偶爾用來括起一句中插入的或不重要的部分,譬如日期、資料引用來源、或一些從屬于主要內(nèi)容或與主題無關(guān)的內(nèi)容。括號永遠成雙出現(xiàn)。例:Before arriving at the station, the old train (someone said it was a relic of frontier days) caught fire.
1. 破折號或連字號
破折號:
用來強調(diào)一個觀點或引入一句解釋性話語。但是不要濫用這個符號,否則它們就會失掉強調(diào)的力度。在計算機語言里,破折號一般由兩個連字號構(gòu)成,在這兩個連字號之前、之后和它們自己之間都沒有空格。例:To some of you, my proposals may seem radical--even revolutionary.
用來引入一個已經(jīng)包含有逗號的同位語短語。例:The boys--Jim, John, and Jeff--left the party early.
可以看到,破折號與括號用途相同。
連字號:
當兩個單詞組合起來用做一個名詞之前的形容詞,這兩個單詞之間用連字號連接。例:chocolate-covered peanuts
如果這個名詞在前面,不要用連字號。例:The peanuts are chocolate covered.
用于復合數(shù)詞中。例:forty-five
用來避免句意混亂。例:He had to re-sign the contract. /He had to resign his job.
與前綴ex-(表示“以前的”)、self-、all-和后綴-elect連用,連接前綴與一個首字母大寫的詞,與數(shù)字或字母連用:
ex-husband/self-assured/mid-September/all-inclusive/mayor-elect/anti-American/T-shirt/pre-Civil War/mid-1980s