英语标点符号用法大全之分号（Semicolon）

再比如：

Yesterday, I worked on my math homework; today, I memorized the spelling words; tomorrow, I plan to start writing my book report.

Yesterday, I worked on my math homework; today, I memorized the spelling words; tomorrow, I plan to start writing my book report.

上句话中的三个分句开头分别以yesterday、today和tomorrow引导，相互之间关系密切，所以不宜用句号把每个句子隔开，而要用分号，表明三句话之间的关系的紧密性。

（二）连接由连接副词引导的分句

You can also use a semicolon with connecting words (such as nevertheless,thus, or besides) to combine two sentences.

这种情况往往是指后一句话开头是由nevertheless、thus等连接副词引导的分句。如：

My little brother likes worms; however, I think they’re disgusting.

My little brother likes worms; however, I think they’re disgusting.

因为前后两句话的关系很紧密，所以如果分为两个句子，就会显得松散。这时，用分号把两个句子联系起来，就可以避免这个问题。

（三）连接由逗号分隔的成分

Semicolons also divide lists of items that are separated by commas.

这种情况下，如果没有分号，这些被逗号隔开的成分相互之间的关系就会很模糊，容易引起费解或误解。如：

My best friends are my sister, Mary; my next door neighbor, George;my tennis partner, Susie; and my dog, Spot.

My best friends are my sister, Mary; my next door neighbor, George;my tennis partner, Susie; and my dog, Spot.

上句话中的sister和Mary、neighbor和George、partner和Susie、dog和Spot之间，已经用逗号隔开，表明两者之间是同位语关系。但是，如果每个并列成分之间不用分号隔开的话，它们之间的关系就会很模糊了。

类似的例子还有：

On our vacation, we visited London, England; Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy.

On our vacation, we visited London, England; Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy.

上句话中的几个地点因为也被逗号隔开，表明大小地方的从属关系，所以如果没有分号隔开，地点之间的关系也会较为模糊。

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