英文标点符号的用法

英语中的标点符号

&

Ampersand

&符号代表and ，通常只用于名称和缩写。

1. &可用于公司的名称中，但并不适用于政府机构名称：

American Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Securities and Exchange Commission[/indent]

2. 当&在信函中与缩写联用时，通常需在其左右留出空格，而在诸如技术性文档这样需要大量用到缩写的地方，一般就会略去空格：

Such loans may be available at your band or S & L.

The R&D budget looks adequate for the next fiscal year.

3. 连续的多个名词中用到&时，不用逗号：

the law firm of Shilliday, Fraser & French

'

Apostrophe

1. ' 用于表示所有关系时：

the boy's mother

the boss's desk

the princess's duties also the princess' duties

2. ' 可用于表示字母、数字、缩写、符号和用作单词本身的单词的复数：

p's and q's

1970's

CPUs

printed three *s

five and's in one sentence

3. 两个或多个单词缩为一个词时，' 表示这种省略：

didn't

o'clock

4. ' 可用于表示对单词中某些字母的故意省略，或只是一种书写上的省略习惯：

Get 'em

Dancin' till die

rock 'n' roll

5. ' 用来表示对数字中某些位的省略：

class of '95

politics in the '90s

6. ' 用来表示由数字或单独字母组成的动词的变化形式（有时也可用连字符-）：

86'ed our proposal

OK'ing the manuscripts

7. 在缩写后面加上-er 后，如果容易引起混淆，则需要加上' ，如果不会，则不需要（有时也可用连字符-）： 4-H'er

AA'er

IBMer

[]

Brackets

1. [] 用于编者插入的注释、修改、说明，或其他东西，尤其是在引语中：

This was the first time since it became law that Twenty-first Amendment [outlining procedures for the replacement of a dead of incapacitated President or vice President] had been invoked.

He wrote, "I am just as cheerful as when you was [sic] here."

2. [] 用于插入被略去的字母：

"If you can't persuade the P[resident], I'm sure no one can."

3. [] 用于替换原文的插入文字：

The report, entitled "A Decade of Progress," begins with a short message from President Stevens in which she notes that "the loving portraits and revealing accounts of [this report] are not intended to constitute a complete history of the decade....Rather [they] impact the flavor of the events, developments, and achievements of this vibrant period."

4. [] 用于插入文字对原文的单词有轻微改动时：

The magazine reported that thousands of the country's children were "go[ing] to bed hungry every night."

5. [] 用于表示对原文的大小写或字样的某种改变：

As we point out later, "...[L]ength can be assessed in terms of number of words,..."

They agreed with and were encouraged by her next point: "They have been placed in positions of responsibility without being delegated enough authority to carry out the responsibility." [Italics added.] 对原文作出大小写的改变时，[]是可用可不用的，只有在对文字材料要求非常严格时（特别是法律文本）才是必需的。

6. 在()中的[]起()的作用：

The company was incinerating high concentrations of pollutants (such as polychlrinated biphenyls [PCBs]) in a power boiler.

7. [] 在数学式和化学分子式中与()联用：

x+5[(x+y)(x-y)]

Ag[Pt(NO2)4]

8. 句子中的 [] 前不能有标点，如果需要标点，也要放在]之后：

The report stated, "If we fail to find additional sources of supply [of oil and gas], our long-term growth will be limited."

9. 当 [] 中包含是一个完整的句子，句子后的标点需放在[]内：

[The paw print has finally verified the cougar's continued existence in the Northeast.]

10. [] 与其所包括的文字之间、与其后相连的任何标点之间，都不能有空格。

:

Colon

1. : 的可跟从句，短语甚至一个单词，: 可用于引语前，尤其是当（1）该引语很长时（2）该引语是正式声明或特别强调时（3）该引语是同位语时：

Said Murdoch: "The key to the success of this project is good planning. We need to know precisely all of the steps that we well need to go through, what kind of staff we will require to accomplish each step, what the entire project will cost, and when we can expect completion."

The inscription reads: "Here lies one whose name was writ in water."

In response, he had this to say: "No one knows better than I do that changes will have to be made soon."

2. : 用于分隔参考页码、书目、圣经引文和时间与比率中：

Journal of the American Medical Association 48:356

Stendhal, Love (New York: Penguin, 1975)

John 4:10

8:30 a.m.

a ration of 3:5

3. : 用于分隔标题与副标题（书）

The Tragic Dynasty: A history of the Romanovs

4. 以空格隔开的:用于连接相反或相对的术语[$raquo]呵呵，是不是想起了GRE 的类比题？ [$laquo]： The budget shows an unfavorable difference in research : advertising dollars.

5. 在正式信函中，: 用于称呼语后：

Dear Mrs. Wright:

Dear Laurence:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

To whom it may concerns:

6. 用于备忘录、政府信函标题和正式商业信件的标题行：

TO: VIA:

SUBJECT: REFERENCE:

7. 用于商业信件中分隔作者/授权者/打字员首字母缩写：

WAL:jml

WAL:WEB:jml

8. 用于商业信件中分隔抄送/密送和收信人

cc:RSP bcc:MWK

9. : 要放在引号和括号之外：

There's only one thing wrong with "Harold's Indiscretion": it's not funny.

I quote from the first edition of Springtime in Savannah (published in 1952):

10. : 用于数字中间时，前后都不能有空格

9:30 a.m.

a ration of 2:4

11. 在商业信件中，签名行、抄送后缩写名前的:的前后都不能有空格，抄送后的收信人为全名时，: 后需跟一个空格：

FCM:hg

cc:FCM

cc: Mr. Johnson

,

Comma

最常用的标点。没什么特别要写的。

-

Dash

- 可起到逗号、冒号或括号的作用。有时比冒号和括号稍微非正式一些，尤其是在广告中。但也可用于所有正式、非正式的情况。

- 的长度很特别：它有多种长度。最常见的-被称为em dash，宽度相当于排版中的大写M 字母，打印时相当于2个连字符-。

突然的变化或暂停

1. - 表示句子结构中的突然变化或间隔等：

The students seemed happy enough with the new plan, but the alumni--there was the problem.

2. - 表示讲话被打断，或者说话者的迷惑、犹豫：

"The next point I'd like to bring up--" the speaker started to say.

"Yes," he went on, "yes--that is--I guess I agree."

进行说明或突出、强调

3. - 代替逗号或括号，起强调等作用：

Mail your subscription--now!

The privately owned consulting firm--formerly known as Aborjaily & Associates--is now offering many new services.

4. - 用于引出定义或枚举短语：

The fund sought to acquire controlling positions--a minimum of 25% of outstanding voting securities--in other companies.

The easy dealt with our problems with waste--cans, bottles, discarded tires, and other trash.

5. - 经常用于代替冒号或分号来联接子句，尤其是当所根子句解释、概括或阐述前面子句时： The test results were surprsingly good--none of the tested models displayed serious problems.

6. 一个 - 或一对 - 常用于for example, namely, that is, e.g.和i.e. 开头的语句前：

Sports develp two valuable traits--namely, self-control and the ability to make quick decisions. Not all "prime" windows--i.e., the ones installed when a house is built--are equal in quality.

7. - 常用于一系列词句后的概括性语句前：

Unemployment, strikes, inflation, stock prices, mortgage rates--all are part of the economy.

Once into bankruptcy, the company would have to pay cash for its supplies, defer maintenance, and lay off workers--moves that could threaten its long-term profitability.

8. - 常用于引语结束后的人名前，可放在同一行末尾，也可放在下一行：

"A comprehensive, authoritative, and beautifully written biography."--National Review

Winter tames man, woman, and beast.

--William Shakespeare

与其它标点的关系

9. 当-出现在句子中某处逗号/句号/分号也可出现的地方时，逗号/句号/分号需去掉：

If we don't succeed--and the critics say we won't--then the whole project is in jeopardy.

Some of the other departments, however--particularly Accounting, Sales, and Credit Collection--have expanded their computer operations.

His conduct has always been exemplary--near-perfect attendance, excellent productivity, a good attitude; nevertheless, his termination cannot be avoided.

10. 一对-连用的语句如果本有叹号/问号时，叹号/问号置于第二个-前：

His hobby was getting on people's nerves--especially mine!--and he was extremely good at it.

11. -和括号连用时，它们放在里、外的频率相同（-在里时，第二个略去不用）：

We were looking for a narrator (or narrators--sometimes a script calls for more than one) who could handle a variety of assignments.

On our trip south we crossed a number of major rivers--the Hudson, the Delaware, and the Patapsco (which flows through Baltimore)--without paying a single toll.

En Dash

12. 一般见于打印材料中（常用连字符打出）。En dash比Em dash短，但比连字符稍长。最常是用于

（1）代替前缀与复合词之间的连字符（2）数字、日期等中间表示范围（3）大写名称之间代表单词to （4）表示联系，如边界等：

pre-Civil War architecture

1988-89

pages 128-34

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

the New York-Connecticut area

Washington-Moscow diplomacy

Long Dashes

13. 两个em dash用于表示一个单词中略去的字母：

Mr . P----of Baltimore

14. 三个em dash用于表示一个缺少/未知的单词：

The study was carried out in------, a fast-growing Sunbelt city.

空格

15. - 两边的空格可加可不加，两种用法都是被接受的。

- ...

Ellipsis Points

Nothing special

- !

Exclamation Point

如果叹号是标题的一部分，如戏剧、书或电影时，后面可跟逗号，但如果标题处在句末，句号通常被略去：

Marshall and Susan went to see Oklahoma!, and they enjoyed it very much.

His favorite management book is still Up the Orgnization!

- - Hyphen

1. 行末的单词因较长而放不下，需将一部分放至下一行时，行末的单词后需加上连字符以表示这一分隔

2. 连字符可用于分隔字母或音节来表示说话时的踌躇、抽泣或停顿：

S-s-ammy

ah-ah-ah

y-y-yes

3. 连字符有时也用来表示动词的变化形式或缩写的-er ：

DH-ing for the White Sox

a dedicated UFO-er

- ()

Parentheses

1. 如果括号内是一个完整句子，则其首字母应大写，句末的句号应放在括号内。但当所括部分是在一个句子内时，则不加句号，但可加叹号、问号或引号。当所括部分在一个句子内时，只有当其为引号所引时首字母才需要大写：

The discussion was held in the boardroom. (The results are still confidential.)

Although several trade organizations worked actively against the legislation (there were at least three paid lobbyists working on Capitol Hill at any one time), the bill passed easily.

After waiting in line for an hour (why do we do these things?), we finally left.

The conference was held in Vancouver (that's in B.C.).

He was totally confused ("What can we do?") and refused to see anyone.

2. 一个句子中括号所括部分由两个子句构成时，首字母不大写且常用分号代替句号；所括部分是独立句子时，大写和标点遵从常规：

We visited several showrooms, looked at the prices (it wasn't a pleasant experience: prices in this area have not gone down), and asked all the questions we could think of.

We visited several showrooms and looked at the prices. (It wasn't a pleasant experience. Prices in this area have not gone down.) If salespeople were available, we asked all of the questions we could think of.

3. 句子中的括号部分前没有标点，如果需中断，标点放在第二个括号后：

I'll get back to you tomorrow (Friday), when I have more details.

- .

Period

1. 用于缩写后、人名首字母缩写中（此时也可不用. ）：

Ph.D.

e.g.

J.R.R. Tolkien or JRR Tolkien

2. 在提纲和纵向列表中，用于罗马/阿拉伯数字及字母后：

I. Objectives

A. Economy

1. Low initial cost

2. Low maintenance cost

3. 句号后该用两个空格还是一个空格，这是一个颇具争议性的问题

- ?

Question Mark

除了通常用法，? 也用于表示对某一事实的不确定：

Geoffrey Chaucer, English poet (1340?-1400)

- " "

Quotation Marks

Quotation Marks, Double/双引号

基本用法

1. ""用于直接引语，而不是间接引语：

She said, "I am leaving for Frankfurt Monday."

"I am leaving Monday," she said, "and I'm not coming back until the 1st."

"I am leaving," she said. "This meeting could go on forever."

She said that she was leaving.

2. 被作为片段引用但仍保持原状时，用双引号：

The agreement makes it clear that he "will be paid only upon receipt of an acceptable manuscript." As late as 1754, documents refer to him as "yeoman" and "husbandman."

3. 用于单词或短语是从别处借用时，以某种特别方式使用时，非正式用法在正式写作中采用时： That kind of corporation is referred to as "closed" or "privately held."

Be sure to send a copy of your resume, or as some folks would say, your "biodata summary." They were afraid the patient had "stroked out"--had had a cerebrovascular accident.

4. 用于一个单词用来表示这单词本身时（此时也常以斜体或下划线表示）：

He went through the manuscript and changed every "he" to "she."

5. 用于短促的感叹语或表示声音（后者也常以斜体或下划线表示）：

"Ssshh!" she hissed.

They never say anything crude like "shaddap."

6. 长句中的短句，尤其是短句为所说的话时，加以引号：

Throughout the camp, the spirit was "We can do."

She never could get used to their "That's the way it goes" attitude.

In effect, the voters were saying "You blew it, and you don't get another chance."

如果句子结构足够清晰，引号也可省略。但一般来说，加上引号可使引号中的短句更明显，更突出其说话的感觉：

The first rule is, when in doubt, spell it out.

They weren't happy with the impression she left: "Don't expect favors, because I don't have to give them."

7. 引号不用于释义、改述(paraphrases)：

Build a better mousetrap, Emerson says, and the world will beat a path to your door.

8. 除非是引用别人所说的话，直接问句通常并不用引号：

As we listened to him, we couldn't help wondering, Where's the plan?

The question is, What went wrong?

She asked, "What went wrong?"

9. 用于外语单词或借用词的释义：

The term sesquipedalian come from the Latin word sesquipedalis, meaning "a foot and a half long." While in Texas, he encountered the armadillo ("little armored one").

10. 有时用于一个句子中的单个字母（当然，也可略去或是以斜体或下划线表示）：

The letter "m" is wider that the letter "i."

The metal rod was shaped into a "V."

与其它标点的关系

11. 当被引部分在一个句子中，且后面跟有句号或逗号时，该句号或逗号需放在引号内：

He said, "I am leaving."

The cameras were described as "waterproof," but "moisture-resistant" would have been a better description.

12. 而当后面跟的是冒号或分号时，该冒号或分号需放在引号外：

There was only one thnig to do when he said, "I may not run": promise him a larger campaign contribution.

She spoke of her "little cottage in the country"; she might better have called it a mansion.

13. 破折号、问号和感叹号，当标记被引部分时就放在引号内，当标记整句时就放在引号外： He asked, "When did they leave?"

What is the meaning of "the open door"?

与摘录语的关系

14. 较长的摘录，如散文或诗歌的一部分，不用引号。这种情况下，摘录部分往往会（1）缩进（2）字体较正文为小（3）在其前置句后加冒号，且摘录部分的首字母需大写

Quotation Marks, Single/单引号

1. 双引号中的所引部分用单引号，如果位于句末，句号放于最里：

The witness said, "I distinctly heard him say, 'Don't be late,' and then I heard the door close." The witness said, "I distinctly heard him say, 'Don't be late.'"

2. 单引号有时也用来代替双引号，这在英国英语用法中较为常见：

The witness said, 'I distinctly heard him say, "Don't be late," and then I heard the door close.'

3. 一种较为罕见的情况时，引号中的引号中的引号。标准的用法是最里面的用双引号，但这样仍往往引起混淆，所以可对句子重写以避免这种情况出现：

The witness said, "I distinctly heard him say, 'Don't you say "Shut up" to me.'"

The witness said that she distinctly heard him say, "Don't you say 'Shut up' to me."

- ;

Semicolon

用于子句之间

1. 用于分隔无连接代词的独立子句：

The river rose and overflowed its banks; roads became flooded and impassable; freshly plowed fields disappeared from sight.

Cream the shortening and sugar; add the eggs and beat well.

2. 有连接代词的子句间通常用逗号分隔，但有时逗号会引起混淆，就用分号代替：

We fear that this situation may, in fact, occur; but we don't know when.

3. 两个句子中的第二个的语法结构为从前省略时，以分号连接两者：

The veal dishes were very good; the desserts, too.

4. 两个子句的第二句以连接副词（或起连接副词作用的短语）如accordingly, however, indeed, thus, in that case, as a result, on the other hand开始时，以分号连接两个子句：

Most people are covered by insurance of one kind or another; indeed, many people don't even see their medical bills.

The case could take years to work its way through the corut system; as a result, many plantiffs will accept out-of-court settlements.

5. 三个或以上的子句由分号分隔，且最后一句前有but, because这样的连接词时，最后一个分号常以逗号代替：

The report recounted events leading up to this incident; it included observations of eyewitnesses, but it drew no conclusions.

用于介绍性表述

6. 分号有时用于for example, for instance, that is, namely, e.g., i.e.等开关的介绍性表述前（也可用逗号、破折号和分号）：

On one point only did everyone agree; namely, too much money had been spent already. We were fairly successful on that project; that is, we made our deadlines and met our budget. 用于序列中

7. 以逗号分隔的序列，如果本来就包含逗号，则需要使用分号来分隔序列：

The visitor to Barndale can choose from three sources of overnight accommodation: The Rose and Anchor , which houses Barndale's oldest pub; The Crawford, and American-style luxury hotel; and Ellen's Bed and Breakfast on Peabody Lane.

8. 如果一个序列很长，或者是由句子组成，则常以分号分隔

9. 如果逗号分隔一个序列容易引起混淆，则以分号代替：

The votes against were: Precinct 1, 338; Precinct 2, 627; Precinct 3, 514.

与其它标点的关系

10. 分号放于引号和括号之外：

They referred to each other as "Mother" and "Father"; they were the archetypal happily married elderly couple.

She accepted the situation with every apperance of equanimity (but with some inward qualms); however , all of that changed the next day.

- /

Slash

/还有很多叫法，包括virgule, diagonal, solidus, oblique, slant。/一般用于代表未写出的单词或分隔相临的文本。

代表略去的单词

1. 在计量单位或比率中，/代表单词per 或to 40,000 tons/year

9 ft./sec.

price/earnings ration

a 50/50 split

2. /分隔备用词、替换物等，表示or 或and/or： alumni/ae

his/her

oral/written tests

3. 在一些合成词中代表and ：

molybdenum/vanadium steel

in the May/June issue

1993/94

an innovative classroom/laboratory

4. /有时也用来表示一些介词，如at, versus, with, for： U.C./Berkeley

table/mirror

Vice President/Editorial

用于缩写

5. /用在某些缩写中：

I/O

V/STOL

P/E

空格

6. 通常情况下，/旁边没有空格。但也有人习惯于在分隔诗歌的不同行的/旁加上空格。