总体来说分号(semicolon)是介于句号(colon)和逗号(comma)之间的一种标点符号。从程度上来看,分号比句号弱,但比逗号强。

1、分号用于分隔两个没有并列连词连接的独立完整句,且第二个独立完整句的第一个单词首字母应该小写, 除了专有名词

例: A mature male gorilla may be six feet tall and weigh 400 pounds or more; his enormous arms can span eight feet。= A mature male gorilla may be six feet tall and weigh 400 pounds or more , and his enormous arms can span eight feet。

2、分号用于分隔两个由过渡词(连接副词)连接的独立完整句。在分析这个知识点时,我们先要去区分好连接副词和连词的关系。连词的分类我们之前已经开帖讲解过了,连接副词呢实际上词性是个副词,它没有连接句子的能力,所以需要用上分号。

连接副词有如下这些:accordingly,also,consequently,finally,furthermore,however,indeed,meanwhile,nevertheless,similarly,still,therefore,thus。(however是高频考点)

例:In college, she explored and refined this fascination; however, her personal life would not sit still for her art。

3、若两个并列句子本身已经有多个逗号,那么用分号+并列连词去分隔前后两个句子(不常考)

例:The warranty on the car covered extensive repairs to the electrical system, front end, transmission, fuel injection, and valves; but the amount of time and inconvenience involved in returning each time to the dealer cannot be ignored。