punctuate

IPA/ˈpʌŋktʃueɪt/
KK[pˈʌŋktʃuˌet]IPA/ˈpʌŋktʃueɪt/

punctuate — 動詞

  • punctuatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • punctuateshe / she / it
  • punctuatedpast simple
  • punctuating-ing form

1. to insert symbols like periods, commas, and question marks into written text so

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

加標點

在文章中加上標點符號

to insert symbols like periods, commas, and question marks into written text so readers can see where sentences and questions begin and end.

例句

Rachid carefully punctuated his essay before handing it to the teacher.

Rachid 在交作業前仔細地加上了標點符號。

punctuate + noun phrase (essay/document)

Maja's teacher asked her to punctuate every sentence with a period or a question mark.

Maja 的老師要求她在每個句子後面加上句號或問號。

文法句型

punctuate + noun phrase (text/letter/essay)

punctuate (no object) — 'learning to punctuate'

用法筆記

Common in advice about writing skills and editing. The intransitive use ('She is learning to punctuate') is less frequent than the transitive use ('She punctuated the text').

常見錯誤

❌Please punctuate each sentence with a period.
✅Please end each sentence with a period.
💡'punctuate' normally applies to the whole text, while 'end with a period' focuses on the final mark of each sentence.
❌The student forgetted to punctuate the sentence.
✅The student forgot to punctuate the sentence.
💡'forget' is an irregular verb; the past form is 'forgot'.

2. to repeatedly occur during an event or activity, breaking its continuity at inte

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

不時中斷

反覆打斷某事的連續性

to repeatedly occur during an event or activity, breaking its continuity at intervals.

例句

The speaker's long pauses punctuated his speech, making it hard to follow.

演講者頻頻停頓，不時打斷自己的發言，讓聽眾難以跟上。

subject (pause/sound) + punctuate + object (speech/event)

Dario's childhood was punctuated by frequent moves from one city to another.

Dario 的童年因為不斷搬家而時常中斷。

passive: 'be punctuated by'

同義詞
  • interrupt

    general term for breaking continuity; 'punctuate' implies repeated, regular breaks

  • intersperse

    more neutral, implies scattering among; 'punctuate' focuses on the breaking effect

  • interject

    about inserting remarks into speech; 'punctuate' can describe sounds or events

反義詞
  • continue

    to go on without breaks

  • flow

    to move smoothly without interruption

文法句型

be punctuated by/with + noun phrase

punctuate + noun phrase (event/period/activity)

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive voice ('be punctuated by/with'). The subject of the active form is often a sound, event, or change that occurs repeatedly. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense has nothing to do with writing symbols.

常見錯誤

❌A loud crash punctuated the meeting once.
✅A loud crash interrupted the meeting.
💡'punctuate' implies repeated or rhythmic interruption, not a single event.
❌The long silence punctuated the conversation.
✅Short silences punctuated the conversation.
💡The thing that punctuates should occur repeatedly, not be a single long event.

3. to make a particular word, idea, or point stand out clearly by giving it special

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

強調

使某事物更加突出

to make a particular word, idea, or point stand out clearly by giving it special force or attention, often through a gesture, pause, or visual element.

例句

The singer punctuated each line of the song with a dramatic hand gesture.

那位歌手每唱一句歌詞，就用一個戲劇化的手勢來強調。

punctuate + noun phrase + with + noun phrase (gesture/action)

Manuela punctuated her argument with three key facts from the research report.

Manuela 用研究報告中的三個關鍵事實來強調她的論點。

同義詞
  • emphasize

    the most common and general term; 'punctuate' adds a sense of rhythmic or spatial placement

  • accentuate

    focuses on making a feature more noticeable; similar register

  • highlight

    draw specific attention to something; more common than 'punctuate'

反義詞

文法句型

punctuate + noun phrase + with + noun phrase

用法筆記

More literary or formal than 'emphasize' or 'highlight'. Often used to describe how a physical action (a pause, gesture, visual element) makes a verbal or written point more striking. Not used with that-clauses.

常見錯誤

❌She punctuated that the project was delayed.
✅She emphasized that the project was delayed.
💡'punctuate' does not take a that-clause; use 'emphasize' or 'stress' instead.
❌The report punctuates the need for reform.
✅The report emphasizes the need for reform.
💡For formal writing about importance, 'emphasize' or 'highlight' is the standard choice.