
列表是一种简单易用的方式来展示一系列想法。虽然列表格式相对灵活,尤其是涉及到项目符号时,但列表通常都要遵守一些关键规则:
冒号用法
冒号(:)通常用于引入列表,只要冒号前的短语是一个独立分句即可。如果在独立分句中添加以下术语或如下短语,则可增强随后列表的流畅性。
- The inclusion criteria were as follows: age >50 years, a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and a history of hypertension.
破折号用法
一对破折号(-)可用于将列表与句子的其余部分隔开,形成插入成分。
- The inclusion criteria—age >50 years, a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and a history of hypertension—were strictly applied.
逗号用法
逗号(,)可以用来分隔列表中的项目。但是,列表中最后一个元素前的逗号(也称为序列 逗号或牛津逗号)是可选的,不过在一份文档中使用或省略该逗号时应保持一致。
The inclusion criteria were as follows: age >50 years, a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and a history of hypertension.(with serial comma)
- The inclusion criteria were as follows: age >50 years, a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and a history of hypertension.(without serial comma)
分号用法
分号(;)应用于分隔列表中的复杂项目,即已经包含逗号的项目。请注意,最后一个项目前的分号是必需的。
- The inclusion criteria were as follows: age >50 years; a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes; and a history of hypertension, sleep apnea, and shortness of breath.
在上例中,列表包括三个项目,其中第三个项目包括三个组成部分,因此需要使用分号。
平行
列表中的项目应属于同一语篇,以保持平行结构,从而提高可读性。例如,如果两个项目中使用了动名词,那么第三个项目的动词形式也应相同。
- The participants were tasked with studying the image, taking notes on its features, and discussion of their observations with the researcher.(incorrect; not parallel)
- The participants were tasked with studying the image, taking notes on its features, and discussing their observations with the researcher.(correct; parallel)
Between/among
一个常见的误解是 between 应该用来描述两个项目之间的关系,而 among 应该用来描述三个或更多项目之间的关系。然而,根据《芝加哥文体手册》(需订阅),between "表示一对一的关系",即使隐含着两个以上一对一的关系,而 among "表示未定义的或集体的关系"。
- No difference was observed between the control group and the experimental group.(one-to-one relationship)
- No differences were observed among the five treatment groups.(collective relationship)
- No differences were observed between the control group and the five treatment groups.(five one-to-one relationships are implied, each comparing the control group with one of the five groups)
项目符号和编号列表
圆点和编号列表的格式相对适合作者的风格。特别是,标点符号可以包含或省略,列表项可以大写或不大写,可以由句子片段或完整句子组成。因此,以下两份清单(还有其他可能的变体)在语法上都是可以接受的:
- The culture medium should contain the following:
- DMEM
- fetal bovine serum
- penicillin/streptomycin
- The culture medium should contain the following:
- DMEM,
- fetal bovine serum, and
- penicillin/streptomycin.
我们希望今天的文章能说清楚使用列表时应遵循的惯例。如有任何问题或意见,请发送电子邮件至 AskAnExpert@aje.com。AJE祝您写作顺利!