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

英文寫作 — 冒號和分號

Hello.

您好！

I'm Oli.

我是Oli。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

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

在本節課裡，您可以學習在寫作 裡用冒號和分號。

First, let's look at using colons.

首先，我們看下用冒號。

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

冒號有一個主要的用法：他們 介紹特定的事例或解釋。

Let's look.

我們看看。

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,

那麼，在這個例句裡，我們在例句的第一部分 提到一些一般的東西，

a problem.

一個問題。

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

然後我們在第二部分，冒號 後面給出特定的細節。

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.

同樣，我們在這個例句的第一部分提到 一些一般的東西，一個規則。

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

然後我們特別在例句的第二部分 說那是什麼。

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

一個記住它的好方法是我們在冒號 前面放一個一般的概念，然後

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

在冒號後面接一個特定的事例 或一個更詳細的解釋。

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

您也能使用冒號來介紹 一個事項清單。

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," 類似這樣的。

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'," 類似這樣的。

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

最後，您可以用冒號来介紹引號裡的 引用句，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.

在這一事例上，不必用一個冒號。

You can also use a comma.

您也可以用一個逗號。

There's no difference in which you use.

您用哪一個都沒區別。

It's mostly a question of personal style.

那主要是個人風格的問題。

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

在一個冒號後面，第一個單字的首個字母 可以用一個小寫或一個大寫字母。

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

如果您用冒號來引用某人說的， 您通常要用一個大寫字母。

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

如果您用冒號來介紹一個例子或 一個解釋，您可以選擇用一個

small letter or a capital.

小寫字母或一個大寫字母。

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

用大寫字母在美語裡更常見， 在英國英文裡，我們幾乎

use a small letter.

總是用一個小寫字母。

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

接下來，我們看看什麼時候 不用冒號。

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

我們說冒號有一個主要的用法：介紹 特定的事例和特定的解釋。

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

我們也說了一個冒號有一個可能的 用法，引用某人說了什麼。

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

了解什麼時候不用 冒號也是重要的。

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

這裡有一個學英文的同學們 在用冒號時常犯的錯誤 。

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

首先，在一封信或一個電郵的 開頭不須用一個冒號，例如在

someone's name.

某人的名字後面。

Use a comma instead.

用一個逗號取代。

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

也不要在一個標題或一個題目後面 用冒號，例如，一篇小論文，

or an article or anything like that.

或一篇文章，或任何像這樣的文字內容的標題。

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

一般來說，您不需要在任何 標題的結尾加標點符號。

Next, let's look at using a semicolon.

接下來我們看看用分號。

Like a colon, a semicolon has one main use.

像冒號一樣，一個分號有一個主要的用法。

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

我們用它來顯示兩個 完整句子之間的連結。

A semicolon is actually similar to a full stop.

一個分號實際上類似於 一個句號。

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

通常是作者來選擇用 句號或是一個分號。

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

一個分號用來取代句號，是 因為作者想顯示兩個之間有

ideas are more closely connected.

更緊密關連性的想法。

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."

我們的例二， "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

您可以在這兩個例句裡看到， 分號前面的部分和分號後面的部分

both be full sentences.

二者可以是整句。

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

所以，我們可以在例句一的 24 million後面用一個句號，

with the word "Beijing."

然後以單字"Beijing"開始一個新的句子。

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

同樣，在例句二裡，我們可以在"guilty" 後面用一個句號，然後

a new sentence.

開始一個新句子。

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

重點二是分號之前的句子與分號 之後的句子的兩個部分是在

are talking about a related topic.

談論一個相關連的主題。

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

在例句一裡，句子的兩個部分是 與中國城市的人口有關連性。

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

在例句二裡，句子的兩個部分顯然 與同一個罪案和同一個人有關連性。

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

所以我們用一個分號來顯示很有 關連性或談論同一個主題的

or talking about the same topic.

兩種想法或兩個句子。

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

通常，在英文裡，我們想合併兩個句子 時，我們用一個連接詞，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.

在我們用一個分號合併兩個句子時， 您不需要用一個連接詞。

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

然而，如果您用一個連接詞合併 兩個句子，您有時需要一個分號，

semicolon and sometimes a comma.

有時需要用一個逗號。

It depends what the connecting word is.

那取決於連接詞是什麼。

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

使用"and"、"or"、"but"、"yet"或"while"來合併 句子，您要用一個逗號。

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

用"however"、"therefore"、"nevertheless" 或"meanwhile"合併句子，

use a semicolon.

您須要用一個分號。

These lists are not complete.

這些清單不是完整的。

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

有要求用一個逗號或一個分號的 其他的連接詞。

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

然而，這些是最常見的，最重要的 事情是要記住某些連接詞，

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

您須要用逗號，對於其他單字， 您須要用分號。

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

那麼這裡是我們之前的例句， 與北京和上海的人口有關連性。

In this case, there's no connecting word.

在這個事例裡，沒有連接詞。

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

沒有像是"but"或"and"或"however"的單字。

So we use a semicolon.

所以我們用一個分號。

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

好，這裡是同一個句子， 但是有一點不同。

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

在這個事例裡，我們用連接詞 "while"。

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

用"while"時，我們要用一個逗號。

We can't use a semicolon in this case.

在本事例裡，我們不能用一個分號。

Another example.

另一個例子。

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

這次，我們用一個連接詞"however"。

"However" is used with a semicolon.

"However"是與一個分號搭配用。

A full stop would also be possible.

一個句號也是有可能的。

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

分號有一個其他的用法：在清單裡的 事項包含有逗號時，

contain commas.

分號可以用在清單。

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

通常，在我們創建一個清單時， 我們用逗號分隔清單裡的事項。

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.

我們在每個事項之後放一個逗號， milk後面、eggs後面，類似這樣。

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

但是如果在您的清單裡不僅有單字， 而且有包含逗號的片語，

use semicolons to separate the items on the list.

我們用分號來分隔 清單裡的事項。

Let's take a look.

我們來看一下。

"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

在這個事例裡，我們用逗號來分隔 清單裡的事項，因為

the list already include commas.

清單裡的事項已經包含了逗號。

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

如果我們用逗號來分隔事項， 那會很混淆，很難讀。

Let's look at one more example.

我們再多看一個例子。

"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.

同樣，在清單裡的事項是 包含有逗號的片語。

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

所以用分號來分隔清單裡的 事項會更清晰。

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

所以冒號和分號是用於表達兩個 想法之間的合併，但是

they operate in a very different way.

他們用法不同。

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

我們直接比較冒號和 分號來結束本課程。

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

那麼在這三個例句裡，唯一的區別 是標點符號，但是

difference to the meaning.

意思沒有太大的區別。

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

在例句一裡，句號表達 這兩個想法的合併

two ideas.

是沒必要的。

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.

這些是可以完全分隔開的事情。

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

在例句二裡，用分號，它表達 想法在某種程度上有關連性。

I'm talking about the same topic.

我在談論同一個主題。

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

在用冒號的例句三裡， 我們意思是問題是他的態度。

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

問題是他沒有盡力幫忙。

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

為了這些更清楚， 我們換句話說。

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

在例句一裡，用分號，我們也可以 說，"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

在用冒號的例句，我們也可以說， "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.

如果您可以理解這裡的區別， 那是一個好徵兆。

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

它意思是您真正地理解了冒號與 分號之間的區別。

OK, that's the end of the lesson.

好，本節課就到這了。

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上觀看，我建議您到 我們的網站上看本節課

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、練習，所以 您可以讀和複習課程。

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

您也可以做練習來檢查 您的理解程度。

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

就這樣，再次感謝您的觀看。 我們下次見。

Bye bye!

再見！