雅思写作：标点符号的作用

　　用英文写作时，很多人(包括英语母语)更关注语法和词汇的正确性，很少关注标点符号，其实这是一个错误。正确使用标点可以帮助文章读者理解字句含义，就好比你说话时使用停顿和升降语调来帮助听众理解一样。
 

　　为说明标点符号在写作中的重要性，请你先花点时间阅读雅思写作Task2的范例，看看文章理解的难易程度。

　　Even though some people think that it is a family’s responsibility to pay for care for their aging family members I believe that the government should help to pay for this care this is because the elderly population has played a very important role in our society and they are the reason for our existence elderly people teach us values traditions and how to deal with life experiences therefore it is essential that all aging adults receive proper care even if their families don’t have the means to afford it.
 

　　是不是需要重复阅读才能理解这段文字的含义?我们都一样。你可能已经注意到了，这段文字没有标点，这就导致了整个段落非常难懂。下面请你花几分钟时间，将标点加到你认为可以帮助人们理解整段文字含义的地方。完成后，你可以跟原文对照一下：

　　Even though some people think that it is a family’s responsibility to pay for care for their aging family members, I believe that the government should help to pay for this care. This is because the elderly population has played a very important role in our society and they are the reason for our existence. Elderly people teach us values, traditions and how to deal with life experiences. Therefore, it is essential that all aging adults receive proper care, even if their families don’t have the means to afford it.
 

　　有些基础的标点符号使用方法人人都知道，例如句首字母大写，句尾用句号。但是还有一些使用起来需要技巧的标点符号。正因如此，我们整理了一份使用指南，帮助你在雅思写作中正确使用标点符号：
 

　　大写字母

       使用情境：

　　1. 句首

　　This is because the elderly population has played a very important role in our society and they are the reason for our existence.

　　2. 专有名词和缩略词

　　Developed countries such as the UK and the US play a key role in the direction the world’s economy takes.
 

　　逗号

　　使用情境：

　　1. 分隔种类

　　Elderly people teach us values, traditions and how to deal with life experiences.

　　2. 用在并列连词(and, but, or, so, for, yet)之前

　　Scientists have been warning us about the effects of climate change for years, yet many people have chosen not to listen.

　　3. 用在介绍性短语(包括连词、话语标记和从属字句)之后

　　In my opinion, parents are responsible for teaching their children values like kindness and compassion.

　　4. 在if引导的条件从句中，当If从句放在句首时，用逗号将从句隔开

　　If all supermarkets charged a fee for the use of plastic bags, more people would be encouraged to bring their own reusable bags when shopping.

　　5. 在描述概念的附加信息时，用逗号将基础信息和非基础信息隔开

　　The graph shows the amount of time that schoolchildren, who are between the ages of 6 and 12, spend on different home activities.
 

　　分号

　　使用情境：

　　1. 分隔两个主旨一致的独立句

　　Immigration isn’t a black and white issue; it’s actually much more complicated than most people think.

　　2. 与逗号搭配，分隔并列宾语

　　The cities mentioned in the study include Paris, France; Athens, Greece; and Berlin, Germany.
 

　　冒号

　　使用情境：

　　1. 用于引导一个项目列表

　　The process of making plastic products can be divided into three main stages: the production of long molecules from raw materials, the transformation from molecules to mould and the handling of the finished product.

　　2. 当一个独立句用来解释说明前一个独立句时，两个句子中间用冒号隔开

　　When faced with difficult situations, people always have two choices: run away or fight.
 

　　括号

　　使用情境：

　　1. 用于描述非必要信息

　　The graphs below compare the average monthly earnings of male and female graduates in three different countries (Egypt, Brazil and New Zealand).
 

　　还有一些在雅思IELTS写作考试中不常出现，但在日常书面英语中非常重要的标点符号：

　　问号：直接引导一个问句

　　引号：用于引用他人的话时

　　感叹号：用于表达强烈的情绪如惊讶或者兴奋时。

　　最后希望大家能通过日常阅读来提高你对标点符号的掌控能力。当你阅读时，留意作者标点符号的使用，尤其当你不熟悉的标点符号出现时更要重视起来。养成习惯后，在雅思写作考试中正确使用标点符号，对你来说将是一件轻松的事。