分號（semicolon）相信大家都有見過，但係關於佢嘅用法就未必個個都識。比起逗號佢更加強烈地表示停頓、間隔，而比起句號佢又冇表達停止咁絕對。分號嘅用法十分微妙地處於逗號同句號之間，即刻睇下分號嘅三種用法，解開大家嘅困惑啦！
1. 用於連接兩個獨立的子句
分號最常出現的情況，就是把兩個獨立的子句連接在一起，而省略例如 and, but, or, so, yet等連接詞。
I ordered a cheeseburger for lunch; life’s too short for counting calories.
中午我點了一個芝士漢堡，人生苦短，不能計算卡路里。
Money is the root of all evil; I don’t believe the reverse is necessarily true.
錢是萬惡之源，我不相信反之就一定是。
2. 用於列舉項目
在英文裡，逗號和分號都可以用來當作舉例時的標點符號。如果列舉的項目「太長」，則用分號代替逗號。
Our plan included having a picnic at the park; making dinner together at home; and throwing a house party with a few friends.
我們的計畫包括在公園裡野餐、在家一起做晚餐以及和幾個朋友辦派對。
My plan included taking him to a nice dinner; going to the park to look at the stars; and back home.
我的計劃包括帶他去吃一頓豐盛的晚餐；去公園看星星；然後回家。
3. 和連接副詞一起出現
分號還會和連接副詞一起出現，比moreover, nevertheless, however, otherwise, therefore, then等等用在語氣上連接兩個獨立的句子。
The students had been advised against walking alone at night; however, Cathy decided walking wasn’t dangerous if it was early in the evening.
學生們曾被勸告不要在晚上獨自走，然而，凱西認為如果是在傍晚時分並不危險。
We haven’t spoken to each other for a long time; moreover, we weren’t exactly friends back then, either.
我們很久沒有和對方講話了；而且我們以前也算不上是朋友。
