It looks like a comma crossed with a period.

它看起來像是逗號疊上了句號。

Maybe that's why we toss these punctuation marks around like grammatical confetti.

或是那就是我們隨便亂用這些標點符號的原因。

We're confused about how to use them properly.

我們對於如何正確使用它們感到疑惑。

In fact, it's the semicolon's half-half status that makes it useful.

事實上，分號的各半狀態正是讓它有用的原因。

It's stronger than a comma and less final than a period.

它比逗號有力、比句號更不具終結意味。

It fills the spaces in between, and for that reason, it has some specific and important tasks.

它填補了兩者之間的差距，也因此具備特定且重要的任務。

For one, it can clarify ideas in a sentence that's already festooned with commas.

首先，它可以釐清一個充斥著逗號句子中的想法。

Semicolons: At first, they may seem frightening, then, they become enlightening, finally, you'll find yourself falling for these delightful punctuation marks.

分號：起初，它們可能看起來很可怕，然後，它們變得有啟發性，最後，你會發現自己愛上這個可愛的符號。

Even though the commas separate different parts of the sentence, it's easy to lose track of what belongs where.

雖然逗號分隔了句子的不同部分，還是很容易搞混什麼想法該放在哪裡。

But then, the semicolon edges in to the rescue.

分號就可以在這個時候擔任救援的角色。

In list-like sentences, it can exert more force than commas do, cutting sentences into compartments and grouping items that belong together.

在條列性質的句子中，它可以比逗號更有利地將句子分隔成幾個部分，將應該再一起的項目歸類。

The semicolon breaks things up, but it also builds connections.

分號會分隔想法，但它也能夠建立連結。

Another of its tasks is to link together independent clauses.

它的另一個任務是連結獨立子句。

These are sentences that can stand on their own, but when connected by semicolons, look and sound better because they're related in some way.

這些是可以獨立存在的句子，但以分號連在一起時，因為兩者有某種關聯性，所以看起來、聽起來的感覺都比較好。

Semicolons were once a great mystery to me. I had no idea where to put them.

分號對我來說曾經深奧難懂。我不知道把要它們擺在哪裡。

Technically, there's nothing wrong with that.

嚴格來說，這樣的表現方式沒問題。

These two sentences can stand alone.

這兩個句子可以獨立存在。

But imagine they appeared in a long list of other sentences, all of the same length, each separated by periods.

但想像它們出現在一大堆其它句子之間，每個句子的長度都一樣且各自以句號分開。

Things would get monotonous very fast.

讀起來會很快地變得單調。

In that situation, semicolons bring fluidity and variation to writing by connecting related clauses.

在那種情況下，分號可以透過連接相關子句增加寫作的流暢度與變化性。

But, as beneficial as they are, semicolons don't belong just anywhere.

然而，儘管它們如此有用，分號並非放哪都對的。

There are two main rules that govern their use.

決定分號的使用方法有兩大規則。

Firstly, unless they're being used in lists, semicolons should only connect clauses that are related in some way.

首先，如果是不用在條列情境中，分號應該只能連接有某種相關性的子句。

You wouldn't use one here, for instance: Semicolons were once a great mystery to me; I'd really like a sandwich.

舉例來說，在這個句子中，就不會用分號：分號對我曾經是個大謎團；我真的很想要來個三明治。

Periods work best here because these are two totally different ideas.

這個情況下，用句號是最好的，因為這是兩個完全不同的想法。

A semicolon's job is to reunite two independent clauses that will benefit from one another's company because they refer to the same thing.

分號的作用是結合兩個獨立子句，因為都指涉同一件事，所以彼此互補是會更有益的。

Secondly, you'll almost never find a semicolon willingly stationed before coordinating conjunctions: the words "and", "but", "for", "nor", "or", "so", and "yet".

其次，你幾乎不會看到分號出現在如 and、 but、for、nor、or、so 和 yet 等對等連接詞之前。

That's a comma's place, in fact.

事實上，那是屬於逗號的位置。

But a semicolon can replace a conjunction to shorten a sentence or to give it some variety.

但分號可以取代連接詞來縮短句子或給予某種變化。

Ultimately, this underappreciated punctuation mark can give writing clarity, force, and style,

總而言之，這個被低估的標點符號可以讓寫作作品更清晰、有力、有獨具風格，

all encompassed in one tiny dot and squiggle that's just waiting to be put in the right place.

而這些都涵蓋在一個微小的點搭配彎曲線組合，它靜靜地等著被放在正確位置。