英文標點符號
一般人最為熟悉的英文標點符號為逗號、句號、問號、驚嘆號、引號、連字號跟撇號，因為這幾個標點符號幾乎出現在所有的文章中。但是，很多人對最為常用的逗號跟引號的一些規則都可能不是很清楚，更別說英文其他的標點符號，像是分號、冒號、破折號、括號的用法了。然而，這些標點符號用的好，會讓文章的程度，提昇很多。接下來，我們將透過說明與例句來介紹上述的每個英文標點符號的用法。
（由於本文章透過句子結構來解釋標點符號的使用，有需要的話，讀者可以閱讀『理解句子結構，英文文法變簡單』一文。）
句號(Period)
句號的用法有兩種：
- 英文的每個句子闡述一個完整的意思，在一個結構完整的句子的結尾，打上句號。打字時，要空兩格，再開始打另外一個句子。
例：I enjoy listening to music. - 在縮寫時候用
例：Mr. and Mrs. Smith are coming tonight.
要注意的一點是，當被縮寫的字剛好落在句尾，只要打一個句號就好。例如：I usually wake up at 7 A.M.
逗號(Comma)
英文的逗號是文章中必然會出現的標點符號之一，它的用法相當多，並且與英文句子結構的觀念有很大的關係。很多人對於英文逗號的用法不是那麼清楚，用中文寫作的習慣來打逗號，導致文章出現很大的問題。
英文逗號的用法如下：
- 跟中文的頓號用法類似，用於列出三個以上相同型式的單字，片語和句子-這種情況下，逗號等同對等連接詞
I did my homework, watched television, and read a book last night.
She helped a lot of people, including Mary, John, and me. - 主詞前面的副詞片語如果很長，最好打逗號，讓讀者知道接下來要出現的是主詞，會讓讀者容易理解句意。但是，
Despite his invitation to his Christmas party, I decided to stay at home.
如果這個片語很短的話，就不用打逗號
In 2019 I went to Japan on business. - 用對等連接詞(for, and, nor, but, or, yet跟so)連接兩個句子，對等連接詞前面的句子寫完後要打逗號，再寫對等連接詞跟其後的句子。
They liked the house, but they didn't have enough money to buy it.
如果對等子句太短，也可以不打逗號。
I called for help and she came. - 先寫副詞子句(用because, though, after, before, until, when...等連接詞帶領的句子)，再寫主要子句時，副詞子句的後面要打逗號
Because she stayed up late last night, she dozed off in class this morning. - 寫完轉換詞(像therefore, instead, however, thus, as a result, first, on the other hand)後，要打逗號，再寫句子
I didn't go to her party. Instead, I went to a movie alone. - 在形容詞子句的補述用法中，要先打逗號，再寫關係詞所帶領的形容詞子句，若是這個形容詞子句寫在主要句子的中間，則前後都要打逗號
All of us admired his father, who is a famous professor.
Mary, whose mother is my teacher, is the cleverest girl I have ever known. - 補述用法中，當關係代名詞為所帶領的形容詞子句的主詞（也就是，關係代名詞後面直接接著動詞），可以破壞動詞，省略關係代名詞，逗號要留下
His father, working at Google, is busy every day. - 分詞構句為副詞時，要用逗號與主要子句隔開
The weather being warm, we went on a picnic. - 在一個句子中間插入有連接詞的另一個句子，或插入片語(插入語)，且省略這個片語或句子，並不影響句意，則插入句或插入語前後要打逗號，以便和主要句子分隔
All students, if they want to have good grades, should study hard.
The year of his birth, 2020, was an eventful one. - 同位語前後都要打逗號
My friend, Mary, will go with me. - 句末直接引述句前要打逗號。如果這個引述句在句子中間，則前後都要打逗號
She said, "I'm sorry."
She said, "I'm sorry," and went away. - 如果句子有感歎詞，用逗號將感嘆詞與句子隔開
Hey, watch out! - 在句子當中，直接稱呼說話對象的名字時，名字前後要用逗號與主要句子隔開
I think, David, you are right. - 時間、住址、身份或三位數以上的數字要打逗號
On December 24, 1999, Melisa Wong left for New York.
She lives in Taipei, Taiwan.
Julia Lin, MD, will give a speech tomorrow.
14,000; 1,402,345
比較有逗號（非限定結構-類似補述用法）跟沒有逗號（限定結構-類似限定用法）的差別：
His dog, Lucky, is a pitbull.
他只有一隻狗
His dog Lucky is a pitbull.
他有很多狗
國人在使用逗號時，常見的錯誤：
- 逗號不能用來連接兩個句子
X The police showed up at his party, they arrested many of his friends.
訂正方法：加上連接詞，或直接用句號分成兩句 - 用and或or連接兩個字或片語，而不是兩個句子時，不要打逗號
She went home and prepared for dinner. - 排列一系列的含有逗號的單字跟片語時，不能都用逗號，否則讀者難以理解
X I have been to Paris, the capital of France, Shanghai, China, Taipei, Taiwan, and New York, the United States.
訂正方法：使用分號來排列含有逗號的項目
√ I have been to Paris, the capital of France; Shanghai, China; Taipei, Taiwan; and New York, the United States. - such as 前要不要打逗號，要看省略這個片語後，句意會不會變奇怪（非限定結構或限定結構）
Foods such as pizza and ice cream are not good for health. (如果拿掉such as pizza and hamburger，句子的意思就變奇怪了，這時就不能打逗號-限定結構。)
I like Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons. (將such as oranges and lemons省略，句意不會變得奇怪，就要打逗號-非限定結構。）
逗號與前面的字中間，不要空格，與後面的字要空一格
分號(Semicolon)
分號是一個很多人不會使用，甚至完全沒注意到的標點符號。一篇英文作文中，如果分號用的好，會顯得程度比較高，有加分的效果。它的用法如下：
- 等於對等連接詞，用於分隔地位相等的兩個句子， 有時比使用句號更能表現兩句間緊密的連結
Some people prefer music; others enjoy movies more. - 用於排列一系列帶有逗號的詞語，為了語意清晰，要使用分號來排列
I have been to Paris, the capital of France; Shanghai, China; Taipei, Taiwan; and New York, the United States. - 不使用連接詞連接兩個句子，可以用分號，後面接轉折語或副詞，來表示兩個句子之間的關係
He had practiced the piano hard for the concert for months; as a result, he got a standing ovation. - 當兩個句子有相同的動詞，或主詞與動詞，後面的句子可以省略重複的部分，但因為少了動詞，不能成為獨立的句子，可以在第一個句子後打分號，連結兩句，表示兩個句子的關係密切
At age 15, students in Taiwan are required to know about 2000 words; by age 18, as many as 7000.
引號(Quotation Mark)
引號分成兩種，一種是單引號(英式)，一種是雙引號(美式)，我們使用雙引號。引號的用法為：
- 文章中，分隔文章與對話
He asked his mother, "Can I watch TV after dinner?" She answered, "Only if you finish your homework before then."
"He will not go tomorrow," she said. - 用於引述他人部分或全部的話語
The mayor stated that the recent typhoon "caused great damage to the city." - 標註短文、歌曲，電影、各式出版物
Have you ever read "The Three Little Pigs"? - 引號用來強調單詞或片語，以引起讀者注意，或是標示讀者不熟悉的特殊詞語
Nowadays, native speakers seldom say "You're welcome"; instead, they say "Never mind."
"Organic food" is much more expensive.
國人對引號的用法常見的困惑：
- 句號跟逗號要放在引號內
She just finished reading "Weather."
My sister enjoyed reading "Snow White," and it became one of her favorite stories. - 引述句本身的問號跟驚嘆號要先打，再加上引號
She said, "Wow!"
"Where have you been?" she said. - 在問句或感嘆句中，出現引述，則先打引號，再打問號或驚嘆號
When she saw me hit by the man, all she said was, 'What a mess'!
Do you know what she meant by saying "as long as you are able to get home "? - 當引述句中還有引述，第一引述句用雙引號，其內的引述用單引號，反之亦可
Mary said to me, " 'Ugly Duckling' is my favorite story."
破折號(Dash)
常用的兩種破折號是Em dash（長一點）跟En dash (短一點)：
使用Em dash破折號代替括弧跟冒號，更能強調內容。但是很少人能夠靈活應用這個標點符號。以下介紹他的用法：
- 可以用破折號來表示一個想法的急轉或突然中斷
I hope my mother--. But I'd rather not talk about it. - 句子中有插入片語時，用破折號取代逗號，具有強調的意思
When he was born--nearly two months premature--his parents were anxious. - 句子中有太多逗號，導致閱讀困擾，可以用破折號來將不同的完整概念區分出來
After traveling around many countries--including Japan, Korea, China, and Singapore--she has become more confident, - 用來強調句子的最後一個字、片語或句子（這個用法，不可用逗號或括號代替）
I found the word that best described her--ambitious.
He started his business for one reason--to be his own boss.
At this moment one thing is certain--we are not going to be there in time. - 在寫作中運用對話時，用於破折號表示說話中斷
I think I have seen--oh yes, I saw him at John's birthday party. - 用破折號表示引述的來源
If I can't picture it, I can't understand it. --Albert Einstein
使用En dash破折號來表示時間區間，或將兩組既定片語連結
- The teacher assigned pages 25-31 for today's reading material.
- The Nobel Prize-winning physician will give a speech tonight.
冒號(Colon)
冒號能夠吸引讀者注意力，並且清楚的指出重要訊息，因此，許多作者會使用冒號來引導出他們的主要主張或是支持證明。他經常用來條列，通常在英文寫作中，冒號不常被使用。 它的使用準則較為嚴謹，但也相對容易被記住。
- 介紹一個或多個以逗號分隔的項目
We have five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. - 當引號內包含多個句子，許多作者會傾向使用冒號而非逗號來引出內容
- 兩個句子，第二個子句用來敘述、說明、改寫或延伸第一個句子，則在第一個句子後面打冒號
She realized that her dream was coming true: she was going to be an actress. (冒號後獨立的子句說明她的夢想) - 冒號後面也可以接單一個字、片語或句子，表示導致的某種結果
He fell asleep during the math test: he failed.
請注意：
- 冒號後的第一個字母不要大寫，除非是專有名詞
- 接在冒號之後的內容不一定要是完整的句子，可以是單詞或片語
- 冒號不可以分隔兩個平等並且無相關的兩個子句
- 不要過度使用冒號
括號(Parentheses)
括號用來補充與句中相關的資訊，跟逗號是可以互通的，常在正式的學術文章中，用來代替逗號，因為括號可以防止補述的插入部分干擾句子結構。如果一個句子中，出現太多逗號，也可以使用括號來取代其中一組資訊，讓讀者容易閱讀。請注意
- 補述用法中，直接代替逗號，讓文章句型多變化
Dr. Brown(who devoted himself to childhood education) died last night.
問號(Question Mark)
問號用在任何形式的問句：
- 直接問句的後面打問號
Where is she? - 附加問句
It's a beautiful day, isn't it? - "Right?" she asked.
- 如果問號出現在括弧內，表示作者對資訊並不確定或有疑慮
Dr. Jefferson lived from 1158(?) to 1212.
請注意：英文分直接跟間接兩種問句，間接問句不能打問號，要打句號。
- Do you know where she is?
這個句子的主要句子是問句 - 間接問句不能打問號
I don't know where she is.
驚嘆號(Exclamation Mark / Point)
使用驚嘆號來表示驚訝或感嘆，還有表達一個強烈情緒。請不要過使用驚嘆號，不然，就沒什麼驚嘆效果了。
- 加在感嘆句後
What a pity!
How beautiful she is! - 加在直述句後
She is so amazing! - Nonsense! I don't believe you.
- Get out!
撇號(Apostrophe)
撇號用在:
- 構成名詞所有格
the girl's - 主詞與be動詞或助動詞的縮寫
she'll; I'm
省略符號(Ellipsis)
省略符號由三個句點構成，當出現在句子結尾時，要再加上一個句號。它的用法為：
- 引述文章或他人的話時，當不影響作者語意時，可以將一部分用省略符號表示
She wrote, "...come to my office when you have a chance. We can discuss it further and...." - 在說話中表示猶豫或遲疑
She said, "If you really want to quit your job...just do it."
連字號(Hyphen)
連字號的用法如下：
- 用來連接兩個字以上，成為一個複合詞
hard-working, mother-in-law - 分數寫法
two-thirds - 數字加上另一個字構成形容詞
a 3-day trip