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。

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.

準備好使用英文編修服務了嗎?

Our Pricing / Order Now
Our Pricing / Order Now