英语新闻标题一贯注重结构精练，并不使用所有的标点符号。即便使用某个标点符号，其主要目的不外乎两种，一是区分表示各句子成分意群之间的关系；二是旨在进一步节省标题字数。现简要介绍一下标题中常见的几种标点符号的用法：

1. 逗号常被用来代替连词"and"。例如：

BELGIUM SUPPORTS FRANCS, DENIES IT WILL QUIT 'SNAKE'

(=BELGIUM SUPPORTS THE FRANCS AND DENIES IT WILL QUIT THE 'SNAKE')

比利时支持法郎并否认将退出“蛇形浮动”

GUANGZHOU FAIR CLOSES, TRADE BOOMS

(=THE GUANGZHOU FAIR CLOSES AND THE TRADE BOOMS)

广交会闭幕交易兴旺

2. 冒号除了用在引语之前表示“说”外，还经常被用来代替联系动词”be”。例如：

YELTSIN: MUSLIM NATI0NS CALL FOR END TO TENSI0N IN BOSNIA HERGEZERVENA

(=YELTSIN SAYS THAT MUSLIM NATIONS CALL FOR AN END TO THE TENSI0N IN BOSNIA HERGEZERVENA)

叶利钦说：穆斯林国家呼吁尽早结束波黑紧张局势

SHANGHAI: RESPLENDENT PEARL OF NEW CHINA

(=SHANGHA IS A RESPLENDENT PEARL OF NEW CHINA)

上海：新中国的璀璨明珠

3. 破折号常被放置在不用引号的引言前后，以引出说话者。例如：

ECONOMY GROWS SLOWLY AS UNEMPLOYMENT, INFLATIONRISE—ECONOMISTS

(=ECONOMISTS SAY THAT THE ECONOMY GROWS SLOWLY AS THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION RISE)

经济学家认为：失业率及通货膨胀加剧使得经济增长缓慢。

MALARIASTILL MENACES QUARTER OF HUMANITY-FRENCH PROFESSOR

(=A FRENCH PROFESSOR SAYS THAT MALARIA STILL MENACES A QUARTER OF THE HUMANITY)