冒號

冒號的作用是詳細說明內容,通常後面會列舉一系列的事物,示範或說明先前提過的事物。

舉例
  • There are many reasons for poor written communication: lack of planning, poor grammar, misuse of punctuation marks, and insufficient vocabulary.
  • He collected a strange assortment of items: bird's eggs, stamps, bottle tops, string, and buttons.
  • Peter had an eclectic taste in music: latin, jazz, country and western, pop, blues, and classical.
  • He had just one fault: an enormous ego.

在時間的寫法上,會用冒號來分開時與分。

舉例
  • 4:15 = "four fifteen"
  • 6:45 = "six forty-five"