分号的功能主要由两个。
1. 充当并列连词
在并列连词中我们提到的FANBOYS,基本都可以被分号替代。
如,
A do B and C do D = A do B; C do D
A do B but C do D = A do B; C do D
只不过这时候原句有转折关系,如果改用分号连接,依旧想突出转折关系的话,可以在第二句中添加表转折的副词,如however,nevertheless等等:
A do B; however, C do D
A do B so C do D = A do B; C do D
同上,如果分号连接的第二句想和突出和前一句的因果关系,可以加副词therefore,thus, hence等:
A do B; therefore, C do D
2. 用于复杂列举
此时的分号可以称为“super comma”。有时我们要列举的东西多长或过于复杂,我们用分号能让句子更为清晰。如:
I met this man several times: July 1st,2001; April 25th, 2002; and June 3rd, 2003.
由于要列举的日期中已有逗号,如果写成“July 1st,2001, April 25th, 2002, and June 3rd, 2003”会使整句话出现过多的逗号,读者无法一眼看出并列对象是哪些。因此,我们改用分号可以使句子更简单明了。