冒号(:)可以被用来解释和深入阐述前面的句子,或是总结上文。一般情况下,冒号会跟在独立子句的后面,引导单词和词组,可以把读者的注意力集中到列举的文本上。
然而,作者应该谨记的是,冒号是一个吸引人视线的很powerful的标点符号,因此在写作中不应该使用得太过频繁。本文将为您说明冒号是什么,列举冒号使用示例,以及有哪些常见使用错误需避免。
Contents
引导一个单词或词组
冒号经常用来引导一个单词或词组,或加在一个独立子句的后面。
- Example
- John only does one thing during his free time: rock climbing.
- Example
- I have a great idea: let’s go shopping tomorrow.
使用冒号引导一个项目时,冒号前的文本必须是一个独立子句或完整的句子。
- Incorrect
- One essential step for writing an essay is: proofreading.
- Correct
- One essential step for writing an essay is obvious: proofreading.
放在一个项目清单前面
用冒号引导一个项目清单或一个项目系列。
- Example
- I am taking the following classes: thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and linear algebra.
避免在不需要标点符号的项目清单前面,或使用其他标点符号更适合的地方使用冒号。
- Incorrect
- I love video games such as: Super Mario, Halo, and Doom.
- Correct
- I love video games, including Super Mario, Halo, and Doom.
正确地应用冒号建立项目清单
- Incorrect
- The three major species in Starcraft are: Terran, Zerg, and Protoss.
- Correct
- Starcraft has three major species: Terran, Zerg, and Protoss.
- Correct
- The three major species in Starcraft are Terran, Zerg, and Protoss.
- Incorrect
- I have many friends from: Columbia, Italy, and India.
- Correct
- I have many friends from three countries: Columbia, Italy, and India.
- Correct
- I have many friends from Columbia, Italy, and India.
- Incorrect
- My morning routine includes: making the bed, washing my face, and brushing my teeth.
- Correct
- My morning routine includes minor activities: making the bed, washing my face, and brushing my teeth.
- Correct
- My morning routine includes making the bed, washing my face, and brushing my teeth.
使用冒号时常见的错误
虽然冒号可以用在许多情况,但应用于学术写作时,作者应该避免几个常见的错误。
分隔内容不相关的子句
如果第二个子句是在强调第一个子句,或把重要的细节加入第一个子句时,就可以把冒号用在两个独立子句之间。
- Incorrect
- I decided to take a day off: we have a new president.
- Correct
- We canceled our family trip: everyone got food poisoning.
冒号的滥用
放在适当位置的冒号会引起读者的注意,并告诉读者:“这个信息包含重要的内容:范例或厘清内容的细节。”
由于冒号非常引人注目,因此经常用来清楚地指出重要的信息。基于这个理由,许多学术论文的作者会用冒号来引导主要的论点或支持性的证据。
更多与冒号有关的提示
冒号后面要用正确的大写
除非是专有名词、一段引述或系列中的第一个句子,冒号后面的第一个单词不要大写。
- Incorrect
- The following ingredients are needed to make a cake: Eggs, milk, and sugar.
- Correct
- I want to visit the three most beautiful cities in Europe: Venice, Prague, and Rome.
用冒号,不用逗号
在一个包含多个句子的引述前要用冒号,不要用逗号。
- Example
- Steve Jobs once said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.”