1.引导前文所预期解释、说明的引语或详细信息，所引导的内容可以是单词或短语，也可以是一个或多个完整的句子。如：

The electron density was studied for the ground state of three groups of molecules：（1）methane-methanol carbon dioxide，（2）water hydrogen peroxide，and（3）ferrous oxide-ferric oxide.

Lewin captured the essence of the history of genetics thus：“The gene iS...”

The following are our conclusions:Large-angle X-ray scattering studies give us an accurate picture of structures up to 9 A.They do not allow the specification of defects，such as random ruptures of the chains.The structural models defined are strongly supported by magnetic measurements.

当引导的是多个完整的句子或引语时，冒号后面的首字母需大写；当引导的是单个句子时，不同文体手册对冒号后面首字母大小写的规定不尽相同。

We now report a preliminary finding:no chemical shift changes were detected in the concentration range 0.1～10 mol/L.

They have agreed on the outcome:Informed participants perform better than uninformed participants.

Slow-stop mutants complete the round of replication:they cannot start another.

This is the rule:On closing a file，back it up on a separate disk.

2.不能用冒号分隔动词或前置词与其受词。如：

The rate constants for the reaction in increasing concentrations of sodium hydroxide are 3.9，4.1，4.4，4.6，and 4.9.（不能表示为...sodium hydroxide are：3.9，4.1...）

The thermal decomposition was investigated with gas chromatography，BET surface areas，and X ray powder diffraction.（不能表示为...investigated with：gas chromatography...）

Transition-metal nitrides have many properties that make them suitable for industrial applications，including high wear resistance，high decomposition temperature，and high microhardness.（不能表示为...applications，including：high wear resistance...）

3.用冒号或斜线表示数字比，但表示不同成分比时需用斜线或en dash。如：(www.daowen.com)

dissolved in 5∶1 glycerin/water或dissolved in 5∶1 glycerin-water

the metal/ligand（1∶1）reaction mixture或the metal-ligand（1∶1）reaction mixture或the metal ligand（1/1）reaction mixture

the methane/oxygen/argon（1/50/450）matrix或the methane/oxygen/argon（1∶50∶450）matrix

The proportion（salt:water）was 1∶8.

We recommended a 5∶10∶5 fertilizer.

4.分隔标题与副标题。如：

Scientific Style and Format:The CBE Manual for Authors，Editors，and Publishers

5.分隔参考文献中出版地和出版机构。如：

Washington:U.S.Government Printing Office.

6.表示时间。如：

2∶40 p.m.（或2∶40 PM）

12∶38 AM（或12∶38 a.m.）