(1) 頓號、書名號、句號、省略號錯誤。比較中英文標點符號可見,英文標點中沒有中文形式的頓號、書名號、句號和省略號。而這四種標點符號成了大學英語寫作中“借鑒頻率較高的符號。如:

〔錯誤〕1. While she is reading《Gone With the Wind》, I am cooking。

〔錯誤〕2. My sister bought a lot of fruits for me , such as banana 、orange 、apple and pear.

英文中的印刷體用斜體字表示書籍、報刊、戲劇、電影、繪畫作品等的名稱,在書寫體或打字機打的文本中用字下線表示斜體字;英文常用逗號來代替冒號;而句號是用實心小黑點表示。故以上兩句應改為:

〔修改〕1. While she is reading Gone With the Wind , I am cooking. (印刷體)

或While she is reading Gone With the Wind , I am cooking. (書寫體)

〔修改〕2. My sister bought a lot of fruits for me , such as banana , orange , apple and pear.

還有,英文中的省略號其實是三個句號的并列,許多學生由于受中文影響常錯誤地把英文省略號寫成六點。

(2) 冒號錯誤。冒號是中英文兼有的標點符號。在漢語中,冒號是表示提示性話語之后的停頓,常用在“說、道、講、問、唱、回答、喊、吼”等動詞的后邊,以標明下面的話是誰說的。此用法影響下列英文句子標點:

〔錯誤〕3. I thought to myself :“What kind of trap is she laying ?”

〔錯誤〕4. He asked :“Where are you from ?”

以上兩例中的冒號在英文中需用逗點表示。漢語中的冒號還可用在“如次“如下“例如“像等引起下文的提示語后邊。在英文表達中,“for example”(例如) 一類的詞后常用逗點代替冒號。

〔錯誤〕5. Good manners can be seen in everyday life. For example : a person with good manners is kind and

helpful to others.

〔修改〕5. Good manners can be seen in everyday life. For example , a person with good manners is kind and helpful to others.

(3) 破折號錯誤。漢語中的破折號標明行文中解釋說明的部分,而英文同位語也具有同等說明的功能,故英文寫作中用破折號連接同位語成份的錯誤也屢見不鮮。如:

〔錯誤〕6. We are studying and living at the famous university — Beijing University.

〔修改〕6. We are studying and living at the famous university , Beijing University.

對于同位語,英語一般使用逗點而不用破折號。英文中破折號的用法遠沒有中文的豐富。

在大學英語寫作中,與語法知識有關的標點錯誤主要有:

(1) 把非限制性定語從句(non -restrictive attributive clause) 理解成限制性定語從句(restrictive attributive clause) 而忽略用逗點。如:

〔錯誤〕7. We were led into a nearest fabric shop that was divided into two parts.

從句意來看,上句是一個非限制性定語從句,故應在shop 后加逗點,把that 相應改成which 即:

〔修改〕7. We were led into a nearest fabric shop , which was divided into two parts.

(2) 不論狀語從句在整個句子中處于何種位置,一概以逗點隔開。

〔錯誤〕8. We will go there , if it is fine tomorrow.

狀語從句可置于句首或句末。置于句首時,一般要用標點隔開;而置于句末時,則無需與主句隔開,故 以上句子應改為:

〔修改〕8. If it is fine tomorrow , we will go there. 或We will go there if it is fine tomorrow.

(3) 在疑問句形式的陳述句后使用問號。

〔錯誤〕9. What fun we girls could expect , to stay in the same class , studying for four long years with them ?I wondered.

〔修改〕9. What fun could we girls expect , to stay in the same class , studying for four long years with them , I wondered.

英語疑問除可用問號來表達外,尚可用詞序加以表達。故上例的疑問可用逗點表示。

(4) 誤把however ,therefore , because , thus 等起聯系作用的副詞當成并列連詞,導致寫作中的逗號粘連(comma splice) 錯誤。

〔錯誤〕10. She thought what the teacher pointed out was right , however , she didn’t care for that .

兩個完整的句子或兩個并列句之間不能一概用逗點點開, 可用句號、分號或在逗點后加并列連詞(and , but , or , for , so , nor , yet) 等方法修改。故上例可改為:

〔修改〕10. She thought what the teacher pointed out was right . However , she didn’t care for that .

或She thought what the teacher pointed out was right ; however , she didn’t care for that .

或She thought what the teacher pointed out was right , but she didn’t care for that .

(5) 與comma splice 相映成趣的是,許多學生作文時,極少考慮句子間的邏輯關系,一個逗點連首尾,導致大量熔句(fused sentence) 的堆砌。例如:

〔錯誤〕11. Young men like blue jeans they wear them all the time.

〔修改〕11. Young men like blue jeans ; they wear them all the time.

或Young men like blue jeans. They wear them all the time.

或Young men like blue jeans , and they wear them all the time.

或Young men like blue jeans ; they wear them all the time.

或Since young men like blue jeans , they wear them all the time.