课程内容
National Punctuation Day is celebrated every year in the US on September 24.
在美国的每年9月24日都会庆祝国家标点日。
Founded by Jeff Rubin in 2004,the day was created to celebrate the correct usage of all punctuation,from the"lowly comma"to the"ever-mysterious ellipsis."
这个节日是由Jeff Rubin在2004年创立的，用于庆祝所有被正确使用的标点符号，从“毫不起眼的逗号”到“永远那么神秘的省略号”。
In honor of National Punctuation Day this year,INSIDER rounded up nine basic punctuation mistakes you should never make in formal writing.
为了庆祝今年的国家标点节，INSIDER网站整理了9个基本的标点符号使用错误，每个人都应该在正式写作的时候避免。
Watch out for these errors in your cover letters,academic essays,professional emails,and more.
要注意在你的求职信，学术论文，正式邮件等等写作中是否存在以下这些错误。
1.Don't confuse"it's"and"its."
1.不要混淆“it’s”和“its”。
The mistake:Apple will announce it's new iPhone soon.Its a big year for the company.
错误的句子：Apple will announce it's new iPhone soon.Its a big year for the company.
Why it's wrong:"It's"is a contraction for"it is"or"it has.""Its,"without an apostrophe,is a possessive pronoun.
错误之处：“It’s是it is或it has的缩写形式”。“Its”没有撇号，是一个物主代词。
Here's a tip:If you're unsure about which word to use,just substitute the word with"it is"or"it has."If the sentence makes sense with the substitution,use"it's."If it doesn't,use"its."
温馨提示：如果你不确定使用哪一个词，那么你就把那个词语换成“it is”或者“it has”。如果句子在更换
英语口语词汇之后能够通顺表达意思，那就使用“it’s”。如果句子不通顺，那就使用“its”。
2.Don't use an apostrophe to pluralize nouns.
2.不要使用撇号来表示复数名词。
The mistake:Those home's were built in the 1960's.
错误的句子：Those home's were built in the 1960's.
Why it's wrong:Apostrophes are used to indicate possession and create contractions.They're also used to pluralize single uppercase or lowercase letters,depending on which style guide you follow.
错误之处：撇号是属格或者缩写的标志。同时也用于表示复数形式的大写或小写字母，这就要取决于你所遵循的是哪一种文字风格了。
Here's a tip:Don't use apostrophes when you pluralize nouns,numbers,symbols,or multiple letters,such as VIP.
温馨提示：不要在你想要表达复数名词，数字，标志或众多字母的时候（例如VIP）使用撇号。
3.Don't write run-on sentences.
3.不要用一个句子表达多个意思。
The mistake:I left work early but I missed my train and I waited in the station for 40 minutes until the next one finally came so I didn't get home until 8 p.m.
错误的句子：I left work early but I missed my train and I waited in the station for 40 minutes until the next one finally came so I didn't get home until 8 p.m.
Why it's wrong:Without commas,sentences become a confusing,grammatically incorrect block of text.
错误之处：句子中没有使用逗号，就会变成一段难以读懂，不符合语法规则的文本块。
Here's a tip:When linking two independent clauses,use a comma before any coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.An independent clause is a sentence that can stand alone.
温馨提示：当你连接两个独立的分句的时候，在两个分句的并列连接词前使用一个逗号。一个独立的分句是可以单独成句的。
Use the acronym FANBOYS(for,and,nor,but,or,yet,so)to remember every coordinating conjunction.
可以使用FANBOYS（for,and,nor,but,or,yet,so）的首字母合成词记住每一个连词。
Also,don't just say your sentence out loud and add commas whenever you pause—you may be inserting comma splices.
再者，
英语口语也不要大声读出你的句子然后在你停顿的地方添加逗号——你可能会造成逗号粘连。
4.Don't overuse commas.
4.不要滥用逗号。
The mistake:I went home,and ate dinner.
错误的句子：I went home,and ate dinner.
Why it's wrong:Using too many commas can also be grammatically incorrect.For example,a comma splice occurs when you connect two independent clauses with only a comma instead of a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction.
错误之处：使用过多逗号也会造成句子在语法上的错误。例如，如果你在连接两个独立分句的时候只使用了一个逗号，而不是在并列连接词前使用逗号，就会造成逗号粘连的情况。
Here's a tip:Use a comma to link two independent clauses or to connect a dependent clause with an independent clause.A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand on its own.
温馨提示：使用一个逗号连接两个独立分句，或者连接两个从属分句。从属分句是带有一个主语和一个动词的词汇组合，无法单独成句。
In the sentence above,"and ate dinner"doesn't have a subject so you don't need to insert a comma before"and."
上面的句子中，“and ate dinner”并没有主语，所以你不必在“and”的前面加一个逗号。
5.Don't use dashes and hyphens interchangeably.
5.不能把破折号和连接号互换使用。
The mistake:I'll buy the iPhone 8-if I save up enough money.
错误的句子：I'll buy the iPhone 8-if I save up enough money.
Why it's wrong:A dash(—),or em dash or long dash,is most commonly used to indicate a meaningful pause in text or abrupt change in thought.
错误之处：英文的破折号（—），或称为长破折号，最常用于表示文本中有意义的停顿，或思想内容的突然改变。
A hyphen(-)is a short line that connects words.Use it to avoid ambiguity or to create compound modifiers before a noun.Compound modifiers consist of two or more words that express a single concept,such as"know-it-all"or"full-time."
连字符（-）是用于连接单词的短线，用于避免名词的词义模糊或创造复合修饰语。复合修饰语*括两个或多个用于表示单一概念的单词，比如“know-it-all”（无所不知的）或者“full-time”（全职的）。
Here's a tip:Only use a hyphen when you're connecting two or more words.Also,memorize these rules for using dashes correctly.
温馨提示：在连接两个或多个单词的时候只使用一个连字符。同样，也要记住正确使用破折号的规则。
6.Don't use semicolons and commas interchangeably.
6.不要把分号和逗号互换使用。
The mistake:The traffic was crazy today;but I arrived at work on time.
错误的句子：The traffic was crazy today;but I arrived at work on time.
Why it's wrong:Semicolons are most commonly used to separate two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning or subject matter.Compared to a comma or a period,a semicolon emphasizes the relationship between two clauses.For example:I can't go out tonight;I'm running a marathon tomorrow.
错误之处：分号最常用于分开两个在意义或主题关系上紧密相连的独立分句。与逗号或句号相比，分号强调两个分句之间的关系。例如：I can't go out tonight;I'm running a marathon tomorrow.（今晚我不能外出了；因为我明天要参加马拉松比赛。）
Never use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that aren't related.
永远不要使用分号来连接两个没有关系的独立分句。
Here's a tip:In general,only use a semicolon in places where you could also use a period.You should also never use a semicolon in place of a comma before a coordinating conjunction—that's what commas are for.
温馨提示：通常来说，在只能使用一个分号的地方，你也可以使用句号。但是绝不能把分号替代逗号放在并列连接词之前——这就是逗号的用处。
The only exception to these rules is when you're writing long sentences or complex lists that already have several commas.
唯一的例外就在于，当你在撰写早已有好几个逗号的长句子或复杂的清单的时候。
If I want to buy the iPhone 8,I'll have to start saving today;but if the iPhone 7 gets cheaper,I'll consider that option,too.
If I want to buy the iPhone 8,I'll have to start saving today;but if the iPhone 7 gets cheaper,I'll consider that option,too.（如果我想要购买iPhone 8,我今天就要开始存钱了；但要是iPhone 7降价了，我也会考虑考虑买后者。）
Today's commute was unbearable:first,I missed my train;then,I waited in the station for 40 minutes;and finally,the train broke down halfway through my trip.
Today's commute was unbearable:first,I missed my train;then,I waited in the station for 40 minutes;and finally,the train broke down halfway through my trip.（今天上班的过程真折磨人：首先，我错过了火车；然后我在车站等待了40分钟；最后，火车在半路出故障了。）
7.Don't use semicolons and colons interchangeably.
7.不要把分号和冒号互换使用。
The mistake:I ate three things for lunch;a sandwich,an apple,and a bag of chips.
错误的句子：I ate three things for lunch;a sandwich,an apple,and a bag of chips.
Why it's wrong:Don't use a semicolon to do a colon's job.Anything you write after a colon should be a summary,interpretation,or elaboration of what came before the colon.Colons can also be used to add emphasis and introduce dialogue or quotes.
错误之处：不要让分号去干了冒号的活。冒号后的内容应该是一个小结，一段解读，或者是冒号前主语的详细阐述。冒号还可以增加强调和作为引述。
Here's a tip:Generally,the first word after a colon is not capitalized.Only capitalize the first word if it is a proper noun,the start of a complete sentence,or the start of at least two complete sentences or a direct question,depending on which style guide you follow.
温馨提示：一般来说，冒号后的*个单词是不需要大写的。如果这个词语是专有名词，那就需要大写，作为一个完整句子的开头，或者至少是两个完整句子或一个直接疑问句的开头，这就要取决于你所遵循的文字风格。
8.Don't place periods and commas outside quotation marks(in the US).
8.不要把句号和逗号放在引号的外面（美式英语）。
The mistake:"The train was delayed for 40 minutes",the anonymous source told INSIDER.
错误的句子："The train was delayed for 40 minutes",the anonymous source told INSIDER.
Why it's wrong:According to style guides in the US,periods and commas must be placed inside quotation marks.If you follow British style guides,punctuation is placed outside quotation marks.
错误之处：根据美国的书写风格，句号和逗号必须放在引号的里面。如果你遵循的是英式的写作风格，那么标点符号就是放在引号的外面。
Here's a tip:Always place periods and commas inside quotation marks.Place all other punctuation—colons,semicolons,question marks,etc.—outside quotation marks,unless they are part of what is being quoted,such as a quoted question.
温馨提示：永远要记得把句号和逗号放在引号之内。把所有其他的标点符号——冒号，分号，问号等等——放在引号的外面，除非它们是被引用内容的一部分，比如一个引用的问题。
9.Don't overuse exclamation marks.
9.不要滥用感叹号。
The mistake:The iPhone 8 will reportedly cost$999!I can't believe it!I also can't afford it!
错误的句子：The iPhone 8 will reportedly cost$999!I can't believe it!I also can't afford it!
Why it's wrong:You should avoid overusing exclamation marks in formal writing,especially in academic essays.Using too many exclamation marks can overwhelm the reader and undermine the emotion behind each individual mark.
错误之处：你要在正式的写作当中避免过度使用感叹号，特别是学术论文当中。使用太多的感叹号只会使读者感到负担，还会影响每一个单独的符号背后的情感。
Here's a tip:If you want to be taken seriously in an academic or professional setting,scale(all the way)back on your use of exclamation marks.It's always better to let your writing,and not your punctuation,evoke emotion.
