A：在英文中，許多功能都是藉由標點符號來達成，句子的延伸亦然。我們可以使用冒號 (colon) (:)、分號 (semicolon) (;)、破折號 (dash) (–) 和省略符號 (ellipsis) (…) 來延伸句子，把想要表達的東西都寫在同一句。此外，值得一提的是，冒號後面第一個字通常大寫，而分號後面第一個字則一定小寫。請看下面的敘述：
使用冒號係對句中前面提到的事物提供更多資訊或做進一步的解釋。例如：
- There are three pets in the house now: A cat, a dog, and a hamster. (現在屋內有三隻寵物：一隻貓、一隻狗和一隻倉鼠)
- The management blamed the workers’ sit-in for one thing: Paul’s incitement. (資方把工人靜坐示威歸咎於一件事：保羅的煽動)
使用分號可以起轉折 (transition) 作用而不必開始一個新的句子來敘述兩件相關的事物。分號的轉折作用比句點來得好。例如：
- My professor did not approve of my App; he found it completely useless. (我的教授不贊同我寫的 App；他認為那個應用程式毫無用處)
- No one was killed in the explosion; the only damage was a house that was razed to the ground. (無人在爆炸中喪命；唯一的損壞是一間房子被夷為平地)
由於分號具有轉折作用，因此分號的後面往往接 however, therefore, consequently, of course, for example, as a result, on the contrary 等轉折詞，做為句子前半部和後半部的橋樑。例如：
- I am leaving now; however, I will be back on Friday to come to your birthday party. (我現在要離開了；不過，我禮拜五會回來參加你的生日派對)
- I talked with my best friend until the early hours; consequently, I overslept. (我跟我最要好的朋友聊到凌晨；結果我睡過頭了)
- Angela is in your class; of course, you know her. (安琪拉和你同班；你當然認識她)
- John does not loathe wrestling; on the contrary, he quite likes it. (約翰並不討厭摔角；相反地，他相當喜歡摔角)
使用省略符號可以起句子走文或說話停頓的作用，而且在引句中可以省略一些字。例如：
- “I’m wondering if I …” Jack said. (傑克說：「我想知道我是否 …」)
- A credit card stolen from a man in Taipei was used to pay for a Chinese meal 18 hours later … in Los Angeles. (一張在台北竊自一名男子的信用卡，18 小時後在洛杉磯被用來支付一頓中式餐飲的賬單)
- The ceremony honored ten brilliant athletes … visiting the U.S. (這項儀式表揚了十位正在美國訪問的傑出運動員)
－ 原句可能是：The ceremony honored ten brilliant athletes from Taiwan who were visiting the U.S. (這項儀式表揚了十位正在美國訪問、來自台灣的傑出運動員)，其中省略了 “from Taiwan who were”，並代之以省略符號。
如果您想不起來上述任何一項規則，或者還沒完全弄懂冒號、分號和省略符號的用法，那麼就使用破折號，因為破折號具有這三者的功能。例如：
- The management blamed the workers’ sit-in for one thing – Paul’s incitement. (破折號取代冒號)
- No one was killed in the explosion – the only damage was a house that was razed to the ground. (破折號取代分號)
- A credit card stolen from a man in Taipei was used to pay for a Chinese meal 18 hours later – in Los Angeles. (破折號取代省略符號)