分號有時又稱為小句號。它表示一個停頓,其停頓時間在逗號與冒號的停頓時間之間。文章如采用許多分號,其風格則變得嚴肅、正式。為了正確使用分號,有必要先學會辨認主句。當兩個主句沒有任何連接詞(and, but, or, nor, for)連接而出現(xiàn)在同一個句子里,這時最好采用分號使之分離。
分號的主要作用很簡單,它常用于分離沒有連接詞連接的句子。但最好不要在從句之間形成如此之強的停頓。如果你要連接從句,而又不愿意用連接詞時,則采用分號。
The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.
You don't write because you want to say something; you write because you've got something to say.
In the past, boy babies were often dressed in blue; girls, in pink.
Can't you see it's no good to go on alone; we'll starve to death if we keep traveling this way much longer.
John F. Kennedy said at his inaugural speech, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Our power to apprehend truth is limited; to seek it, limitless.
Science needs to be lived alongside religion, philosophy, history and esthetic experience; alone it can lead to great harm.
下列各詞和短語如用于連接復合句時,常與分號連用:
then however thus furthermore
hence indeed consequently also
that is nevertheless anyhow in addition
in fact on the other hand likewise moreover
still meanwhile instead besides
otherwise in other words henceforth for example
therefore at the same time even now
例:
Being clever and cynical, he succeeded in becoming president of the company; meanwhile his wife left him.
The weather was cold for that time of the year; nevertheless, we set out to hike to the top of that mountain.
According to one national survey, high school boys expected a starting salary of $19,500 for their first full-time job; on the other hand, high school girls expected a starting salary of only $15,000.