Rd
+++ b/man/convert_to_na.Rd
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ by \code{NA}, should unused levels be dropped?}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_codebook.Rd b/man/data_codebook.Rd
index 4c0f935e7..319f4e5b6 100644
--- a/man/data_codebook.Rd
+++ b/man/data_codebook.Rd
@@ -34,8 +34,10 @@ data_codebook(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_duplicated.Rd b/man/data_duplicated.Rd
index 73c3e8de1..88624c8c8 100644
--- a/man/data_duplicated.Rd
+++ b/man/data_duplicated.Rd
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@ data_duplicated(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_extract.Rd b/man/data_extract.Rd
index a0cd4e402..0b544e710 100644
--- a/man/data_extract.Rd
+++ b/man/data_extract.Rd
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ and data frame extensions (e.g., tibbles).}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_group.Rd b/man/data_group.Rd
index 56f5f314e..9cb55de5d 100644
--- a/man/data_group.Rd
+++ b/man/data_group.Rd
@@ -24,8 +24,10 @@ data_ungroup(data, verbose = TRUE, ...)
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_peek.Rd b/man/data_peek.Rd
index 4f3f88e8a..9524c70ec 100644
--- a/man/data_peek.Rd
+++ b/man/data_peek.Rd
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ data_peek(x, ...)
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_relocate.Rd b/man/data_relocate.Rd
index 30e4dbbfe..9949b5d27 100644
--- a/man/data_relocate.Rd
+++ b/man/data_relocate.Rd
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ data_remove(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_rename.Rd b/man/data_rename.Rd
index a45095805..2ff779c21 100644
--- a/man/data_rename.Rd
+++ b/man/data_rename.Rd
@@ -56,8 +56,10 @@ will be ignored then).}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_replicate.Rd b/man/data_replicate.Rd
index 35448155d..5a427d570 100644
--- a/man/data_replicate.Rd
+++ b/man/data_replicate.Rd
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ column. Note that the variable indicated by \code{expand} must be an integer vec
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_separate.Rd b/man/data_separate.Rd
index 37528d46e..7c951f81c 100644
--- a/man/data_separate.Rd
+++ b/man/data_separate.Rd
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ data_separate(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_tabulate.Rd b/man/data_tabulate.Rd
index 2feadf3a9..032c0b989 100644
--- a/man/data_tabulate.Rd
+++ b/man/data_tabulate.Rd
@@ -79,8 +79,10 @@ for printing.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_to_long.Rd b/man/data_to_long.Rd
index 741725d25..73b54219b 100644
--- a/man/data_to_long.Rd
+++ b/man/data_to_long.Rd
@@ -45,8 +45,10 @@ rows and fewer columns after the operation.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_unique.Rd b/man/data_unique.Rd
index 8a45bfc21..a0a70b92a 100644
--- a/man/data_unique.Rd
+++ b/man/data_unique.Rd
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ data_unique(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/data_unite.Rd b/man/data_unite.Rd
index ba7710a8a..369fd33d8 100644
--- a/man/data_unite.Rd
+++ b/man/data_unite.Rd
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ data_unite(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/describe_distribution.Rd b/man/describe_distribution.Rd
index 369bd9ef6..80b69e115 100644
--- a/man/describe_distribution.Rd
+++ b/man/describe_distribution.Rd
@@ -86,8 +86,10 @@ vector before the mean is computed.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/extract_column_names.Rd b/man/extract_column_names.Rd
index 6e658ab33..3ea5da7dc 100644
--- a/man/extract_column_names.Rd
+++ b/man/extract_column_names.Rd
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@ find_columns(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
@@ -152,7 +154,7 @@ outer(iris, starts_with("Sep"))
 }\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 }
 \examples{
-# Find columns names by pattern
+# Find column names by pattern
 extract_column_names(iris, starts_with("Sepal"))
 extract_column_names(iris, ends_with("Width"))
 extract_column_names(iris, regex("\\\\."))
@@ -165,6 +167,9 @@ extract_column_names(iris, starts_with("Sepal"), exclude = contains("Width"))
 numeric_mean_35 <- function(x) is.numeric(x) && mean(x, na.rm = TRUE) > 3.5
 extract_column_names(iris, numeric_mean_35)
 
+# find range of colum names by range, using character vector
+extract_column_names(mtcars, c("cyl:hp", "wt"))
+
 # rename returned columns for "data_select()"
 head(data_select(mtcars, c(`Miles per Gallon` = "mpg", Cylinders = "cyl")))
 }
diff --git a/man/labels_to_levels.Rd b/man/labels_to_levels.Rd
index 8024eb2d3..163eb0eaa 100644
--- a/man/labels_to_levels.Rd
+++ b/man/labels_to_levels.Rd
@@ -33,8 +33,10 @@ allowed.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/means_by_group.Rd b/man/means_by_group.Rd
index ba2a7d0c8..6c06ac3b1 100644
--- a/man/means_by_group.Rd
+++ b/man/means_by_group.Rd
@@ -51,8 +51,10 @@ point when rounding estimates and values.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/normalize.Rd b/man/normalize.Rd
index 4a9a61a68..c325e98fe 100644
--- a/man/normalize.Rd
+++ b/man/normalize.Rd
@@ -71,8 +71,10 @@ the normalized vectors are rescaled to a range from \code{0 + include_bounds} to
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/ranktransform.Rd b/man/ranktransform.Rd
index c23105735..7046db2b5 100644
--- a/man/ranktransform.Rd
+++ b/man/ranktransform.Rd
@@ -39,8 +39,10 @@ details.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/recode_values.Rd b/man/recode_values.Rd
index baa7afda9..dece902f7 100644
--- a/man/recode_values.Rd
+++ b/man/recode_values.Rd
@@ -60,8 +60,10 @@ default value.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/rescale.Rd b/man/rescale.Rd
index 016a6f841..490964777 100644
--- a/man/rescale.Rd
+++ b/man/rescale.Rd
@@ -67,8 +67,10 @@ the input vector (\code{range(x)}).}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/reverse.Rd b/man/reverse.Rd
index 6304dffc6..5767908ff 100644
--- a/man/reverse.Rd
+++ b/man/reverse.Rd
@@ -45,8 +45,10 @@ usually only makes sense when factor levels are numeric, not characters.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/row_means.Rd b/man/row_means.Rd
index c347fc6f1..4d61e8cf2 100644
--- a/man/row_means.Rd
+++ b/man/row_means.Rd
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ row_means(
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/slide.Rd b/man/slide.Rd
index ccc6bd7e9..c26943116 100644
--- a/man/slide.Rd
+++ b/man/slide.Rd
@@ -34,8 +34,10 @@ factors or character vectors to numeric values.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/standardize.Rd b/man/standardize.Rd
index 4041f2dc0..fcc8c6ae7 100644
--- a/man/standardize.Rd
+++ b/man/standardize.Rd
@@ -145,8 +145,10 @@ vectors as well.}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/to_factor.Rd b/man/to_factor.Rd
index e035769ec..d544bdaae 100644
--- a/man/to_factor.Rd
+++ b/man/to_factor.Rd
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ the values of \code{x} (i.e. as if using \code{as.factor()}).}
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/man/to_numeric.Rd b/man/to_numeric.Rd
index 634906e4a..39f04c3a9 100644
--- a/man/to_numeric.Rd
+++ b/man/to_numeric.Rd
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ to_numeric(x, ...)
 tasks. Can be either
 \itemize{
 \item a variable specified as a literal variable name (e.g., \code{column_name}),
-\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), or a character
-vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}),
+\item a string with the variable name (e.g., \code{"column_name"}), a character
+vector of variable names (e.g., \code{c("col1", "col2", "col3")}), or a
+character vector of variable names including ranges specified via \code{:}
+(e.g., \code{c("col1:col3", "col5")}),
 \item a formula with variable names (e.g., \code{~column_1 + column_2}),
 \item a vector of positive integers, giving the positions counting from the left
 (e.g. \code{1} or \code{c(1, 3, 5)}),
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-select_nse.R b/tests/testthat/test-select_nse.R
index c0195ad94..fb0f6aefb 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-select_nse.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-select_nse.R
@@ -138,3 +138,24 @@ test_that(".select_nse: works with function and namespace", {
   out <- fun(insight::find_predictors(model, effects = "fixed", flatten = TRUE))
   expect_identical(out, iris["Petal.Width"])
 })
+
+test_that(".select_nse: allow character vector with :", {
+  data(mtcars)
+  out <- data_select(mtcars, c("cyl:hp", "wt", "vs:gear"))
+  expect_named(out, c("cyl", "disp", "hp", "wt", "vs", "am", "gear"))
+  out <- data_select(mtcars, c("cyl:hp", "wta", "vs:gear"))
+  expect_named(out, c("cyl", "disp", "hp", "vs", "am", "gear"))
+  out <- data_select(mtcars, c("hp:cyl", "wta", "vs:gear"))
+  expect_named(out, c("hp", "disp", "cyl", "vs", "am", "gear"))
+  out <- data_select(mtcars, c("cyl:hq", "wt", "vs:gear"))
+  expect_named(out, c("wt", "vs", "am", "gear"))
+
+  expect_warning(
+    center(mtcars, c("cyl:hp", "wta", "vs:gear"), verbose = TRUE),
+    regex = "Did you mean \"wt\""
+  )
+  expect_warning(
+    center(mtcars, c("cyl:hq", "wt", "vs:gear"), verbose = TRUE),
+    regex = "Did you mean one of \"hp\""
+  )
+})