How to Use Colons and Semicolons in English - English Writing Lesson

英语写作 - 冒号和分号

Hello.

您好！

I'm Oli.

我是Oli。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn about using colons and semicolons in writing.

在本节课里，您可以学习在写作 里使用冒号和分号。

First, let's look at using colons.

首先，我们看下使用冒号。

Colons have one main job: they introduce specific examples or explanations.

冒号有一个主要的工作：他们 引入特定的事例或解释。

Let's look.

我们看看。

He had one problem: there was no way to get there in time.

He had one problem: there was no way to get there in time.

So in this sentence, we mention something general in the first part of the sentence,

那么，在这句里，我们在句子的第一部分 提到一些一般的东西，

a problem.

一个问题。

Then we give specific details in the second part, after the colon.

然后我们在第二部分，冒号 后面给出特定的细节。

There's just one rule here: do everything I tell you.

There's just one rule here: do everything I tell you.

Again, we mention something general in the first part, one rule.

再次，我们在句子的第一部分提到 一些一般的东西，一个规则。

Then we say what it is, specifically, in the second part of the sentence.

然后我们特别地在句子的 第二部分说那是什么。

A good way to remember this is that we put a general idea before the colon and then give

一个好的记住它的方法是我们在冒号 前面放一个一般的概念，然后

a specific example or a more detailed explanation after the colon.

在冒号后面给出一个特定的事例 或一个更详细的解释。

You can also use colons to introduce a list of items.

您也能使用冒号来引入 一个事项清单。

For example, "We've invited a small number of people: Bill, Emma, Rachel," and so on.

例如， "We've invited a small number of people: Bill, Emma, Rachel," 诸如此类的。

Or, "Tolstoy wrote several books, other than 'War and Peace': 'Anna Karenina', 'The Cossacks',

或者"Tolstoy wrote several books, other than 'War and Peace': 'Anna Karenina', 'The Cossacks',

'Resurrection'," and so on.

'Resurrection'," 诸如此类的。

Finally, you can use colons to introduce speech in quotes, like, "He said: 'Don't talk to

最后，您可以使用冒号来在引号里引入 言辞，像是"He said: 'Don't talk to

me about this again,'" or, "They shouted: 'Be careful.

me about this again,'" 或者，"They shouted: 'Be careful.

Don't get too close to the edge.'"

Don't get too close to the edge.'"

In this case, it's not necessary to use a colon.

在这个事例上，不必使用一个冒号。

You can also use a comma.

您也可以使用一个逗号。

There's no difference in which you use.

您用哪一个都没有区别。

It's mostly a question of personal style.

那主要是个人风格的问题。

After a colon, it's possible to use a small letter or a capital letter.

在一个冒号之后，可以用小写 或一个大写字母。

If you use a colon to introduce what someone said, you should generally use a capital letter.

如果您使用一个冒号来引入某人说的， 您通常要使用一个大写字母。

If you use a colon to introduce an example or an explanation, you can choose to use a

如果您使用一个冒号来引入一个例子或 一个解释，您可以选择使用一个

small letter or a capital.

小写字母或一个大写字母。

Using a capital letter is more common in American English, while in UK English, we almost always

使用一个大写字母是在美国英语里更 常见，在英国英语里，我们几乎

use a small letter.

总是使用一个小写字母。

Next, let's look at when not to use a colon.

接下来，我们看看什么时候 不使用冒号。

We said that a colon has one main job: introducing specific examples or specific explanations.

我们说冒号有一个主要的工作：引入 特定的例子和特定的解释。

We also said that a colon has one possible use, which is introducing what someone said.

我们也说了一个冒号有一个可能的 用法，引入某人说了什么。

It's also important to know when not to use a colon.

了解什么时候不使用 一个冒号也是重要的。

Here are some common mistakes which English learners sometimes make with colon use.

这有一个常见的英语学习者 在冒号使用上有时会犯的错误 。

First, don't use a colon at the beginning of a letter or an email, for example, after

首先，在一封信或一个电子邮件的 开头不要使用一个冒号，例如在

someone's name.

某人的名字后面。

Use a comma instead.

使用一个逗号取代。

Also, don't use a colon after a title or a heading, for example, at the top of an essay

也不要在一个标题或一个题目后面 使用冒号，例如，一篇议论文，

or an article or anything like that.

或一篇文章，或任何像这样的文字内容的标题。

You don't normally need any punctuation at the end of the title.

一般来说，您不需要在任何 标题的结尾加标点符号。

Next, let's look at using a semicolon.

接下来我们看看使用分号。

Like a colon, a semicolon has one main use.

像冒号一样，一个分号有一个主要用途。

We use it to show a connection between two complete sentences.

我们用它来显示两个 完整句子之间的连接。

A semicolon is actually similar to a full stop.

一个分号实际上类似于 一个完全的停顿。

It's generally the writer's choice whether to use a full stop or a semicolon.

通常是作者来选择使用 完全停顿或是一个分号。

A semicolon is used instead of a full stop because the writer wants to show that two

一个分号用来取代完全停顿，是 因为作者想显示两个之间有

ideas are more closely connected.

更紧密联系的想法。

For example, "The population of Shanghai is around 24 million; Beijing has around 22 million

例如，"The population of Shanghai is around 24 million; Beijing has around 22 million

people."

people."

Our second example, "We knew he was guilty; There was no evidence, however."

我们的第二个例子， "We knew he was guilty; There was no evidence, however."

You can see in both of these examples that the parts before and after the semicolon could

您可以在这两个例子里看到， 分号前的部分和分号后的部分

both be full sentences.

两者可以是整句。

So we could use a full stop in the first sentence, after 24 million, and then start a new sentence

所以，我们可以在第一个句子里的 24 million后面使用一个完全停顿，

with the word "Beijing."

然后以单词"Beijing"开始一个新的句子。

That would be possible.

那是可能的。

Also, in the second sentence, we could use a full stop after "guilty," and then start

同样，在第二句里，我们可以在"guilty" 后面使用一个完全停顿，然后

a new sentence.

开始一个新句子。

The second important point is that both parts of the sentence, before and after the semicolon,

第二个重点是分号之前与分号之后 的句子的两个部分是在

are talking about a related topic.

谈论一个相关的主题。

In the first example, both parts of the sentence are about the population of Chinese cities.

在第一个例句里，句子的两个部分是 与中国城市的人口有关。

In the second, both parts are obviously about the same criminal case and the same person.

在第二个例句，句子的两个部分显然 与同一个罪案和同一个人有关。

So we use a semicolon to show that two ideas or two sentences are very closely related

所以我们使用一个分号来显示很有 关联的或谈论同一个主题的

or talking about the same topic.

两种想法或两个句子。

Often, when we want to join two sentences in English, we use a connecting word, like

通常，在英语里，我们想合并两个句子 时，我们使用一个连接单词，例如

"and" or "but" or "therefore," for example.

像是"and"或"but"或"therefore"。

When you join two sentences using a semicolon, you don't need to use a connecting word.

在我们用一个分号连接两个句子时， 您不需要使用一个连接词。

However, if you use a connecting word to join two sentences, you sometimes need to use a

然而，如果您使用一个连接词来合并 两个句子，您有时需要一个分号，

semicolon and sometimes a comma.

有时需要使用一个逗号。

It depends what the connecting word is.

那取决于连接词是什么。

To join sentences using "and," "or," "but," "yet," or "while," you should use a comma.

使用"and"、"or"、"but"、"yet"或"while"来合并 句子， 您要使用一个逗号。

To join two sentences using "however," "therefore," "nevertheless," or "meanwhile," you should

使用"however"、"therefore"、"nevertheless" 或"meanwhile"来合并句子，

use a semicolon.

您要使用一个分号。

These lists are not complete.

这些清单不是完整的。

There are other connecting words which require a comma or a semicolon.

有要求用一个逗号或一个分号的 其他的连接词。

However, these are the most common, and the most important thing is to remember that for

然而，这些是最常见的，最重要的 事情是要记住对于某些连接词，

some connecting words, you need to use a comma, and for others, you have to use a semicolon.

您需要使用逗号，对于其他单词， 您必须使用分号。

So here's our example from before, about the population of Shanghai or Beijing.

那么这里是我们之前的例句， 与北京和上海的人口有关。

In this case, there's no connecting word.

在这个事例里，没有连接词。

There's no word like "but" or "and" or "however."

没有像是"but"或"and"或"however"的单词。

So we use a semicolon.

所以我们使用一个分号。

OK, here's the same sentence, but a little bit different.

好，这里是同一个句子， 但有一点不同。

In this case, we're using the connecting word "while."

在这个事例里，我们使用连接词 "while"。

With "while," we need to use a comma.

用"while"时，我们要用一个逗号。

We can't use a semicolon in this case.

在本事例里，我们不能用一个分号。

Another example.

另一个例子。

This time, we use the connecting word "however."

这次，我们使用一个连接词"however"。

"However" is used with a semicolon.

"However"是与一个分号搭配使用。

A full stop would also be possible.

一个完全停顿也是有可能的。

Semicolons have one other use: they can be used in lists when the items on the lists

分号有一个其他的用途： 当清单里的 事项包含有逗号时，

contain commas.

它们可以用于清单。

Usually when we make a list, we use commas to separate the items on the list.

通常，在我们创建一个清单时， 我们使用逗号去分隔清单里的事项。

For example, "We need milk, eggs, sugar, and flour."

例如，"We need milk, eggs, sugar, and flour."

We put a comma after each item, after milk, after eggs, and so on.

我们在每个事项之后放一个逗号， milk后面、eggs后面，类似这样。

But if the items on your list are not just words, but phrases which include commas, we

但是如果在您的清单里不仅有单词， 而且有包含逗号的短语，

use semicolons to separate the items on the list.

我们使用分号来分隔 清单里的事项。

Let's take a look.

我们来看一下。

"We traveled to four cities: Santa Fe, which is in New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas,

"We traveled to four cities: Santa Fe, which is in New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas,

Nevada; and finally, Los Angeles in California."

Nevada; and finally, Los Angeles in California."

In this case, we use semicolons to separate the items on the list because the items on

在这个事例里，我们使用分号来分隔 清单里的事项，因为

the list already include commas.

清单里的事项已经包含了逗号。

If we used commas to separate the items, it would be very confusing and difficult to read.

如果我们使用逗号来分隔事项， 那会是很混淆，很难读。

Let's look at one more example.

我们再多看一个例子。

"Only three people showed up: Tom, the head of accounting; Maria, who works in the sales

"Only three people showed up: Tom, the head of accounting; Maria, who works in the sales

department; and Ellie, who's doing an internship here."

department; and Ellie, who's doing an internship here."

Again, the items on the list are phrases which include commas.

同样，在清单里的事项是 包含有逗号的短语。

So it's much clearer to use semicolons to separate the parts of the list.

所以使用分号来分隔清单里的 事项会更清晰。

So both the colon and the semicolon are used to show a connection between two ideas, but

所以冒号和分号是用于显示两个 想法之间的连接，但是

they operate in a very different way.

他们以十分不同的方式来运用。

Let's finish by comparing the colon and the semicolon directly.

我们以直接比较冒号和 分号来结尾。

So in these three examples, the only difference is the punctuation, but it does make a big

那么在这三个例子里，唯一的区别 是标点符号，但是那

difference to the meaning.

不会让意思的区别很大。

In the first case, the full stop shows that there is no necessary connection between these

在第一个例子里，完全的停顿显示 这两个想法的连接

two ideas.

是没有必要的。

We have a problem, and he isn't doing enough to help me.

We have a problem, and he isn't doing enough to help me.

These could be totally separate things.

这些可以是完全分离开的事情。

In the second case, with the semicolon, it shows that the ideas are related somehow.

在第二个事例里，使用分号，它表明 想法在某种程度上是相关的。

I'm talking about the same topic.

我在谈论同一个主题。

In the third sentence with the colon, we mean that the problem is his attitude.

在第三个用冒号的例子里， 我们意思是问题是他的态度。

The problem is that he isn't doing enough to help.

问题是他没有尽力去帮助。

To make this clearer, let's put these sentences in other words.

为了让这个更清楚， 我们来换句话说。

In the first case, with the semicolon, we could also say, "We have a problem, and he

在第一个例子里，用分号，我们也可以 说，"We have a problem, and he

isn't doing enough to help me with this problem."

isn't doing enough to help me with this problem."

In the sentence with the colon, we could also say, "We have a problem, which is that he

在用冒号的例子，我们也可以说， "We have a problem, which is that he

isn't doing enough to help me."

isn't doing enough to help me."

If you can understand the difference here, that's a good sign.

如果您可以理解这里的区别， 那是一个好的征兆。

It means you really understand the difference between colons and semicolons.

它意思是您真正地理解了冒号与 分号之间的区别。

OK, that's the end of the lesson.

好，本节课就到这了。

I hope it was useful.

我希望那是有用的。

If you're watching on YouTube, I suggest you see the full version of this lesson on our

如果您在YouTube上观看，我建议您到 我们的网站上看本节课

website.

的完整版本。

The full version includes text and exercises, so you can read and review the lesson.

完整版本包括文字、练习，所以 您可以读和复习课程。

You can also practice to check that you've understood.

您也可以做练习来检查 您的理解程度。

That's all, thank you again for watching, and I'll see you next time.

就这样，再次感谢您的观看。 我们下次见。

Bye bye!

再见！