關于英語中的標點——如果覺得標點很簡單,那可能就錯了.

!感-杠-問?

引自：http://www.grammarbook.com，中文說明由我翻譯

如果覺得自己對標點已經(jīng)很熟悉，或者覺得太簡單。那很有可能是錯了。
就我的翻譯經(jīng)驗來看，諸多長難句，難點恰恰是在斷句上面。
斷句的難點分兩類：（1）沒有標點的地方不會斷句；（2）視標點為無物。

本貼試圖（一定程度上）解決第二個問題，標點本身就是一種斷句，對標點的掌握會提高長難句翻譯的準確性至關重要。
以下共列出12種標點的一般用法。包括：

• Periods 句號
• Ellipsis Marks 省略號
• Commas 逗號
• Semicolons 分號
• Colons 冒號
• Question Marks 問號
• Exclamation Points 感嘆號
• Quotation Marks 引號
• Parentheses 圓括號
• Apostrophes 撇號
• Hyphens 連字符
• Dashes 橫杠（破折號）
  

Periods句號
Rule 1
Use a period at the end of a complete sentence that is a statement.
在一句完整陳述句的句末使用，以表示句子結束。
Example:
I know that you would never break my trust intentionally.

Rule 2
If the last word in the sentence ends in a period, do not follow it with another period.
如若最后一個單詞以句號（點）結束，則句末不再重復添加句號。
Examples:
I know that M.D. She is my sister-in-law.
Please shop, cook, etc. I will do the laundry.

Rule 3
Use the period after an indirect question.
間接引語后用句號。
Example:
He asked where his suitcase was.

!感-杠-問?

Dashes橫杠（破折號）
There are many uses of the en and em dash . The following explanations offer the most common uses and methods for forming these dashes.
“en”橫杠和“em”橫杠的用法很多，以下只介紹最為常用的方法。

En Dash
An en dash, roughly the width of an n,  is a little longer than a hyphen. It is used for periods of time when you might otherwise use to.
“en”橫杠的長度差不多就是“n”的寬度，比連字符稍長一些。使用這個符號表示時段，作用相當于“to”
Examples:
The years 2001–2003
January–June
An en dash is also used in place of a hyphen when combining open compounds.
當用連字符表示假性復合詞時，也可用“en”橫杠替換連字符
Examples:
North Carolina–Virginia border
a high school–college conference

Em Dash
An em dash is the width of an m. Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.
“em”橫杠的長度是“m”的寬度。在正式寫作中，不要大量使用“em”橫杠。在非正式寫作中，“em”橫杠可用來替代：逗號、分號、冒號、圓括號，表示補充強調(diào)、解釋說明、話題轉(zhuǎn)化。
Examples:
You are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me.
Never have I met such a lovely person—before you.
I pay the bills—she has all the fun.
A semicolon would be used here in formal writing.
在正式寫作中，此處用分號
I need three items at the store—dog food, vegetarian chili, and cheddar cheese.
Remember, a colon would be used here in formal writing.
在正式寫作中，此處冒號
My agreement with Fiona is clear—she teaches me French and I teach her German.
Again, a colon would work here in formal writing.
在正式寫作中，此處用冒號
Please call my agent—Jessica Cohen—about hiring me.
Parentheses or commas would work just fine here instead of the dashes.
在正式寫作中，此處用圓括號或逗號，而非橫杠
I wish you would—oh, never mind.
This shows an abrupt change in thought and warrants an em dash.
這里確實應該使用“em”橫杠，表示話題轉(zhuǎn)化
While there are many more possible uses of the em dash, by not providing additional rules, I am hoping to curb your temptation to employ this convenient but overused punctuation mark.
盡管還有許多關于“em”橫杠的用法，但是此處不再提供其他的使用準則。因為，這個標點符合太方便了，導致已經(jīng)濫用，本文不建議過度使用這個符號。



以上。（完）

!感-杠-問?

Hyphens連字符

Hyphens Between Words
單詞之間的連字符
Rule 1
To check whether a compound noun is two words, one word, or hyphenated, you may need to look it up in the dictionary. If you can't find the word in the dictionary, treat the noun as separate words.
如果要想知道一個復合名詞，到底是兩個單詞構成的詞組，還是一個單詞，或者用連字符連接，都需要在字典中查詢。如果無法在字典中找到，那就用分開的單詞表示復合名詞
Examples:
eyewitness, eye shadow, eye-opener
NOTE: All these words had to be looked up in the dictionary to know what to do with them!
注意：所有這一類的詞，都必須先查詢字典，才能知道如何使用

Rule 2
Phrases that have verb, noun, and adjective forms should appear as separate words when used as verbs and as one word when used as nouns or adjectives.
對于有動詞、名詞、形容詞形式的詞組，單詞分開寫表示動詞，合起來寫表示名詞或形容詞
Examples:
The engine will eventually break down. (verb)
We suffered a breakdown in communications. (noun)
Please clean up your room. (verb)
That Superfund site will require specialized cleanup procedures. (adjective)

Rule 3
Compound verbs are either hyphenated or appear as one word. If you do not find the verb in the dictionary, hyphenate it.
復合動詞可以用連字符連接，也可以不加連字符直接合成一個詞。如果在字典中找不到這個動詞，那就用連字符連接
Examples:
To air-condition the house will be costly.
We were notified that management will downsize the organization next year.

Rule 4
Generally, hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a noun and act as a single idea.
通常而言，用連字符連接多個形容詞構成的復合形容詞作名詞定語時，視作一個整體
Examples:
friendly-looking man
(compound adjective in front of a noun)
（復合形容詞作名詞定語）
friendly little girl
(not a compound adjective)
（不是復合形容詞）
brightly lit room
(Brightly is an adverb describing lit, not an adjective.)
（“brightly”是一個副詞，用來修飾“l(fā)it”，不是形容詞）

Rule 5
When adverbs not ending in -ly are used as compound words in front of a noun, hyphenate. When the combination of words is used after the noun, do not hyphenate.
如果不是以“l(fā)y”結尾的副詞被用作復合詞作名詞定語時，用連字符連接。如果用在名詞之后，則不用連字符。
Examples:
The well-known actress accepted her award.
Well is an adverb followed by another descriptive word. They combine to form one idea in front of the noun.
“well”是副詞，后面跟了另一個修飾性詞匯。他們共同組成一個整體，修飾名詞。
The actress who accepted her award was well known.
Well known follows the noun it describes, so no hyphen is used.
“well known”在所形容的名詞之后，所以就不用連字符
A long-anticipated decision was finally made.
He got a much-needed haircut yesterday.
His haircut was much needed.

Rule 6
Remember to use a comma, not a hyphen, between two adjectives when you could have used and between them.
如果在兩個形容詞間能加“and”，那么在這兩個形容詞間用逗號，而不是連字符
Examples:
I have important, classified documents.
Jennifer received a lovely, fragrant bouquet on Valentine's Day.

Rule 7
Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
從“twenty-one”到“ninety-nine”的所有復合數(shù)字都要用連字符
Examples:
The teacher had thirty-two children in her classroom.
Only twenty-one of the children were bilingual.

Rule 8
Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.
用單詞表示分數(shù)時，用連字符連接
Examples: You need one-third of a cup of sugar for that recipe.
More than one-half of the student body voted for removing soda machines from campus.

Hyphens with Prefixes
表示前綴的連字符
Rule 1
The current trend is to do away with unnecessary hyphens. Therefore, attach most prefixes and suffixes onto root words without a hyphen.
目前的趨勢是，刪去不必要的連字符。因此，在原詞基礎上加前后綴時，大部分情況下都不要用連字符
Examples:
noncompliance
copayment
semiconscious
fortyish

Rule 2
Hyphenate prefixes when they come before proper nouns.
專有名詞與前綴間用連字符連接
Example:
un-American

Rule 3
Hyphenate prefixes ending in an a or i only when the root word begins with the same letter.
如果前綴以“a”或“i”結尾，而原詞也是以同樣的字母開頭時，兩者間加連字符
Examples:
ultra-ambitious
semi-invalid

Rule 4
When a prefix ends in one vowel and a root word begins with a different vowel, generally attach them without a hyphen.
如果前綴以原音結尾，原詞以原音開頭，一般不用連字符連接
Examples:
antiaircraft
proactive

Rule 5
Prefixes and root words that result in double e's and double o's are usually combined to form one word.
如果前綴和原詞連接后，有雙寫的“e”或“o”，通常直接連接
Examples:
preemployment
coordinate
Exceptions:
例外：
de-emphasize
co-owner

Rule 6
Hyphenate all words beginning with self except for selfish and selfless.
前綴“self”后必須加連字符，除了“selfish”、“selfless”
Examples:
self-assured
self-respect
self-addressed

Rule 7
Use a hyphen with the prefix ex.
前綴“ex”后使用連字符
Example:
His ex-wife sued for nonsupport.

Rule 8
Use the hyphen with the prefix re only when: the re means again AND omitting the hyphen would cause confusion with another word.
只有當前綴“re”表示“again”的意思，且沒有連字符會造成歧義時，才在“re”后加連字符
Examples:
Will she recover from her illness?
Re does not mean again.
“re”不表示“again”
I have re-covered the sofa twice.
Re does mean again AND omitting the hyphen would have caused confusion with another word.
“re”表示“again”，且沒有連字符會造成歧義
The stamps have been reissued.
Re means again but would not cause confusion with another word.
“re”表示“again”，但沒有連字符也不會有歧義
I must re-press the shirt.
Re means again AND omitting the hyphen would have caused confusion with another word.
“re”表示“again”，且沒有連字符會造成歧義

!感-杠-問?

Apostrophes撇號

Rule 1
Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter(s) has been removed.
用撇號表示單詞的縮寫。撇號通常意味著有些字母被省略了。
Examples:
don't, isn't
You're right.
She's a great teacher.

Rule 2
Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show singular possession.
用撇號表示所有格。在“s”的前面加撇號，表示單數(shù)名詞的所有格。
Examples:
one boy's hat
one woman's hat
one actress's hat
one child's hat
Ms. Chang's house
NOTE: Although names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in possessive form, it is preferred.
注意：以“s”或發(fā)音為“s”結果的單數(shù)名詞，其所有格最好在其后再加一個“s”
Examples:
Mr. Jones's golf clubs
Texas's weather
Ms. Straus's daughter
Jose Sanchez's artwork
Dr. Hastings's appointment (name is Hastings)
Mrs. Lees's books (name is Lees)

Rule 3
Use the apostrophe where the noun that should follow is implied.
用撇號表示所有格時，若其后名詞可以推測而知，可省略該名詞
Example:
This was his father's, not his, jacket.

Rule 4
To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.
表示復數(shù)名詞所有格時，首先把單詞名詞寫成復數(shù)，然后再加撇號
Examples:
two boys' hats two women's hats
two actresses' hats
two children's hats
the Changs' house
the Joneses' golf clubs
the Strauses' daughter
the Sanchezes' artwork
the Hastingses' appointment
the Leeses' books

Rule 5
Do not use an apostrophe for the plural of a name.
撇號不是用來表示姓名的復數(shù)形式的
Examples:
We visited the Sanchezes in Los Angeles.
The Changs have two cats and a dog.

Rule 6
With a singular compound noun, show possession with 's at the end of the word.
單數(shù)復合名詞的所有格，在最后一個單詞后加“'s”
Example:
my mother-in-law's hat

Rule 7
If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe.
如果符合名詞是復數(shù)，則先寫出復數(shù)名詞，然后再加撇號
Example:
my two brothers-in-law's hats

Rule 8
Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.
如果兩個人同時擁有一個事物，則在第二個人名后加撇號和“s”
Examples:
Cesar and Maribel's home is constructed of redwood.
Cesar's and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year.
Indicates separate ownership.
這說明兩個人各自所有
Cesar and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year.
Indicates joint ownership of more than one contract.
這說明兩個人共同所有

Rule 9
Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours, whose. They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe.
永遠不要在物主代詞（“his”、“hers”、“its”、“theirs”、“ours”、“yours”、“whose”）后面加撇號。這些詞語已經(jīng)表示所有格了，所以就不用再加撇號
Correct:
This book is hers, not yours.
Incorrect:
Sincerely your's.

Rule 10
The only time an apostrophe is used for it's is when it is a contraction for it is or it has.
“it's”只可能表示“it is”或“it has”的縮寫
Examples:
It's a nice day.
It's your right to refuse the invitation.
It's been great getting to know you.

Rule 11
The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with apostrophes.
由大寫字母或數(shù)字構成的名詞，表示復數(shù)時不用加撇號
Examples:
She consulted with three M.D.s.
BUT
She went to three M.D.s' offices.
The apostrophe is needed here to show plural possessive.
這里的撇號表示復數(shù)所有格
She learned her ABCs.
the 1990s not the 1990's
the '90s or the mid-'70s not the '90's or the mid-'70's
She learned her times tables for 6s and 7s.
Exception: Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers when the meaning would be unclear otherwise.
例外：只有當大寫字母或數(shù)字表意不清時，用撇號
Examples:
Please dot your i's.
You don't mean is.
意思不是“is”
Ted couldn't distinguish between his 6's and 0's.
You need to use the apostrophe to indicate the plural of zero or it will look like the word Os. To be consistent within a sentence, you would also use the apostrophe to indicate the plural of 6's.
使用撇號表示“zero”的復數(shù)，否則這個詞看起來就有點像“Os”，為了使整句句子看起來比較整齊，因此同樣使用這種方法表示復數(shù)“6's”

Rule 12
Use the possessive case in front of a gerund (-ing word).
在動名詞（后綴“-ing”）前使用，表示所有格
Examples:
Alex's skating was a joy to behold.
This does not stop Joan's inspecting of our facilities next Thursday.

Rule 13
If the gerund has a pronoun in front of it, use the possessive form of that pronoun.
如果動名詞前有代詞，使用該代詞的物主代詞
Examples:
I appreciate your inviting me to dinner. I appreciated his working with me to resolve the conflict.

!感-杠-問?

jr8967 發(fā)表于 2012-11-1 15:22
都是你翻譯的？

是

jr8967

都是你翻譯的？

!感-杠-問?

Parentheses圓括號
Rule 1
Use parentheses to enclose words or figures that clarify or are used as an aside.
圓括號用來表示起到旁白作用的話
Examples:
I expect five hundred dollars ($500).
He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question. Commas could have been used in the above example. Parentheses show less emphasis or importance.
在這句句子中，圓括號本可以替換為逗號，此處用圓括號是為了弱化強調(diào)語氣
Em dashes, which could also have been used instead of parentheses, show emphasis.
在這句句子中，圓括號本也可以替換為破折號，但是用破折號則是為了強化語氣

Rule 2
Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters used for listed items.
在并列時，在數(shù)字或字母左右加圓括號
Example:
We need an emergency room physician who can (1) think quickly, (2) treat patients respectfully, and (3) handle complaints from the public.

Rule 3
Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the parentheses.
只有括號內(nèi)是句子時，才在括號內(nèi)用句號
Examples:
Please read the analysis (I enclosed it as Attachment A.).
OR
Please read the analysis. (I enclosed it as Attachment A.)
OR
Please read the analysis (Attachment A).

!感-杠-問?

Quotation Marks引號
Rule 1
Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks, even inside single quotes.
無論是單引號還是雙引號，句號和逗號總是在引號內(nèi)。
Examples:
The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.
She said, "Hurry up."
She said, "He said, 'Hurry up.'"

Rule 2
The placement of question marks with quotes follows logic. If a question is in quotation marks, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.
問號的位置需要視情況而定。如果引用的內(nèi)容是問句，則問號在引號內(nèi)。
Examples:
She asked, "Will you still be my friend?"
Do you agree with the saying, "All's fair in love and war"? Here the question is outside the quote.
在這句句子中，問號在引號外
NOTE: Only one ending punctuation mark is used with quotation marks. Also, the stronger punctuation mark wins. Therefore, no period after war is used.
注意：引號前后總共只能使用一個標點。如果想用多個標點，一般總是選用與句意更為貼切的標點。因此，在這句句子中，“war”后面沒有加句號。

Rule 3
When you have a question outside quoted material AND inside quoted material, use only one question mark and place it inside the quotation mark.
如果引用內(nèi)容是問句，引號外的句子也是問句，則只使用一個問號，且放在引號內(nèi)。
Example:
Did she say, "May I go?"

Rule 4
Use single quotation marks for quotes within quotes. Note that the period goes inside all quote marks.
在引號內(nèi)還需引用時，用單引號。注意，如果句末同時出現(xiàn)（后）單引號、（后）雙引號和句號，則將句號置于兩個（后）引號前
Example:
He said, "Danea said, 'Do not treat me that way.'"

Rule 5
Use quotation marks to set off a direct quotation only.
只能用引號分割直接引語
Examples:
"When will you be here?" he asked.
He asked when you will be there.

Rule 6
Do not use quotation marks with quoted material that is more than three lines in length. See Colons, Rule 5, for style guidance with longer quotes.
引用內(nèi)容超過3行時，不能使用引號。具體標點的使用，詳見“冒號”的“Rule 5”。

Rule 7
When you are quoting something that has a spelling or grammar mistake or presents material in a confusing way, insert the term sic in italics and enclose it in brackets. Sic means, "This is the way the original material was."
如果引用的內(nèi)容有拼寫錯誤、語法錯誤，或內(nèi)容意思不明時，插入“sic”這個符號，使用斜體并在其兩邊加方括號?！皊ic”的意思是“This is the way the original material was”（原文即如此）
Example:
She wrote, "I would rather die then [sic] be seen wearing the same outfit as my sister."
Should be than, not then.            
應該是“than”，而不是“then”

!感-杠-問?

Exclamation Points感嘆號
Rule
Use the exclamation point to show emphasis or surprise. Do not use the exclamation point in formal business writing.
用感嘆號表示強調(diào)或吃驚。在正式的商業(yè)寫作中，不要使用感嘆號。
Example:
I'm truly shocked by your behavior!

!感-杠-問?

Question Marks問號
Rule 1
Use a question mark only after a direct question.
在疑問句后使用問號
Examples:
Will you go with me?
I asked if he would go with me.

Rule 2
Use a question mark when a sentence is half statement and half question.
如果一個句子前半部分是陳述句，后半部分是疑問句，則在句末使用問號
Example:
You do care, don't you?