短破折號(–)與長破折號(—)的用法
破折號有兩種：(1) 短破折號與 (2) 長破折號。許多人會混用這兩種破折號。不過，它們各有不同的用途：短破折號(–)最常用來表示範圍，而長破折號(—)則用來標示句子裡的停頓。
目錄
表示數字與起訖日期的短破折號
短破折號可以用來標示起訖日期。它的角色與同樣表示起訖日期的「to」類似。
- 例句
- Please solve problems 1-14 at the end of chapter 3.
- 例句
- The school is accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year.
- 例句
- She has a 12pm-12am shift.
要注意的重點是，短破折號不能取代「from...to...」裡的 to。
- 錯誤
- She worked on her book from 2003-2013.
- 正確
- She worked on her book from 2003 to 2013.
用長破折號標示句子裡的停頓
長破折號用來標示句子裡的停頓。這聽起來相當模糊，其實它的意思就是長破折號可以取代幾種不同的標點符號：逗號、括號、分號和冒號。
長破折號可以來取代隔開片語的逗號或括號。
- 逗號例句
- The evening sky, colored pink by the setting sun, was beautiful.
- 括號例句
- The evening sky (colored pink by the setting sun) was beautiful.
- 長破折號例句
- The evening sky – colored pink by the setting sun — was beautiful.
長破折號可以取代分號。它不像分號那麼正式，而且最常用來強調重點或語意的變化。
- 分號例句
- Mr. Mercer bought the book for fifteen thousand dollars; it was a first edition copy of Nabokov’s “Lolita.”
- 長破折號例句
- Mr. Mercer bought the book for fifteen thousand dollars — it was a first edition copy of Nabokov’s “Lolita.”
長破折號也可以取代冒號。它比冒號隨意，更具強調用法。
- 冒號例句
- Ishiguro has finally released his new title: Klara and the Sun.
- 長破折號例句
- Ishiguro has finally released his new title — Klara and the Sun.
短破折號取代長破折號
人們經常混用短破折號和長破折號，尤其是在非學術性的文章裡。有趣的是，短破折號有時可以取代長破折號。但要注意的是，這種取代在英式英語中比美式英語更普遍。此外，切記一個文本裡的所有標點符號必須前後一致。
- 錯誤
- Ishiguro has finally released his new title - Klara and the Sun.
- 正確
- The evening sky - colored pink by the setting sun - was beautiful.
