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HELLOHello

Brackets [ ]

1.1. Brackets are used to Brackets are used to indicate editorial indicate editorial corrections or explanations corrections or explanations in quoted matter.in quoted matter.

He wrote: “One great poet He wrote: “One great poet of the Song dynasty [ su shi ] saiof the Song dynasty [ su shi ] said that in Wang Wei’s poetry therd that in Wang Wei’s poetry there was painting and in his paintine was painting and in his paintings there was poetry.”gs there was poetry.”

2. Brackets are used to 2. Brackets are used to replace parentheses:replace parentheses:

William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White wrWilliam Strunk Jr. and E. B. White wrote a very useful little book for students lote a very useful little book for students learning to write (the Elements of Style earning to write (the Elements of Style [New York: Macmillan,1972]).[New York: Macmillan,1972]).

The Dash ( )—

1. The dash marks a break in thought or a change in tone:

I went through a lot of terrible ordeals in those years – but who didn’t?

He might do many good things for the people of the city – if he was elected.

2.The dash indicates an 2.The dash indicates an unfinished or interrupted unfinished or interrupted

statement:statement:““My idea is My idea is –– ” “You want to quit, do ” “You want to quit, do

n’t you?” n’t you?” ““This is really This is really –– really really –– disappointin disappointin

g.”g.”

3. The dash sets off a 3. The dash sets off a parenthetical element: parenthetical element:

• Three countries Three countries –– Spain, Italy and Spain, Italy and Hungary Hungary –– abstained. abstained.

• His old problems His old problems –– such as such as asthma and high blood pressure asthma and high blood pressure –– are are still worry him. still worry him.

4. The dash is sometimes used 4. The dash is sometimes used to introduce a final summarizing to introduce a final summarizing

clause after a series of nouns that clause after a series of nouns that refer to the subject of the clause: refer to the subject of the clause:

Poor management, insufficient supply Poor management, insufficient supply of raw material, and shortage of skilled of raw material, and shortage of skilled workers workers –– these were the main clause of these were the main clause of the failure of the factory.the failure of the factory.

Father, Mother, John and Susan Father, Mother, John and Susan –– all all were surprised by my announcement.were surprised by my announcement.

5. Some writers use the dash 5. Some writers use the dash just like quotation marks in a just like quotation marks in a

dialogue:dialogue:

–– Have you seen my hat? Have you seen my hat? –– It is on the chair over there.It is on the chair over there.

6. The dash is sometimes 6. The dash is sometimes used to introduce subheadings used to introduce subheadings and authors after quotations:and authors after quotations:

The Growth of Green PartiesThe Growth of Green Parties –– A General SurveyA General Survey We learn from history that men never We learn from history that men never

learn anything from history.learn anything from history. –– HegelHegel

The Slash ( / )

1. The slash indicates 1. The slash indicates alternativesalternatives

This university provides This university provides scholarships and/or loans.scholarships and/or loans.

The sentence means that this university provides scholarships or

loans or both. When students meet after the winter vacation

,they often ask each other, “How was your Spring Festival (vacation/life at home)?”

2. The slash is used to separate lines in short quotations of poetry being quoted in running text:

cccc

In this well –known poem In this well –known poem Shelley wrote: “Be through my lips Shelley wrote: “Be through my lips to un-awakened earth/The trumpet of to un-awakened earth/The trumpet of a prophecy! Oh, wind,/ If Winter a prophecy! Oh, wind,/ If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” comes, can Spring be far behind?”

3. When fractions are 3. When fractions are written in a sentence, a written in a sentence, a slash is used to separate slash is used to separate the numerator from the the numerator from the denominator:denominator:

• A kilometre is 31/50 of a mile.A kilometre is 31/50 of a mile.

4. Sometimes the slash 4. Sometimes the slash means “per”:means “per”:

Rent:50 yuan/sq.m.Rent:50 yuan/sq.m.

By 0603 group 3By 0603 group 3