分号(;)

When you first grasp the rules of how to use semicolons, you'll be tempted to overuse 他们. However, the semicolon won't be necessary most of the time. Nonetheless, here 规则是:

A semicolon can be used

• To join two independent 条款s that make sense when combined.

            Kate liked to take long walks on the beach; Alex preferred building sandcastles.

• To join two independent 条款s along with a joining word.

           Kate liked to take long walks on the beach; however, Alex preferred building sandcastles.

Note: Since "however" is NOT a conjunction, it cannot be used only with a comma to join two independent 条款s.

Keep in mind, a period could be used in either of the above examples. 如果你选择 to use semicolons to join 条款s, you're really making a stylistic choice rather than a grammatical one. And don't forget, you shouldn't capitalize the first letter of the word that follows a semicolon unless it is a proper name.

• To separate items in a list when one or more of the items contains a comma.

           Tracy brought her pet hamster, Pickles; her three hundred CDs; and her antique, mahogany lounge chair to her dorm room.

Since two items in this list contain commas, using commas as a separator will cause confusion for the reader.

Note: Do not use a semicolon to join a phrase or incomplete sentence to an independent 条款.

错误的: Alex liked to build sandcastles on the beach; which was how he spent last summer.

正确的: Alex liked to build sandcastles on the beach, which was how he spent last summer.

Click here to read more about semicolons in the context of correct grammar.