用在一句完整的话之后，用来引入一个或多个直接相关的内容，如一串指示、一串例项、一段引语，或其他用来解释或进一步阐释前面的陈述的内容。例：The daily newspaper contains four sections: news, sports, entertainment, and classified ads. /The strategies of corporatist industrial unionism have proven ineffective: compromises and concessions have left labor in a weakened position in the new "flexible" economy.

　　冒号也用来分隔圣经里的章节和诗节(I Parlipomenon 12:30)，分隔分、秒、时(13：49：08)，或在表情中用来代表眼睛。

　　4. 分号

　　用来连接并列复合句中的独立分句。例：Jim worked hard to earn his degree; consequently, he was certain to achieve a distinction. /Jane overslept by three hours;; she was going to be late for work again.

　　在列举的时候，如果列举项里已经有逗号，用分号分隔各列举项。例：Members of the band include Harold Rostein, clarinetist; Tony Aluppo, tuba player; and Lee Jefferson, trumpeter.

　　3. 撇号

　　撇号有三种用法：

　　1)形成名词所有格

　　2)表示有字母省略

　　3)表示小写字母的复数形式

　　形成名词所有格。例：the boy's hat /three days' journey

　　如果of后的名词指建筑、物体或家具，不需要撇号。例：the car door。

　　表示省略。例：He'll go = He will go /could've = could have (不是could of!)

　　用在复数形式中：

　　用在小写字母复数形式中。例：Mind your p's and q's