Exercises in Punctuation A. M, Smith yC-NRLF '"'Ilr $B 256 1H7 "7J- X RXRRGISRS IN ]puNGTruAa:^iON By ADfiLE MILLICENT SMITH FORMER SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT AND INSTRUCTOR IN PROOFREADING, DREXEL INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA, AND AUTHOR OF "printing AND WRITING MATERIALS," "proofreading and punctuation," and "EXERCISES IN proofreading." :::::::::::: PHILADELPHIA PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 1905 C C C C c < \ ' ': : .<: .' ' copyright, loa^by AutijB MiLucENT Smm AUrighU THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMr>ANY ioo6-ioie AUCH sTReer PHII^DBLPHIA. PA. PREFACE TN the following pages sufficient practise material is furnished to enable the student to acquire a knowledge of the use of marks of punctuation as they are employed by the best writers and publishers of the present day. In regard to the use of some points, as in the case of the comma and the dash, the rules are not always hard and fast, and the individual judgment of the teacher or the taste of the advanced student must be the guide in the punctuation. No mark is omitted from the Practise Sentences, until its uses have been fully explained. As one rule after another is taken up, the marks are gradu- ally dropped from the sentences, and the student advances progressively to more and more difficult work. It is hoped that the book will fulfill its purpose and supply the need that has long been felt in both academic and business schools, for a work containing sufficient practise material to teach the student the proper method of making clear the grammatical construction and the meaning of written matter. A. M. S. (iii) S4286i CONTENTS Chapteb Paob I. The Period 1 II. The Colon 8 III. The Semicolon 17 IV. The Comma 30 V. The Interrogation Point 62 VI. The Exclamation Point 72 VII. The Dash 78 VIII. Marks of Parenthesis 91 IX. Brackets 97 X. Quotation Marks 102 XI. The Apostrophe 114 XII. The Hyphen 117 XIII. Reference Marks — Miscellaneous Marks 126 XIV. Capital Letters 130 XV. The Italic Letter 147 onding action: the habit of walking by walking, the habit of running by running. Practise Sentences 1. No imitator of Jefferson [Joseph] ever gained his laurel by Jefferson himself it was never lost 2. The topmost round of the ladder had been reached by this time he had held his secretaryship these twenty years 3. Every day the distress became sharper every day the murmurs became louder 4. You speak truth, friend my garments are as weather- stained as an old sail 5. Its manifestations do not merely startle they also delight 6. Man, you have forgotten your purpose you were not traveling to this inn, but you were passing through it 7. Religion brings no gloom into this sunshine before the Buddhas and the gods folk smile as they pray 8. The idea of prophetic gifts was not a remote one in that 12 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION age seers of visions were far from uncommon either outside or inside the cloister 9. I do not sleep I see, I hear, I speak 10. Were he never so benighted, forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope in a man that actually and earnestly works in idleness alone is there perpetual despair 11. Not that Pierre either feared the cardinal or despised him he was not weak enough to do the one, nor self-sufficient enough to do the other 12. He could not protect the weak all that he could do was to abstain from plundering and oppressing them; and this he appears to have done 13. Think of these things, these opinions, these words look to these examples if you would be free, if you desire the thing according to its worth 14. It is with nations as with individuals that which tells is what they learn by themselves, at their own cost; and their mistakes form the heritage of the future 15. It is wise to face the ultimate truth which must sooner or later confront us we make or mar ourselves, and we are the masters of our own fates and fortunes 16. Genius lies in the man that is all anybody can tell you about it 17. Doubtless you opened this letter thinking it was a sealed envelope it is a circular, mailed for one cent in our patent envelope 18. The work of man is as the swimmer's a waste ocean threatens to devour him; if he front it not bravely, it will keep its word 19. Endeavor to excel much may be accomplished by perseverance 20. This, after all, is the one unhappiness of a man that he cannot work; that he cannot get his destiny as a man ful- filled 21. Nature cannot be cheated man's life is but seventy salads long, grow they swift or grow they slow 22. It is written in our nature that we are extreme beings that is our force and the cause of our progress THE COLON 13 23. Family existence [in Japan] would seem to be ever>'- where characterised by gentleness there is no visible quar- reling, no loud harshness, no tears and reproaches 24. In Japan tools are of surprising shapes, and are handled after surprising methods the blacksmith squats at his anvil, wielding a hammer such as no Western smith could use with- out long practice; the carpenter pulls, instead of pushing, his extraordinary plane and saw 25. These people had several ways of being good company one would play, another sing some soothing ballad, another tell some pleasing story 3. Members of « Sentence whioh are Subdivided by Semicolons. The colon is sometimes used to separate two members of a compoimd sentence which are sub- divided by semicolons. Such cases, however, are of rare occurrence. For this is my own business; that belongs to another: no man can prevent this; the other thing can be hindered. Practise Sentences 1. Think it not thy business, this of knowing thyself; thou art an unknowable individual know what thou canst work at; and work at it, like a Hercules 2. Every one must, of course, think his own opinions right; for if he thought them wrong, they would no longer be his opinions but there is a wide difference between regarding ourselves as infallible and being very firmly con- vinced of the truth of our creed 3. A beautiful form is better than a beautiful face; a beautiful behavior is better than a beautiful form it gives a higher pleasure than statues or pictures; it is the finest of the fine arts 14 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION GENERAL PRACTISE 1. Socrates said Every man has need of a faithful friend and a bitter enemy; the one to advise him, and the other to make him look around him 2. Lord Nelson once said "I owe all my success in life to having been always a quarter of an hour before my time " 3. In my opinion, the third sound principle is this To strive to cultivate and maintain, aye, to the very uttermost what is called the concert of Europe 4. There is much wisdom in Lord Chesterfield's advice to his son in regard to time "Every moment you now lose is so much character and advantage lost; as, on the other hand, every moment you now employ usefully is so much time wisely laid out at prodigious interest " 5. Please ship us by freight, ^^a Konova 1 case coke- valves. No 3; 1 case coke-nipples to match valves 6. We call attention to the following margins On stocks, S3 per share, and upwards; grain, 3 cents per bushel; $1 per bale on cotton 7. What great book was ever written without enthusiasm without utter absorption in the characters, the plot, the minutest details of the work? 8. Thy penalties, thy poverties, neglects, contumelies behold, aU these are good for thee 9. The shipment was billed, as follows Lehigh Valley, car No 23678; Pennsylvania, car No 15691; and New York, New Haven, and Hartford, car No 68752 10. We take pleasure in enclosing you samples of bond paper, and quote you prices, as follows 8x11, 16 lb , at 40 cents per ream; 20 lb, at 50 cents per ream; 8 x 13, 16 lb , at 55 cents per ream 11. The yeaily expenses would be Taxes $35 Water rent 15 on first mortgage 100 $150 THE COLON 15 12. Concerning the second aphorism of von Ivlinger's there is this to add that no self-seeking person ever reaches the end he most desires 13. The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this he never expects from himself profit nor harm, but from externals 14. Life never was a May-game for men in all times the lot of the dumb millions bom to toil was defaced with manifold sufferings, injustices, heavy burdens 15. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food con- venient for me 16. The lengths desired are, as follows 36 ins long 5 dozen 48 " " 4 " 72 " " 6 " 17. I shall be glad if you will do the work in the following order First, get out the roof-trusses and partition in the repair house; next, the columns and beams in the office building; and then the structural steel for the coal trestles 18. So it is with respect to the affections of the soul when you have been angry, you must know that not only has this evil befallen you, but that you have also increased the habit, and in a manner thrown fuel upon the fire 19. All work, even cotton-spinning, is noble; work is alone noble be that here said and asserted once more 20. The prices that we are offering are For prime chestnut oak bark, $7 per ton of 2240 pounds; for prime hemlock bark, $6 per ton of 2240 pounds 21. Be not deceived evil communications corrupt good manners 22. Thackeray said of Addison He is one of the lonely ones of the world Such men have very few equals, and they do not herd with those 16 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 23. Great talkers are like broken pitchers everything runs out of them 24. The new board of oflBcers, recently elected for the year 1905-06, is, as follows President, Mr William H Sevems; Vice-President, Mr James L Davenport; Secretary, Mr Thomas Wood; Treasurer, Mr Robert L Stewart 25. Between two great Silences "Stars silent rest o'er us, Goaves uuder us silent " CHAPTER III THE SEMICOLON 1. Members of « Compound Sentene*. The semicolon is used to separate short members of a compound sentence, when the conjunction is omitted or when the connection is not close. The eye is the first circle; the horizon which it forms is the second; and throughout nature this primary figure is repeated without end. The semicolon is used to separate members of a compound sentence which are subdivided by com- mas, even when the members are joined by connect- ives. Books are the food of youth, the delight of old age; the ornament of prosperity, the refuge and comfort of adversity; a delight at home, and no hindrance abroad; companions by night, in traveling, in the country. — Cicero. A Scotch mist becomes a shower; and a shower, a flood; and a flood, a storm; and a storm, a tempest, thunder, and lightning; and thunder and lightning, heavenquake and earthquake. Practise Sentences 1. The interior of the room was in decay black beams in the ceiling a dismantled fire-place cobwebs in every comer in the middle a tottering company of maimed stools and tables (17) 18 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 2. Every excess causes a defect every defect an excess Every sweet hath its sour everj' e\i\ its good 3. Some men classify objects by color and size and other accidents of appearance others by intrinsic likeness, or by the relation of cause and effect 4. Work is a sovereign word in this world a word which has the quality of mastei-ship in it a word of more magical power than all the old talismanic words of necromancy 5. We see love, hatred, ambition, jealousy, envy, greed the sense of justice and idea of duty pity, goodness, devotion, piety, selfishness, vanity, pride, etc 6. Men cannot foi^et .^Esop, or not use him bring them Homer's Iliad, and they like that or the Cid, and that rings well read to them from Chaucer, and they reckon him an honest fellow 7. If you would be a good reader, read if a writer, write 8. Now a guide, when he has found a man out of the road, leads him into the right way he does not ridicule or abuse him and leave him 9. Let us go to the altar of our country and swear, as the oath was taken of old, that we will stand by her that we will support her that we will uphold her Constitution that we will preserve her Union 10. For because a man is alone, he is not for that reason also solitary just as, though a man is among nimibers, he is not therefore not solitary 11. The year's crop of hops will average in bales, as fol- lows Washington, 36,000 Oregon, 80,000 California, 48,000 New York, 50,000 making a total of 214,000 bales 12. I can quote you a price for the ledger, as follows 650 pages, with two accounts or divisions 125 pages, three diN-i- sions 225 pages, six divisions bound in full leather, spring back, Russia bands, for $30 13. Genius detects through the fly, through the cater- pillar, through the grub, through the ^g, the constant indi- vidual through countless individuals the fixed species through many species the genus through all genera the THE SEMICOLON 19 steadfast type through all kingdoms of organized life the eternal unity 14. If the good is there, so is the evil if the affinity, so the repulsion if the force, so the limitation 15. See how rich life is rich in private talents, each of which charms us in turn and seems the best 16. Fragments of the catalogue have also been found, and show that the library contained legal, mathematical, and geographical treatises historical and mythological docu- ments poetical compositions works on astronomy and astrology religious records royal proclamations and peti- tions to kings 17. The student is to read history actively and not pas- sively to esteem his own life the text, and books the com- mentary 18. The general prosperity of the country can be seen on every hand the farmers were never so well off manufac- turers are far behind in their orders mercantile business is unusually large while the railroads are blockaded with freight and the agents are complaining of a shortage of freight cars 19. No sacrifice has been too great if the country asked it no task too heavy, no duty too dangerous 20. All his questions on the road were how money might be saved which was the least expensive course of travel whether anything could be bought that would turn to account when disposed of again in London 21. Just in that interval, the stage-coach happening to pass by, I took a place it being my only aim to be driven at a distance from a wretch I despised and detested 22. We are in danger of forgetting the times of anguish through which the world has passed the cups of suffering which it has drained the painful waiting for returning peace and prosperity the weariness of spirit which followed close upon long periods of strain and grief and unrest 23. At sea, when the ship is in great peril, the passengers crowd together not because they can escape peril by facing 20 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION it in company, but because they can gain courage by com- panionship 24. The record of every noble race is a record of heroism great deeds shining from time to time like stars in a night of unheroic moods and pursuits splendid achievements redeem- ing periods of greed and gain 25. He who feels no passionate devotion to his country will never care for the world as he who does not love his own family will never love the conmiunity 2. Explanatory Clauses. I A semicolon should be placed ^ter_^ complete sentence followed by a clause denoting contrast, inference, or explanation, when the clause is intro- duced by a conjunction. There are men who can see only shelter and provisions in a home; but the cattle find that in their stable. Such words as as, viz., for instance, etc., when used to introduce illustrations are sometimes preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma. If the examples are short and the connection close, it is better to use commas both before and after the intro- ductory word. ' However ' has proper and elegant use as an adverb; as, However wise one may be, there are limits to his knowl- edge. To Greece we are indebted for the three principal orders of architecture, viz., the Doric, the Ionic, and the Corin- thian. Many of our great men, for instance, Franklin, Lincoln, and Grant, have been poor in youth. THE SEMICOLON 21 Practise Sentences 1 . I support this bill because it will improve our institu- tions but I support it also because it tends to preserve them 2. All were in haste and as they helped each other, they discussed the possible chances 3. There are always two extremes between which we have to choose and it is often difficult to decide which is the starting-point, and which is the final goal 4. Among the best sources of happiness is the enjoyment found in small things and among humble people and many a bitter experience is avoided by the habit of an unassum- ing life 5. He alone preserved his gravity for the very good reason, that he understood nothing at all of what was passing around him 6. He felt that the ground was solid under his feet that was all but that was enough 7. The name of the author did not at first appear but it soon came to be known that the series was the product of a student at law, not yet twenty-five years of age, the son of Isaac Disraeli 8. Only consider at what price you sell your own will if for no other reason, at least for this, that you sell it not for a small sum 9. Not a May-game is this man's life but a battle and a march, a warfare with principalities and powers 10. But high usury and bad security generally go together and Hastings lost both interest and principal 11. Their land was indeed an open plain, destitute of natural defences but their veins were full of the high blood of Afghanistan 12. But God has introduced man to be a spectator of God and of his works and not only to be a spectator of them, but an interpreter 13. You may send an amount to cover the price of both 22 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION lessons namely $3.85 and we x^ill send you technical solu- tions of these lessons by the next mail 14. Certain biases, talents, executive skills, are special to each individual but the high, contemplative, all-com- manding vision, the sense of right and wrong, is alike in all 15. The heavens were fair and smiling above and below there were no signs of earthquake 16. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace 17. Whatever outrages have happened to men may befall a man again and very easily in a republic, if there appear any signs of a decay of religion 18. A few 13 correct idiomatic English, with a sense dis- tinctively different from that of the adjective used alone as A few men can be trusted (i e a small but appreciable number) 19. Such was the patriarchal family in old times yet it is probable that conditions were really better than the laws and the customs would suggest 20. The eventual force of that claim was admitted but a thorough knowledge of facts was necessary before compliance with that claim could be granted 21. There are all kinds but does it not take all kinds of people to make a world? 22. Of course the conditions of which I speak are now passing away but they are still to be found in the remoter districts 23. The living was of little value and the situation of the poor clergyman, after the sale of the estate, was deplorable 24. Idleness is infinitely more wearisome than work, and induces also much more nervousness for it weakens that power of resistance which is the foundation of health 25. In company take care not to speak much and exces- sively about your own acts and dangers for as it is pleasant to you to make mention of your own dangers, it is not so pleasant to others to hear what has happened to you THE SEMICOLON 23 3. Short Sentences Related in Meaning. The semicolon should be placed between short complete sentences related in meaning or construc- tion, but with no grammatical dependence upon each other. In such cases, it is often possible to use a period, but the discrimination of relations would not be so clearly indicated. It was a hallucination; it was impossible; it was not so. Practise Sentences 1. To the pure all things are pure to the impure all things are impure 2. As much virtue as there is, so much appears as much goodness as there is, so much reverence it commands 3. Men are now safe where they were once in peril they are now masters where they were once servants 4. He rose to his feet, hesitated still another moment, and listened all was quiet in the house then he walked straight ahead, with short steps, to the window, of which he caught a glimpse 5. The only reward of virtue is virtue the only way to have a friend is to be one 6. He has sought no worldly honors he has been truthful he has denied himself all luxuries he has lived like one of the ancient sages 7. For the sword is hanging from the sky it is quivering it is about to fall 8. He turned his pockets inside out there was nothing in them 9. Here is one of them others will show themselves presently 10. But she did not linger at the mirror she set about collecting all the relics of her father 24 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 11. I admit it that is the question I want you to inquire into 12. He trembled a cloud spread itself over his eyes his pulses beat violently his brain was in a whirl he no longer saw or heard anything 13. The golden age is behind us only in the heathen myths in the Christian prophecies it always lies ahead 14. A man's real life always lies before him the past is valuable only for what we can learn from it 15. God appointed work for every earnest and self-respect- ing soul without work of some sort no man or woman can lead a respectable life in this w^orld 16. In youth all things are yet to be achieved nothing has been done the goals are far distant the sun is hardly above the horizon the way b unknown 17. All was peace and silence there was no one on the road a few stray laborers, of whom they caught barely a glimpse, were on their way to their work, along the side-paths 18. Life, henceforth, appeared to him to be full of interest men seemed to him good and just he no longer reproached anyone in thought 19. One evening little Gavroche had had nothing to eat he remembered that he had not dined on the preceding day, either this was becoming tiresome 20. If you will be in New York a day or two, I should like to see you in regard to the matter if not, write me at once 21. To feel keenly the perils of life is not to be cowardly it is to have adequate knowledge and sensitiveness of mind 22. It is idle to talk about luck, fortune, or fate these words survive from the childhood of the race they have his- torical interest, but they have no moral value to-day 23. We are sending you a socket that fits into the cylin- der of the engine the question of the spark-plug design we leave entirely to you 24. You are their heir you sit upon their throne The blood and courage that renowned them Runs in your veins THE SEMICOLON 25 25. The lamentable change is from the best The worst returns to laughter 4. Clauses having a Common Dependenoa upon another Clause. The semicolon is used to separate clauses which have a common dependence upon another clause, either at the beginning or the end of the sentence. If the clause upon which the series depends pre- cedes, it should be separated from the first clause of the series by a comma; if it comes at the end of the sentence, either a colon or a dash Ls placed after the last clause of the series — the colon, when the final clause merely summarizes or is in contrast with what has gone before; the dash when the series consists of rhetorical phrases used cumulatively to enforce a certain conclusion. The great tendency and purpose of poetry is, to carry the mind above the beaten, dusty, weary walks of ordinary life; to lift it into a purer element; and to breathe into it more profound and generous emotion. The poorest artisan in Rome, walking in Csesar's gardens, had the same pleasures which they ministered to their lord; and although, it may be, he was put to gather fruits to eat from another place, yet his other senses were delighted equally with Caesar's: the birds made him as good music, the flowers gave him as sweet smells, the air was as good, and the beauty and order of the place as delightful. The great golden elms that marked the line of the village street, and under whose shadows no beggars sat; the air of comfort and plenty, of neatness, thrift, and equality, visible everywhere; and from far-off farms the sound of flails. 26 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION beating the triumphal march of Ceres through the land — these were the sights and sounds that greeted him as he looked. Practise Sentences 1. There is in America a general conviction in the minds of all mature men that every young man of good faculty and good habits can by perseverance attain to an adequate estate if he have a turn for business, and a quick eye for the opportunities which are always offering for investment, he can come to wealth, and in such good season as to enjoy as well as transmit it 2. The aflfections which spread beyond ourselves, and stretch far into futurity the workings of mighty passions, which seem to arm the soul with an almost superhuman energy the innocent and irrepressible joy of infancy the bloom and buoyancy and dazzling hopes of youth the throbbings of the heart when it first wakes to love, and dreams of a happiness too vast for earth these are all poetical 3. I know how steep the contrast of condition looks such excess here and such destitution there like entire chance, like the freaks of the wind, heaping the snow-drift in gorges, stripping the plain such despotism of wealth and comfort in banquet halls, whilst death is in the post of the wretched that it behooves a good man to walk with tenderness and heed amidst so much suffering 4. Whilst thus the world exists for the mind whilst thus the man is ever invited inward into shining realms of know- ledge and power by the shows of the world, which interpret to him the infinitude of his own consciousness it becomes the office of a just education to awaken him to a kno^edge of this fact 5. A philosophy which sees only the worst believes neither in virtue nor in genius which says 't is all of no use, life is eating us up, 't is only a question of who shall be last devoured dispirits us THE SEMICOLON 27 GENERAL PRACTISE 1. Blessed is he who has found his work let him ask no other blessedness 2. I have done my best and I again ask you what you have to propose 3. You have never flinched, that I know of and I shall always rejoice to hear of your prosperity 4. Not a difficulty but can transfigure itself into a triumph not even a deformity but, if our own souls have imprinted worth on it, will grow dear to us 5. To spend too much time in studies, is sloth to use them too much for ornament, is affectation to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of the scholar 6. Men say that time is money, but it is more it is life Itself, for that is the stuff life is made of 7. He became a general he became a sovereign 8. He was now in extreme old age but his intellect was as clear, and his spirit as high, as in the prime of man- hood 9. It is every day in the power of a mischievous person to inflict innumerable annoyances it is every day in the power of an amiable person to confer little services 10. Generally, then, if you would make anything a habit, do it if you would not make it a habit, do not do it, but accustom yourself to do something else in place of it 11. He spoke of the danger of disappointing the expecta- tions of the nation and for this he was charged with threaten- ing the house 12. Believe it not it is incredible the whole universe contradicts it 13. Enter our gates dispose of us and ours for we no longer are defensible 14. But his health had suffered from confinement his high spirit had been cruelly wounded and soon after his liberation he died of a broken heart 15. Hastings' opinions on domestic affairs separated him 28 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION from the Ministry his opinions on colonial affairs, from the Opposition 16. Socrates the Indian teachers of the Maia the Bibles of the nations Shakespeare, Milton, Hafiz, Ossiau, the Welsh bards these all deal with nature and history as means and symbols, and not as ends 17. A reign of terror began, of terror heightened by mystery for even that which was endured was less horrible than that which was anticipated 18. We could not undertake to fit such a brake to the machine as a matter of fact, we should rather not accept the order at all 19. Every letter goes to some interested party there's no random firing no waste of circulation 20. The price of jet, reflector, and stand, without the hood, is five dollars the prices of the generators are as listed in the circular 21. The new board of officers is, as follows Mr George Walworth, President Mr William Cole, Vice-President Mr James Logan, Secretary Mr Richard Brown, Treasurer 22. Anxiety again took possession of all souls the man had not risen to the surface he had disappeared in the sea, without leaving a ripple 23. As life goes on, fate grows less and less, character grows more and more the fields become more completely our own, and yield nothing which we have not sown 24. The delight in good company, in pure, brilliant, social atmosphere the incomparable satisfaction of a society in which everything can be safely said, in which every member returns a true echo, in which a wise freedom, an ideal republic of sense, simplicity, knowledge, and thorough good-meaning abide doubles the value of life 25. The poet admires the man of energy and tactics the merchant breeds his son for the church or the bar and where a man is not vain and egotistic, you shall find what he has not by his praise 26. But the darkness which surrounds men at times is THE SEMICOLON 29 often more apparent than real it is a gloom which comes from an earth-born fog, and not from the extinction of the sun in the heavens 27. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion it is easy in solitude to live after our own but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweet- ness the independence of solitude 28. There roses bloomed, and jasmine, and all "sweet things" the nightingale's voice was ever sounding its strange sad note, and fountains flashed a pleasant welcome to those who, winding up the steep, approached the lofty gates of the citadel 29. It must be so for miracles are ceased And therefore we must needs admit the means How things are perfected 30. His task shall be to obliterate and soothe To bind, not break to mingle, not to mar CHAPTER IV THE COMMA 1. Words, Phrases, or Clauses in a Series. a. When more than two words of the same part of speech, or more than two phrases or clauses, form a series, a conmia should be placed after each word, phrase, or clause except the last. / When the last two words or phrases are connected by a conjunction, a comma ^ould be placed before the conjunction. Alfred the Great was a brave, pious, and patriotic prince. No human being is independent of his ancestry, his race, or his age. The Bishop took his staff, put on his cloak, and set out. 1. The room was small low and vaulted 2. There were monks in black brown and white 3. A great deal of the wheat is warm very damp damaged and musty 4. We are prepared to make to your order, in the best manner, tailored suits coats ulsters capes and riding-habits 5. May we send you a sample for trial prepaid and with our compliments? 6. In most lines of trade, personal letters bring hold and increase business 7. He gave a jerk tried a crook of the knee twisted his limbs desperately and made efforts to escape (30) THE COMMA 81 8. She mounted rapidly to her own chamber opened a small wicket in the shutter and looked out 9. He was deservedly popular, for he was liberal to the poor generous to all kind and gentle in his manners but inexorably just when occasion demanded 10. But the king at last consented to pay tribute to give up some cities which he held and not to make any further efforts against the caliph h. If the conjunction is omitted between the last two words or phrases, a comma should be placed after each word or phrase in the series, unless the last word or phrase is followed by a single word or is very closely connected with the remainder of the sentence, or the series occurs at the end of a sentence. Ease, indulgence, luxury, sloth, are the sources of misery. He looked upon the world as a glad, bright, glorious worid. The man held his peace, the woman spoke no word, the young girl did not even seem to breathe. 1. Flatterers cringers crawlers time-servers are dangerous citizens of a democracy 2. Courage independence veracity are qualities essential to real success in life 3. The Celts the Greeks the Phoenicians the Carthaginians by turns or simultaneously, drove the native Iberians from their rightful homes 4. In talents for business in knowledge of the country in general courtesy of demeanor he was decidedly superior to his persecutors 5. Doing for others bearing the burdens of others identi- fying ourselves with the struggles and labors of others help mightily in the working out of our own lives 32 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 6. PVanklin was not only a printer, but a philosopher statesman diplomat author 7. Mile S was a long pale thin gentle creature 8. A tall thin pale light-complexioned man now came forward 9. It has been said of this king, that in all his wars he was victorious all rebellions he crushed all conspiracies he discovered 10. Men begin, as in 1776 and 1640, to discuss principles to weigh characters to find out where they are c. Two words, phrases, or clauses connected by a conjunction do not require a comma, unless the con- juction is decidedly disjunctive. The counsels of a wise and faithful friend are not to be despised. The vain are easily obliged, and easily disobliged. 1. The names of Clay and Webster have become house- hold words 2. There reigned profound peace and absolute silence 3. He could write and write well 4. The messenger will go and go to-morrow 5. Most people are slaves of habit and followers of custom 6. Personal letters bring and hold business 7. Manhood and womanhood overtop position and wealth 8. That should be done and done at once 9. The brilliant and patient Latin race beguiled the tedium of waiting with good-humored chafif 10. The bills for rent and taxes must be paid either to-day or to-morrow d. If the conjunction is omitted between two words of the same part of speech and in the same THE COMMA 33 grammatical construction, the words should be separated by a comma. Commas should be used also after words repeated for the sake oi emphasis. We are fearfully, wonderfully made. There, there, that will do. 1. On a bright beautiful morning, land was discerned 2. He was a great idle force 3. The outward material world is the shadow of the spiritual 4. Slowly steadily, the tide was rising 5. With trumpets blowing with banners flying, the men came dashing on 6. Well well we will not quarrel over it 7. I I alone have brought this vengeance down 8. Well, then, very good very good ! 9. Alone alone, all all alone 10. To thee I pray, thee thee. With cries beseeching e. When adjectives which precede the object qualify other words as well as the object, commas should not be used. A black velvet cap surmounted his drooping white hair. 1. The blind old father sat with head uplifted 2. He wore a soft black felt hat 3. So we watched through the long cruel winter days 4. She wore a cloak of coarse brown woolen stuff 5. The blue drapery was adorned with well-stitched yellow lilies 6. The order was given for a blue cloth squirrel-lined coat 34 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 7. She lifted from the blue silk cushions a half-clipped black poodle 8. The g^e seemed to have more meaning in it than the ordinary passing observation of a stranger 9. A shabby single-horse hackney carriage had just come into the square 10. With each group walked a rustic clerical guide, wearing the broad violet waist-band over his black cassock /. If one of a series of words connected by con- junctions is qualified by a word or phrase which does not qualify the others, the word or phrase thus qual- ified should be set off by a comma. If such a qualified word occurs at the end of the sentence, the comma is placed before the conjunction. The women wore straw hats, and gay calico gowns with short waists and scant folds 1. There was music of flutes and drums and dancing 2. He wore a scarlet coat and a hat with a broad yellow band 3. The men wear blue coats and hats with broad brims 4. An order was sent for six chairs and three tables with marble tops 5. The men wore long boots and frock-coats 6. The men wore boots and frock-coats with gay metal buttons 7. The only persons he saw were a man and a little girl dancing to the sound of the music 8. Please send at two o'clock a horse and a carriage with blue cushions 9. He seemed to be quietly muttering and looking around 10. We take pleasure in sending you three more photo- graphs and price-lists just issued s-y- THE COMMA 36 g. Words or phrases used in pairs, connected by conjunctions or other particles, require a comma after each pair, except the pair that ends a sentence. The wise and the foolish, the weak and the strong, the young and the old, have one common Father. 1. Pope and monk prince and peasant thanked Heaven for so signal a victory 2. Credit real estate and improvements furniture and fix- tures 3. Cause and effect means and end seed and fruit cannot be severed 4. Life is august and beautiful or squalid and mean as we interpret and use it 5. We try to explain the charm which the book possesses for high and low rich and poor learned and simple 6. Beauty and ugliness virtue and vice are all alike to the last Destroyer 7. All were there, all languages all peoples all ages the East and the West the past and the presect 8. But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line deed for deed cent for cent to somebody 9. But we happen to live in the world — the world made up of thought and impulse of self-conceit and self-interest of weak men and wicked 10. Youth and age love and hate charity and greed wealth and poverty humor and pathos p>ower and weakness mirth and grief craft and simplicity selfishness and self-sacrifice the material and the spiritual are all portrayed in the great work of Cervantes h. In a series of words of the same part of speech, or in a series of short phrases, connected by conjunc- tions, no comma is necessarJ^ Words and phrases 36 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION connected by conjunctions are, however, sometimes set off by commas, to show contrast or to indicate a rhetoric pause. All that charms the eye or the ear or the imagination or the heart is the gift of God. Many a man does not hesitate to lay down his life for the sake of a truth, or in the service of his country, or to save his son or his friend 1. Does freedom seem to you to be something great and noble and valuable? 2. It is as easy to cultivate cheerfulness as to cultivate patience or good temper or courtesy 3. In companies of eight and ten, came the students of the papal colleges, in sashes of red and blue and green 4. He is fair and strong and bright 5. The boy has been docile and pliable and quick of apprehension 6. It was all plume and banner and silken pageantry 7. We will give you all the advice and assistance and 8i>ecific information that you desire 8. Every one knows what are the effects of music to put people in gay or mournful or martial mood 9. What shall disturb my mind or distract me or appear painful? 10. Here is bread and wealth and power and education for every man who has the heart to use his opportunity 2. Words or Phrases in Contrast. Contrasted and Explanatory Clauses. Correlative Clauses. The comma should be used to separate words or phrases contrasted with each other. A statement THE COMMA 37 which is complete in itself is separated by a comma from a contrasted or explanatory clause which fol- lows it. Truth is not a stagnant pool, but a fountain. The first part of Don Quixote gave to its author fame, but very little pecuniary profit. Life only avails, not the having lived. Correlative clauses are separated by a comma. When the clauses are joined by as or thauj the comma is generally omitted. The sooner you send us the order, the better work we shall be able to do for you. No one is so much alone in the universe as a denier of God. Practise Sentences 1. The struggle on the summit was terrible but short 2. He might be mad but he was harmless 3. This is not the tone of madness but of health 4. We may admire a man of learning but we trust only those with character 5. Reputation is what the world believes a man to be but character is what he really is 6. We are selling our pianos direct from our factory and not through agents or dealers 7. This offer is confidential and is subject to withdrawal if not promptly accepted 8. Our bills are rendered on the first of the month and settlements are exp>ected promptly 9. We want your advertisement principally for the money that it will bring us but also because we believe that it will pay you well 38 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 10. Life is not given to man to enjoy but, so far as may be, to use effectively 11. What I must do is all that concerns me not what the people think 12. Many a man has made millions but has lost his right to be respected 13. One man shapes his life by fear and another by courage 14. The range of subjects is wide but all the scenes are from contemporary life 15. Then he looked at the Seine at his feet and felt a horrible temptation 16. A man might talk a week on this subject and then not exhaust it 17. The next room was still larger but it was also much more crowded 18. The ship on the stocks is built for storms not for fair weather 19. Do not spend more time in bed than is required for sleep 20. There is guidance for each of us and by lowly listening we shall hear the right word 21. His experience had taught him that in this world nothing is utterly bad and nothing is thoroughly good 22. Men are never so easily deceived as when they plot to deceive 23. The Roman forum is well-ni^ gone but Roman law survives in all its beauty and in all its beneficence 24. The heart of man has overflowed in song in art in noble devotions of word and deed but the heart of man is still an unplumbed sea 25. He loves me most who helps me to do and to be the best and the greatest in any human relation not he who says the most comforting things to me when death has interrupted that relation 1. The sooner you put your eggs in storage the better it will be for your interests THE COMMA 39 2. The richer the story is the more it can reveal the poorer the story the less it can reveal 3. The farther a man advances in the doing of his duty so much the more his conscience and perception grow refined 4. The more I study this measure the more strongly I am convinced of its practical utility 5. The longer you put off a disagreeable duty the more difficult it becomes 6. The sooner the work is started the sooner profits will be realized 7. The more falls a hero gets the faster he moves on 8. The finer the sense of justice the better poet 9. As cold waters to a thirsty soul so is good news from a far country 10. No man is so blind as he who will not see 3. Transposed Words, Phrases, or Clauses. a. A word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of a sentence which could be placed either at the end or in some other part of the sentence without destroying its meaning, should be followed by a comma. Like flakes of snow that fall unperceived upon the earth, the seemingly unimportant events of life succeed one another. h. When an introductory phrase or clause is very short the comma is not used, unless needed to make the meaning clear. In America printing began in the city of Mexico. 40 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION In reference to time, hours and days are of great impor- tance; in respect to eternity, years and ages are nothing. c. Adverbs or adverbial phrases which modify clauses or sentences, should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. If the adverb forms an essential part of the clause and could not be omitted without destroying its meaning, a comma should not be used. In short sentences the comma is not needed. Next, we know that parties must ever exist in a free country. However, this may be. However this may be. Have the carriage ready by ten o'clock. d. Such clauses as It is said. We are told, etc., when used to introduce several statements, each pre- ceded by the word that, should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. If there is but one proposition the comma should not be used. Philosophers assert, that Nature is unlimited in her opera- tions, that she has inexhaustible treasures in reserve, that knowledge will always be progressive, and that all future generations will continue to make discoveries of which we have not the slightest idea. We are told that matter is indestructible. Practise Sentences 1. If you will kindly favor us with a check by return mail the remittance will be appreciated THE COMMA 41 2. As you desire envelopes of a special size they will have to be made for you and it will be two or three days before we can forward them 3. If you cannot use the goods at this price kindly return them to us and we will credit your account 4. In looking over our list of customers we notice that we have not the pleasure of numbering you among them 5. Should you conclude to visit us please notify us at once and we will reserve for you good rooms 6. When you seek what is not your own you lose that which is your own 7. On the occasion of every action that befalls you remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use 8. When a man suddenly discloses a power the presence of which he did not suspect he is simply putting forth what was always in him 9. That which each can do best none but his Maker can teach him 10. In addition to numerous occasional pieces Cervantes wrote during middle age thirty dramas 11. In the presence of death a good man judges as he would be judged 12. What a man applies himself to earnestly that he naturally loves 13. If we believed more in our own resources we should make more out of our lives 14. At the entrance to the garden there were crowds of carriages sleighs hired drivers policemen 15. I am, dear Sir Faithfully yours 16. I am Yours truly 17. Awaiting a reply we remain Yours truly 18. Trusting to be favored with your order we remain Yours very truly 42 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 19. On one occasion he brought a false chaise agaiust another Hindoo 20. If you would not be known to do anything never do it 21. In this world nothing is immortal but truth 22. Who cover faults at last shame them derides 23. When I wrote to you before I was under the impression that you had already received the consignment 24. In the year 1620 the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth 25. To the thoughtless wealth stands for ease and pleasure but the vast majority of those who possess it find it full of work and care 1. Happily some one came forward to extricate him 2. Finally let me repeat what I stated at the beginning of the lecture 3. In the first place I should like to have a general idea of the subject 4. Nevertheless to understand it better has become a matter of importance 5. Thus for real happiness the outward issue of events may come to have no real importance 6. Further all that is really excellent has a small ban- ning 7. However he did not utter a word 8. However this may be it is at least certain that we are approaching a period marked by a return to nature 9. Well between ourselves I think we have made an ex- cellent day's work of it 10. Besides it may be of great advantage to you 11. Besides all that the tale is true 12. At least you might have given him a trial 13. No that will not do 14. Yes I have heard of the matter 15. Why you told me that yesterday 16. At any rate he seems to have had no difficulty in finding a publisher for his works THE COMMA 43 17. At it was the Goths pressed the Moors severely 18. If you are willing to make a reduction for this damage I will accept the goods otherwise they will be returned to you 19. Indeed the measure is most arbitrary 20. The measure is indeed arbitrary 21. Then shall I know even as I am known 22. However contrary to our own opinions we must respect the honest opinions of others 23. As we have said the house in which he lived consisted of a ground floor, and one story above three rooms on the ground floor three chambers on the first and an attic above 24. There is in America a general conviction in the minds of all mature men "that every young man of good faculty and good habits can by perseverance attain to an adequate estate that if he have a turn for business and a quick eye for the opportunities which are always offering for invest- ment he can come to wealth and in such good season as to enjoy as well as transmit it. 25. Roscoe Conkling uttered the splendid truth that the higher obligations among men are not set down in writing, signed and sealed, but reside in honor 4. Parenthetical Worde, Phrases, or Clauses. A word, phrase, or clause introduced loosely into a sentence and which could be omitted without destroying the meaning, is generally preceded and followed by a comma. It is mind, after all, which does the work of the world. Faithful work, however, is not to be brought about by compulsion So addicted were they to war that, when they had no foes to contend with, they fought with one another 44 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION TTien, now, too, also, however, therefore, conse- quently, accordingly, viz., namely, etc., are often used parenthetically. Many writers omit the commas before and after such small parenthetical words as then, too, also, indeed, etc.: this also is desirable; that indeed is a wise measure. When any one of these words is used to modify a single word, . it should not be separated from the word which it modifies: Then I trusted him; now I do not. The people are too credulous. When a clause Is introduced between two impor- tant parts of a sentence and is essential to its full meaning, or when a clause is thrown out of its normal place, it should be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. The little that is known, and the circumstance that little is known, must be considered as honorable to him. Let us, for argument's sake, assume this. Practise Sentences 1. You will I hope load all these cars carefully and promptly 2. You imderstand of course that it is impossible to keep coal entirely free from slate 3. As the machine is equipped only for dry roasting it is not capable of as good results to the eye at least on the lower grades of coffee 4. If a large order for one pattern were to be placed thereby cheapening the cost of production we could no doubt give you some slight advantage 5. Our dealings in the past so far as I know have been thoroughly satisfactory THE COMMA 45 6. Failure in business like failure in everything else springs from shift lessness inattention luxurious habits and a desire to make money too rapidly 7. Greece has given us three great historians namely Herodotus Xenophon and Thucydides 8. Truth wherever it may be sought is as a rule so simple that it often does not look learned enough 9. And yet it is also true as experience teaches that in our misfortunes as in our enjoyments imagination greatly outruns reality 10. The desire for work we must first of all admit cannot be attained by instruction 11. Ivan so our authority informs us did not object to play- ing the buffoon at his own Court 12. In the fields branches of trees broken by grape-shot but not fallen upheld by their bark swayed gently in the breeze of night 13. Abdallah was one of those ruling minds which for- tunately for the peace of society nature seldom produces 14. Marius dreamer as he was was as we have said firm and energetic by nature 15. Certain thoughts are prayers There are moments when whatever the attitude of the body may be the soul is on its knees 16. Issuing secret orders therefore in all directions he dis- mantled most of the cities 17. No wonder then that his steps took the same course that evening 18. Here too the peasant dress was conspicuous. — The soldier went too 19. We would suggest that in the meantime you prepare your copy 20. The first things and the most necessary are those which I have named 21. The explanation rather long indeed and rather dry was simple 22. The plodding painstaking persevering honest man of 46 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION common sense will accomplish more in this world and is of more use in it than the erratic genius 23. Time and patience with the greatest prudence were necessary for the success of his project 24. Marius who had no reason to be on his guard and who was engaged in thought for the first time in his life perceived nothing 25. Some men distinguish the period of the world into four ages viz the golden age the silver age the bronze age and the iron age 26. The institution graduates the candidate i e admits him to a d^ree or marks him with a d^ree at the end of a course of instruction 27. The country was governed at first by viceroys called emirs sent from the caliphate at Damascus 28. The boy whistling merrily continued down the street 29. There in fact sat two men flat on the snow with their backs against the wall talking together in subdued tones 30. He was not easily astonished Still master of himself though he was he could not repress a start 6. R«lativ« Clauses. Relative clauses are introduced by relative pro- nouns, and are either restrictive or non-restrictive. Non-restrictive clauses are preceded by the conuna, and if they occur in the middle of a sentence they are followed by this mark. Restrictive clauses do not take commas. The antecedent of a restrictive clause is generally modified by a, the, or that. Cherish true patriotism, which has its root in benevolence. The eye, that sees all things, sees not itself. His stories, which made everybody laugh, were often made to order. THE COMMA 47 The lever which moves the world of mind is emphatically the printing-press. A man who has never been at sea cannot be thoroughly proficient in navigation. A comma should be placed before the pronoun of a restrictive clause, when the relative refers to each noun in a series. He had hopes, fears, and longings, which his friends could not share. Practise Sentences 1. He picked up the flag which had fallen precisely at his feet 2. Let us draw a lesson from Nature which always works by short ways 3. Please send us circulars that will give us information on these points 4. I take great pleasure in sending you the enclosed cir- culars which I hope will give you the information you desire 5. The young woman was strongly attached to her nurse who had been with her since childhood 6. A teacher who is firm and kind is respected by his pupils 7. Avoid doing anything which would hurt the feelings of another 8. Avoid rudeness of manner which must always hurt the feelings of others 9. Many men who have attained great success in life have been poor in youth 10. Slaves and savages who receive no education are pro- verbially indolent 11. The accounts which I have given you of those districts have come to me from many reliable sources 12. The human heart which is so easily agitated never beats 48 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION more peacefully than in the natural activity of vigorous yet satisfying work 13. I presume we cannot go to a higher authority than those honorable gentlemen who profess to be the farmers' friends and protectors 14. We expect the man who professes to be our friend to be always our friend 15. Three members of the committee who professed to favor the measure voted against it in the final ballot 16. The house was covered with thatch which gave it an air of great snugness 17. Fortunes which are slowly accumulated are often vulgarly spent or foolishly wasted 18. We were obliged to hire a guide who trotted on before 19. The prison which condemns some men to despair gives others time and quiet for meditation 20. The man who despairs is an easy prey to temptation of every kind 21. Where are now the revellers the flatterers that he could once inspire and command? 22. The manners the pretension which annoy you so much are not superficial 23. The commander who becomes disturbed agitated anxious puts himself in the way of crushing defeat 24. But though all this gave me no pleasure it had a very different effect upon Olivia who mistook it for humor 25. I have read that those who listened to Lord Chatham felt that there was something finer in the man than anything which he said 6. Words or Phrasos In Apposition* Words or phrases in apposition should be separated from each other and from the rest of the sentence by commas. Newton, the great mathematician, was very modest. THE COMMA 49 If one of the words used is merely a general title, or if two or more words can be regarded as one name or as a single phrase, the comma should not be used. The Emperor Augustus was a patron of the fine arts. The river Thames Philip of Macedon. Lord Chief Justice. Louis IX of France, David Bruce of New York. When a pronoun is used with a noun for the sake of emphasis or in direct address, the comma should be omitted. I myself. Ye men of Athens. A title or a degree is separated by a comma from the noun which it follows. John James, Secretary. Frederick W. Farrar, D. D., F. R. S. Practise Sentences 1. The office will be in charge of our representative Mr W G Greene 2. His successor Mr James Simpson of Boston is well acquainted with the people here 3. That good Earl her husband would have been proud of his wife 4. Ranke the great German historian died at the age of ninety-two and Chevreul the eminent chemist at the age of one hundred and two 5. Goswinda the queen dowager did not receive calmly the news of so great a change in the religion of the state 50 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 6. The Moors though as a whole making a nation pre- served the patriarchal customs of their ancestors the Arabs 7. In front of him was another wall a wall like night 8. To him there were but two paths the right and the wrong 9. WiUiam the Conqueror the great Norman chieftain defeated the Saxons In the battle of Hastings 10. Lorenzo the Magnificent was a patron of the fine arts 11. The Massacre of St. Bartholomew occurred during the reign of Charles IX of France the son of Catherine de Medicis 12. The siege of Orleans was raised by Joan of Arc in 1429 13. The check must be signed by Thomas Davis Treasurer 14. The king himself received the petitioner 15. You yourselves should set an example of faithfulness and courage 16. A speech is expected from Senator Depew of New York 17. At the dinner a telegram was read from John Bright of England 18. Henry VIII of England married Catharine of Arragon 19. The Emperor Maximilian of Mexico met a tragic death 20. Johanna daughter of Isabella the Catholic married Philip of Austria 21. Kaiser Wilhelm II Emperor of Germany is taking a cruise on his yacht 22. King Alfonso XIII of Spain made a visit to the rulers of France and England 23. At seven o'clock the vessel dropped anchor in the river James 24. Sir King and Uncle is it fitting that I should be abroad fighting thy battles? 25. The Arabs of Spain reached the height of their impor- tance during the reign of Alhakem the Second 26. Arrian who afterwards became the historian of Alex- ander the Great took down in writing the discourses of the philosopher Epictetus 27. The Mayor of London confers upon distinguished visitors the freedom of the city THE COMMA 51 28. The city of Mexico possesses a delightful climate 29. Richard the Lion-Hearted engaged in the Third Crusade 30. Major General Greene commanded the left wing of the army 7. Nouns of Addross and Voootlvo Exprossions. Nouns of address and vocative expressions should be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. Mr. President I rise to explain. You talk, sir, of your allies. I wish to know who your allies are. Let us now, my friends, cahnly discuss this matter. Practise Sentences 1. My brother the brave man has to give his life away 2. I think William that you have not done your best 3. Morning is the best time to study my son 4. Man you ought not to be affected contrary to nature by the bad things of another Pity him rather 5. I enter into this debate Mr President in no spirit of personal unkindness 6. No sir there I protest you are too hard for me 7. That may be seen young man if you will come with me 8. Fairest Cordelia thou art most rich being poor 9. Come hither friend where is the king my master 10. Therefore great king we yield our town and lives to thy soft mercy 11. Then hear me gracious sovereign 12. Come uncle Exeter go you and enter Harfleur 13. Gloucester 'tis true that we are in great danger 14. Once more unto the breach dear friends once more S2 EXERCISES m PUNCTUATION 15. No doubt my li^e if each man do his best 16. My lord your nobles jealous of your absence seek through your camp to find you 17. Man be neither ungrateful for these gifts nor yet forget the things which are superior to them 18. Consider you who are getting into court what you wish to maintain and what you wish to succeed in 19. And you my gentle knight give me your thought 20. Listen O people over whom my heart yearns 21. Therefore you men of Harfleur Take pity of your town and of your people 22. O heaven O earth bear witness to this sound! 23. Answer echoes dying dying dyingi 24. O you kind gods Cure this great breach in his abused nature! 25. Welcome then thou imsubstantial air that I embrace 8. Subject and Predloat*. Long Infinitiv* Phrases. If the subject of a sentence is so long that the reader might find difficulty in separating it from the predicate, or if the nominative ends with a word which might be read with the predicate and thus con- found the sense, a conmia is placed after the subject. When the predicate begins with a word with which the subject ends, a comma should be placed between them. That a peculiar state of the mere particles of the brain should be followed by a change in the state of the sentient mind, is truly wonderful. To walk beneath the porch, is still infinitely less than to kneel before the cross. Whatever is, is right. THE COMMA 63 A long infinitive phrase, whether used as a subject or occurring at the end of a sentence, is set off by a comma. To pull down the false and build up the true, let this be our endeavor. And Freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell, a weeping hermit, there. Practise Sentences 1. That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarcely worth the name 2. This is a course of training intended to fit bookkeepers who are thorough in double entry and familiar with business routine for public practise as accountants 3. Your two communications containing proof and ship- ping order were duly received 4. To be able to perform a difficiJt task easily requires much practise 5. To be sincere in what we say is better than to make many promises. 6. Where it is is d^y where it was is night 7. He who rests on what he is has a destiny above destiny and can make mouths at Fortune 8. Who does nothing nothing knows 9. If it is necessary to weep weep if to groan groan but if these things be base determine immediately 10. The only happiness a brave man ever troubled himself much about was happiness enough to get his work done 9. A Short Quotation or tin Expression Resem- bling « Quotation. A short quotation or an expression resembling a quotation is generally separated by a comma from 54 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION the rest of the sentence into which it is intro- duced. When a question or an exclamatory remark occurs at the beginning of a sentence, only the ques- tion mark or the exclamation point is used to separate it from the words which follow. If the quotation is preceded by the conjunction that, or if the flow of thought is uninterrupted, the comma is not used. Marcus Aurelius asks, "What matter by whom the good is done?" "Where sleeps the Chief?" the henchmen said. "Most extraordinary!" he said. Experience of life teaches us that "it is a great loss to lose an affliction." The cry for "Pitt and the King" carried the day. Practise Sentences 1. I admire the sentiment of Thoreau who said Nothing is so much to be feared as fear 2. Agrippinus said "I am not a hindrance to myself " 3. Do not cry out and torment yourself and say Every- body hates me 4. As the Latin adage declares "A great city is a great solitude " 5. One says Abstain from food another says Give food another says Bleed and another says Use cupping 6. The ancient British bards had for the title of their order "Those who are free throughout the world " 7. There is a Greek verse which runs "The gods are to each other not unknown " 8. "I beg to ask what you call vast flowing vigor?" says his companion THE COMMA 66 9. We commend the poet who said " Not death is evil but a shameful death " 10. The lesson which these observations convey is Be and not seem 11. Socrates said to one who was reminding him to prepare for his trial Do you not think then that I have been preparing for it all my Ufe? 12. And if you hear him say "Wretch that I am how much I suffer" caU him a slave 13. "Your name?" demanded the usher 14. "Do I not owe something to myself?" said the boy inwardly 15. "The temples of Allah belong to Allah and to Allah alone 1" was the reply of the bold intruder 16. The question now is Did he act within the constitution and the law 17. Your excuse of "having to construct an entirely new desk because of the No. 7 tyx)ewriter attachment" is exceed- ingly weak 18. God has fixed this law and says "If you would have anything good, receive it from yourself " 19. If there were to be a new beatitude it might well read "Bleesed are the cheerful " 20. The question is not How can I get rich or win a seat in Congress or a government chair? but What will be the result of my choice of a life-work upon my own mind and nature? 21. There is a saying that "the gold is where you find it " 22. The world does not ask what you know but What can you do? 23. He declared the procrastination might produce a state of suffering that would be frightful to contemplate 24. "All the dead become gods" wrote the great Shinto commentator Hirata 25. I say unto all Watch 26. Aristotle's definition of the ridiculous is "What is out of time and place, without danger " 27. I desire to thank God that he enables me to disregard "the fear of m^ n which bringeth a snare " 56 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 10. Omission of a Noun, a Verb, or a Phrasa. A comma should be used to indicate the omis- sion of a noim, a verb, or a phrase when a mark is necessary to make the meaning clear; in short clauses it may be dispensed with, unless needed to prevent ambiguity. Reading maketh a full man; conference, a ready man; writing, an exact man. The young are slaves to novelty; the old to custoixL When two short clauses have bearing on a final expression, the comma is omitted after the second clause, and the semicolon before it is changed to a comma. Herder had more of the Oriental fancy, Schleiermacher more of the European acuteness in his composition. Practise Sentences 1. The estrade remained solitary; the stage mute 2. The benevolent man is esteemed the pernicious con- demned 3. Cash should be stated first properties second 4. If good he is free from blame if bad he himself suffers the penalty 5. Loft-dried paper is calendered in single sheets machine- dried in the roU 6. If the divine is faithful man also must be faithful if it is free man also must be free if beneficent man also must be beneficent if magnanimous man also must be magnanimous 7. Life is precarious and death certain 8. Concession is no humiliation nor admission of error any disgrace THE COMMA 57 9. Some men are eminent for what they possess some for what they achieve and others for what they are 10. The first character carried in his right hand a sword the second two golden keys the third a pair of scales and the fourth a spade 11. New arts destroy the old See the investment of capital in aqueducts made useless by hydraulics fortifica- tions by gunpowder roads and canals by railways sails by steam steam by electricity 12. If I have set my admiration on the poor body I have given myself up to be a slave if on my poor possessions I also make myself a slave 13. Hollis was to have been Secretary of State and Pym Chancellor of the Exchequer 14. Men of aim must lead the aimless men of invention the uninventive 15. We doubt not a man's fortune may be read in the lines of his hand by palmistry in the lines of his face by physiog- nomy in the outlines of the skuU by craniology the lines are all there but the reader waits 11. Ambiguity. Uninterrupted Flow of Thought. A comma is sometimes needed to prevent the plac- ing of a wrong construction upon the sentence. On the other hand, where a sentence expresses an unin- terrupted flow of thought, unless it is needed to make the meaning clear, a comma should not be used in any part of it. He who loves the bristle of bayonets, only sees in their glitter what beforehand he felt in his heart. He who loves the bristle of bayonets only, sees in their gUtter what beforehand he felt in his heart. 68 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION Practise Sentences 1. If you do send us a postal card to that effect 2. The other continued smiling "It was a very pretty thing to see " 3. Avoid the society of men who are selfish and cruel 4. And did he not talk a long string of learning about Greek and cosmogony and the world? 5. Is he a sincere man who lives as he teaches 6. Duty grows everywhere like children like grass and we need not go to Europe or to Asia to learn it 7. Who cover faults at last shame them derides 8. Of his life at this time very little is known 9. In Paradise Adam and Eve reigned supreme 10. To the good death preeents no terrors 1. It is only as a man puts off all foreign support and stands alone that I see him to be strong and to prevail 2. The man who can no longer generously and unaffectedly admire a fine person or deed has suffered a loss at the very heart of his life 3. Hosts of men and women go through their lives without once looking their deeds in the face or seeing themselves with clear eyes 4. For what is greater or more useful than for you to be persuaded that it is not sufficient to have made your deter- mination and not to change it? 5. The books were probably written at various periods and laid by until the author could find a publisher for them 6. He who thinks wisely of the present and does well with the present thinks most wisely and does best with the future 7. A nobler view of life would make us content and even glad to wait for the larger truths and the deeper joys which an unfolding experience contains for those who are patient and faithful THE COMMA 69 8. He who falls asleep for a moment at his post often inflicts as great an injury on the cause he defends as the most unscrupulous traitor 9. In exact proportion to the weight of the truth or the grandeur of a thought was the degree of punishment meted out to him 10. Past history is full of the pains and penalties visited upon the individual who disturbed the established order of things by initiating a new truth or living thought 11. To be totally indifferent to praise or censure is a real defect in character 12. The deeper silent life we can only hope to discern and influence by reaching those broad decisive currents of the thought and feeling of our time which carry all minor issues with them 13. I have heard an experienced counselor say that he never feared the effect upon a jury of a lawyer who did not believe in his heart that his client ought to have a verdict 14. It is astonishing how outward circumstances will some- times evolve unsuspected energy from a man who has here- tofore been regarded as essentially commonplace by his neigh- bors and by himself 15. This was the laborious way in which he (Lord Chatham) acquired that extraordinary and perhaps imrivaled gift of pouring out for hour after hour an unbroken stream of thought without ever hesitating for a word or recalling a phrase or sinking into looseness of expression GENERAL PRACTISE 1. Have the American wheels handled by you given thorough satisfaction? 2. We would suggest that on receipt of this you wire us at our expense your wishes in the matter 3. You have in your Combination Tank placed on the 60 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION market a valuable and I may say indispensable adjunct to the modem system of beating 4. Car supply is to-day we regret to say worse than ever and we are like every one else in a quandary as to what the outcome will be 5. Under the circumstances I shall be pleased to receive the amount due viz $40,000 6. The building is a modem fire-proof ten-story structure 7. It is an efiFective and easily-operated hand-power cutter 8. In the second place there has been a gradual and there- fore a wise distribution on a large scale of political rights 9. Introduced into the book but unconnected with it in subject is a poetical review 10. A man reveab himself in every glance and step and movement and rest 11. Give me a man who cares how he shall do anything not for the obtaining of a thing but who cares about his own energy 12. O you sir you come you brother sir 13. He was gay and caressing when he had a mind 14. I answer Respect the child respect him to the end but also respect yourself 15. One needs only to look at the social aspect of England and America and France to see the rank which original prac- tical talent commands 16. We have been at war since that time I believe with for and against every considerable nation in Europe 17. The other two were the doctor and the priest who was engaged in prayer 18. Most of the wrecks of human life are caused by having either no work or too little work or uncongenial work 19. Address the President of the National League Balti' more Md or James H. Horton Secretary 912 Wyandotte Street Chelsea 20. The manners must have that depth and centrality of tone to attest their centrality in the nature of the man THE COMMA 61 21. The weary audience which has been lulled to sleep by means of a stream of commonplace talk is instantly erect and attentive when a man who has something to say and knows how to say it begins to speak 22. As the Sandwich Islander believes that the strength and valor of the enemy he kills passes into hunself so we gain the strength of the temptation we resist 23. The house was occupied in fact The windows had short curtains a sign that there was a woman about 24. But it is impossible to convince some persons at present so that I seem now to know what I did not know before the meaning of the common saying that you can neither persuade nor break a fool 25. The Mayor can enforce and he is bound to enforce the law 26. Upon a most frivolous charge Wentworth obtained a capital sentence from a court-martial against a man of high rank who had given him offense 27. The perjuries the sorceries the poisonings which his chief favorites had planned within the walls of his palace and the pardon which in direct violation of his duty and his word he was ready to grant made the King an object of loath- ing to many of his subjects 28. Madame Magloire was a little fat white old woman corpulent and bustling always out of breath — in the first place because of her activity and in the next because of her asthma 29. Whoever undertakes to build a house to cultivate a farm to work a mine to obtain relief from pain to maintain a legal controversy or to perform any function of civilized life is actively searching for other men quahfied to aid him 30. In reply to your letter of the 8th inst we desire to state that we should be pleased to supply you with a book contain- ing 888 pages ruled with divisions for accounts as specified of paper the same as the sample enclosed with printed headings the bindings to be full leather Russia bands for $25 CHAPTER V THE INTERROGATION POINT I. Dir«ct Questions. The interrogation point should be used after every direct question, when an answer is expected or involved. Will you go to the lecture this evening? Canst thou by searching find out God? It is sometimes difficult to decide whether the inter- rogation point or the mark of exclamation should be used after a sentence which is interrogative in form. As a general rule, when an answer is expected or implied, the interrogation point should be used; when no answer is either expected or involved, the sentence should be followed by the exclamation point. What is the happiness that this world can give? Can it defend us from disasters? How could you desert me! O Rose! who dares to name thee! When a rhetorical use is made of a question, it is followed by an interrogation point. Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? (62) / / THE INTERROGATION POINT 63 A sentence put in a declarative form, but intended as a question, should be followed by an interrogation point. You will go to the lecture this evening? Practise Sentences 1. Can volume pillar pile preserve thee great 2. Besides what is danger in comparison with the right 3. Will you kindly inform me what company is insuring the title 4. What do you propose to do now That is the ques- tion 5. Seest thou not I'm one of them 6. If God had made colors but had not made the faculty of seeing them what would have been their use 7. What then was the nature of this system Was it anything but what I have stated it to be 8. Could you not induce your customer to conform to a more rational standard 9. May we not have some items of information concern- ing your business and the trade generally in your part of the country 10. Can you not rush the work on the stair job you are doing on my Eighth Avenue house 11. Will you please have the work set in ten-point type with a plain border around it This would give opportunity for a better display of type and we think that it would look quite as well 12. You understand me (Quastion') 13. And you I I work 14. You are then of that land upon which the sun never sets 15. Do you know it's mighty lucky by the way that he didn't recognize me \ 64 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 16. Dull people think it Fortune that makes one rich and another poor Is it 17. Whither was he going He could not tell Why was he hastening He did not know 18. Is not this something more than fantasy What think you on't 19. Know you not that a good man does nothing for the sake of appearance but for the sake of doing right 20. Why do we pray to Heaven without setting our own shoulder to the wheel 21. "Tell me Sophy my dear what do you think of our new visitor Don't you think he seemed to be good- natured " 22. Is it not true that every landscape I behold every friend I meet every act I perform every pain I suffer leaves me a different being from that they found me 23. Cannot we let people be themselves and enjoy life in their own way You are trying to make that man another you One's enough 24. Why being younger bom Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance 25. Is that your belief If so why not proclaim it 2. Sentences which Denote only that a Question has been asked. The interrogation point should not be used after a sentence which merely denotes that a question has been asked. He asked me if I would go to the lecture this evening He asked me what I would do in that case. He was asked the question, Are you guilty or not guilty, and refused to answer. THE INTERROGATION POINT 65 Practise Sentences 1. I again ask you what you have to propose 2. They ask if a man is a republican or a democrat 3. Ask him how much money he can let us have to-day 4. We desire to ask if Mr. O'Neill now owns any property in your city 5. I shall be glad if you will inform me whether I am right or wrong in my surmise 6. The question is not what we might actually wish with our present views but what with juster views we ought to wish 7. He was asked when he would be able to give a positive answer 8. To the question When will you be able to give a posi- tive answer he replied that he could do so at once 0. When asked what would be the result if the measure should be adopted he remained silent 10. In reply to your question How soon can the work be completed according to specifications I refer you to the con- tractor 3. 8*ntefio«« not Entirely Intorregatlv*. When a sentence is not entirely interrogative, the interrogation point is placed immediately after the interrogative portion. "What has time, what has man done with all those won- ders?" asks our author. Shall we blame him? — seeing that he did not know what would be expected of him, and that he would not have understood had he known. 66 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION Practise Sentences 1. For what purpose you may say 2. Why should he not be set free they cry 3. I ask What does it mean 4. "Doest thou well to be angry" was the question asked in old time of the Hebrew prophet 5. "Do you know what day thb is" he asked trying to conceal his emotion 6. If you ask this Pontiff Who made him What is to become of him and us he maintains a dignified silence 7. "Will you have her She is herself a dowry" 8. What other remedy have you for mark you that is worse than a plaything if you were allowed to carry out your own view 9. "What is your pleasure now" said Maggie smiling languidly as she rose from her chair 10. "Shall you learn drawing now" he said by way of changing the subject 11. But you may say Such a one treated me with regard so long and did he not love me 12. Further then answer me this question Does freedom seem to you to be something great and noble and valuable 13. Can you not send us goods of a better quality for if all the linen is like the sample received, we do not care to place an order 14. Can you not send us an order now for these goods will be higher in price in a few weeks 15. But this does not arise either from the man's strength or the teacher's weakness for when the man though he has been confuted is hardened like a stone how shall we then be able to deal with him by argument 16. I cannot manage sword and rifle cannot I therefore be brave 17. For what purpose you may say Why that you may become an Olympic conqueror 18. She must always come from Aunt Glegg's before THE INTERROGATION POINT 67 dinner "else what shall I have of you " said Lucy with a tearful pout that could not be resisted 19. "Should you like to be our boatman" said Lucy "Because if you would you can come with us and take an oar" 20. "Take us on board — will you — and haul up the boat I'll pay you well" 2L "I had always some ambition and you now see that I was right for who knows how this may end" 22. " Now then tell us where you live what's the name of the place" 23. Has he not suffered all that a man can suffer and yet he seems not unhappy 24. To see things rightly and to choose the best — is not this the secret of the art of right living 25. "Euclid my lad — why what's that " said his father 4. A S«rles of Qu«stlons. The interrogation point is used after each separate query of a compound interrogative sentence, and after each query in a series of short questions. Does he dream of wealth? or fame? or empire? or happi- Who is that old fellow? Is he a poor man? Is he a millionaire? The members of a compound interrogative sentence are sometimes separated by other points. Ah! whither now are fled those dreams of greatness; those busy, bustUng days; those gay-spent, festive nights; those veering thoughts, lost between good and ill, that shared thy life? 68 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION Practise Sentences 1. How did he see it Deeply or superficially Par- tially or completely 2. Plato had a secret doctrine had he What secret can he conceal from the eyes of Bacon of Montaigne of Kant 3. Am I a lord and have I such a lady or do I dream or have I dreamed till now 4. Was ever man so beaten was ever man so rayed was ever man so weary 5. How now What hath befallen 6. Whence come we Whither do we go What is our destiny 7. There two ways presented themselves Which should he take Ought he to turn to the left or to the right 8. How was he to get out should he find an issue should he find it in time 9. Is the bee really dangerous Does she allow herself to be tamed Is there a risk in approaching the hives 10. The difficulties of all men are about externals their helplessness is about externals What shall I do how will it be how will it turn out will this happen will that 11. What then Should we use such things carelessly In no way 12. Speak seriously Can nothing be done for you What would you like to be 13. Does that suit you Yes or no 14. Are you willing to receive me Is this an.inn Will you give me something to eat and a bed 15. Laertes was your father dear to you Or are you like the painting of a sorrow A face without a heart 16. What can go well when we have run so ill Are we not beaten Is not Anglers lost 17. And then what is one to think of the table on which so many things happ>en that cannot be guessed of the derisive chairs on which one is forbidden to sleep of the plates and dishes that are empty by the time that one can THE INTERROGATION POINT 69 get at them of the lamp that drives away the dark. — Maeterlinck: Our Friend, the Dog. 18. I say do you know this letter 19. Why then are you vexed if he receives something in return for that which he sells or how can you consider him happy who acquires those things by such means as you abominate for what wrong does Providence if he gives the better things to the better men 20. Do you not know that human life is a warfare that one man must keep watch another must go out as a spy and a third must fight and it is not possible that all should be in one place nor is it better that it should be so 21. When you are in a ship do you trust to yourself or to the helmsman And when you are in a chariot to whom do you trust but to the driver And how is it in all other arts Just the same 22. But Zeus you say does not do right in these matters Why Because he has made you capable of endurance because he has made you magnanimous because it is in your power to be happy while you are suffering what you suffer because he has opened the door to you when things did not please you Man go out and do not complain 23. If I develop the brute faculties by cultivating a grasp- ing nature if I harden my finer sensibilities while struggling to accumulate that which rightly belongs to another, have I succeeded 24. Will he awaken be alive again and have a soul or is this death-fit very death 25. Whence does this knowledge come Where is the source of power The soul of God la poured into the world through the thoughts of men GENERAL PRACTISE 1. Is not this your son my lord 2. What dost thou profess What wouldst thou with us 70 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 3. You are strong and healthy Why do you not work 4. I must die Must I then die lamenting I must be put in chains Must I then also lament 5. And who is able to compel you to assent to that which appears false No man And who can compel you not to assent to that which appears true No man By this then you see that there is something in you naturally free 6. How can I name it you 7. Isn't he a booby So he will come at six o'clock 8. The distress of the farmers being admitted the next question which arises is What is its cause 9. For they say What am I 10. When Franklin made his discovery of the identity of lightning and electricity it was sneered at and people asked Of what use is it 11. What are our resources Our stock in life our real estate is that amount of thought which we have had 12. What is the matter What is the matter Are we in any danger 13. A voice whispers What next 14. But how was it to be done How warn the persons threatened He did not know their address 15. Welcome welcome Moses well my boy what have you brought us from the farm 16. I am aware that many object to the severity of my language but is there not cause for severity 17. The next question going one step farther back is What has caused this widely-diflfused and almost universal discon- tent 18. "Ah sir " cried my wife with a piteous aspect " how is it possible that I can ever have your forgiveness " 19. And again hast thou valued patience courage persever- ance openness to light readiness to own thyself mistaken to do better next time 20. Has He not given to you endurance Has He not given to you magnanimity Has He not given to you man- liness THE INTERROGATION POINT 71 21. And what are thou that braggest of thy life of idle- ness complacently showest thy bright gilt equipages sump- tuous cushions appliances for the folding of the hands to mere sleep 22. Was it thy aim and life-purpose to be filled with good things for thy heroism to have a life of pomp and ease and be what men call "happy" in this world or in any other world 23. The heroic man — and is not every man God be thanked a potential hero — has to do so in all times and circumstances 24. Here and there a human soul may listen to the words — who knows how many human souls — whereby the impor- tunate events if not diverted and prevented will be rendered less hard 25. What is the use of strength or cunning or beauty or musical voice or birth or breeding or money to a maniac CHAPTER VI THE EXCLAMATION POINT 1. Interjections, Exclamations, ate. Interjections Repeated. The Exclamation Point Repeated. The exclamation point is used generally after inter- jections, words used as interjections, exclamations, and phrases or sentences expressing emotion, passion, wish, or wonder. It is not used at the ends of sen- tences which are only slightly exclamatory or which merely express a command, nor is it needed after every oh or alas. Hal that is grand. No morel Oh, how majestically mournful are those words! God save the King! blessed vision of the morning, stayl A wide freedom, truly. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. 1 like the silent church before the service b^ins, better than any preaching. How far off, how cool, how chaste the persons looks, b^rt each one with a precinct or a sanctuary. If an interjection begins a clause or a sentence which requires the exclamation point at the end, it is better to omit the point after the interjection. In some cases a conmia is used. Alas both for the deed and for the cause I Alas, that it should be so! (72) THE EXCLAMATION POINT 73 When interjections are repeated to express a cer- tain sound, they are separated from one another by commas, and the exclamation point is used only after the last. Ha, ha, ha I That's the best joke I have heard this many a day. When a sentence is not entirely exclamatory, the exclamation mark is placed immediately after the exclamatory portion. How now, brother Edmund 1 what serious contemplation are you in? To express strong feeling, the exclamation point is sometimes repeated. It is employed in this way in burlesque and satire, but only to a limited extent. Fire! Fire!! Fire! II Dying! Dying!! Dying!!! Practise Sentences 1. Ah that was something to remember 2. What is it only in dreams that such things occur 3. Alas those happy days are gone 4. Back back on your lives ye menial pack 5. Peace peace to other than to me Thy words were evil augury 6. Mercy on us The ship is splitting 7. Would it were day 8. Long live Gonzalo 9. How have I walked in glory unaware 10. See how the mighty shrink into a song 74 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 11. Alas for the man who has not learned to work 12. Alas poor Yorick Alas my noble boy 13. Ay every inch a king 14. All hail great master grave sir hail 15. No thank Heaven I am not guilty of this horror 16. Poor little man he has forgotten all his troubles 17. Imprudent to defend the liberty of the press Why 18. What sir have all your negotiations all your decla- mation all your money been squandered in vain 19. He has a future before him and how young he looks 20. A boy sleeping out on a night like this 21. How many sentences and books we owe to unknown authors 22. Slave thou hast slain me Villain take my purse 23. Help help help I am drowning 24. On on on on on to the breach to the breach 25. Break heart I prithee break 26. O fie fie fie You should not give up so easily 27. Alack alack alack the day 28. Go seek the traitor Gloucester 29. But O poor Gloucester Ix)st he his other eye 30. Forty sous why the charge is only twenty sous 31. What errors negligence of this rule has bred What misdirection it has perpetuated Into how many labyrinths where truth was not to be found has it led men 2. O and Oh. is used with a noun in direct address and to express a wish or imprecation. It is used also to introduce an exclamatory phrase or sentence, and as an introduction to a sentence in which it has no particular meaning. O thou that rollest above, round as the shield of my fathers! THE EXCLAMATION POINT 75 O wad some power the giftie gie us, To see ourselves as ithers see us! — Burns. O God I that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!— Shakespeare: Othello. When did you return? O, only yesterday. should never be immediately followed by the exclamation point. It is sometimes followed by a conmia. In names compounded with o\ the o should always be a small letter: Tam o'Shanter, five o'clock. Oh is used to express surprise, pain, or grief. It is followed inmiediately by the exclamation point, unless used to introduce an exclamatory phrase or sentence, in which case the comma should be used after the interjection, and the exclamation point placed at the end. Oh is not used with nouns of address. Oh! I have lost my purse. Oh! you are wounded, my lord. But she is in her grave, and oh! The difference to me! — Wordsworth. Oh, what a tangled web we weave When first we practise to deceive! — Scott. Practise Sentences 1. you kind gods cure this great breach in his abused nature 2. Tremble O man 3. O friend never strike sail to a fear Come into port greatly or sail with God to the seas 4. O that a man should speak those words to me 5. O woe the day 76 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 6. O the difference of man and man 7. O day and night but this is wondrous strange 8. O what a noble mind is here o'erthrown 9. O it offends me to the soul 10. O but she'll keep her word 11. O here they come 12. O then it moved her 13. Oh nothing is farther from my thoughts than to de- ceive you 14. Oh the cry of the children the cry of the children 15. Oh the grave the grave 16. Oh what a glorious part you may play 17. Oh you can't approve of her 18. Oh what miracles confidence has wrought What impossible deeds it has helped to perform 19. "O no nothing at aU" answered the Captain 20. O yes don't I remember it 21. O ho I know the riddle 22. O shame where is thy blush 23. O horror horror horror 24. O stranger in such hour of fear What evil hap has brought thee here 25. There lies the Heroic Promised Land under that Heaven's light my brethren bloom the Happy Isles — there O there GENERAL PRACTISE 1. Grace go with you sir 2. What all so soon asleep 3. "Hush" muttered the woman "not so loud These are matters which must not be overheard" 4. Ah my good lord what have I seen to-night 5. Idle still idle and in time of war 6. That assistance alas for them was only diplomatic 7. I sir ne'er a whit THE EXCLAMATION POINT 77 8. However Heaven be praised he had got happily through his voyage and had reached Rome without any cross accident 9. Yet how little do they require in return 10. Words are hard are importunate but how much harder are the importunate events they foreshadow 11. "What do you mean by that" "What do I mean by that Listen" 12. How much grows everywhere if we do but wait 13. How poor this world would be without its graves without the memory of its mighty dead Only the voiceless speak forever 14. Fortunate mortal the tide of time has tvuned for you 15. How like a fawning publican he looks 16. "A pretty idea truly to take in a man like that and to lodge him close to one's self" 17. God forbid that I should have stained my soul with the guilt of dragging them from their friends and families 18. What a long night is this 19. How madam my approbation My approbation of such a choice Never 20. We all followed him several paces from the door call- ing after him "Good luck good luck" till we could see him no longer 21. When the birds build their nests they have access to the same materials but what different selections they make and how far apart their methods are 22. We may make great eyes if we like and say of one on whom the sun shines What luck presides over him but we know that the law of the Universe is one for each and all 23. The happy path What said he naught Of war of battle to be fought Of guarded pass 24. Alas that folly and falsehood should be so hard to grapple with 25. Wilt thou have music hark Apollo plays and twenty caged nightingales do sing CHAPTER VII THE DASH The dash and the parentheses have their separate offices. The dash serves to mdicate a sudden change in the construction or in the sentiment, or an expan- sion of the thought already expressed. An inter- polation which is distinctly separate in sense or construction from the sentence in which it occurs, and which could be constructed as an independent sentence, should be enclosed within parentheses. 1. Change In th« Construotien or S«ntim«nt. De- tached Expressiona. The dash is used, to indicate a sudden change in the construction or in the sentiment; to denote hesi- tation or faltering on the part of the speaker; when a sentence breaks off abruptly or is apparently com- pleted; also when a sentence takes an unexpected or epigrammatic turn at the end. The spectroscope shows the atmosphere of Saturn to be — no matter, I have forgotten what; but it was not pure nitro- gen, at any rate. — Holmes: Over the Teacups. I take — eh! oh! as much exercise — eh! — as I can, Madame Gout. You know my sedentary habits. He has lost wealth, home, friends — everything but honor. (78) THE DASH 79 This world is full of fools, and not to see one pass You must shut yourself up alone and — break your looking- glass. — ^La Monnaye. Practise Sentences 1. But success would never come in that way would it ever come at all 2. Disgrace shame parting there was no fear of them any longer 3. That yearning look I can never forget it 4. What story had he told about his previous life about his father 5. Leonidas Cato Phocion Tell one peculiarity marks them all they dared and suffered for their native land 6. They sounded they dived in vain 7. But you practice in order to be able to prove what 8. They waited one two three five minutes a quarter of an hour but nothing came 9. Notre Dame had been to him successively as he grew up the egg the nest his house his country the world 10. "Why why it's my birthday" I exclaimed 11. With one hand the monster grasped his knife and with the other ah cousin with the other he seized a ham 12. "You mean that I there is something that I lack" 13. These two words are but however they are not very important 14. "Well my lord You think my brother a" "A king's son madam" he said demurely 15. "You have said your say in two words but I cannot answer in two words because excuse me a moment" 16. And yet the cupola didn't fall only the lantern 17. Men will wrangle for religion write for it fight for it but not live for it 18. Nearly all strong men both intellectual and physical overrate their strength and think they can stand anything any amount of work until they break down 80 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 19. Day creeps after day each full of facts dull strange despised things that we cannot enough despise call heavy prosaic and desert 20. My conviction of principles that is great part of my possession 21. A whole leisure Saturday afternoon was before him pure gold without alloy 22. There will be no regulation length to my reports no attempt to make out a certain number of pages 23. We need not discuss whether this should be called idealism a name which would drive many clever people from its acceptance 24. Life misfortune isolation abandonment poverty are the fields of battle which have their heroes obscure heroes who are sometimes grander than the heroes who win renown 25. The ill-timed truth we might have kept Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung 2. P«r«nthetio«l Expressions. Explanatory Words and Phrasos. The dash is used before and after a parenthetical expression that is too much detached from the sen- tence to take commas, but which is necessary to the full meaning of the sentence. Words which have no necessary connection with the sentence in which they occur are enclosed within parentheses. There are times — they only can understand who have known them — when passion is dumb. Jf the parenthetical expression itself requires a Doint, it should be placed before the dast lash. Keligion — who can doubt it? — is the noblest of themes for the exercise of the intellect. THE DASH 81 The comma is no longer used with the dash, to set off parenthetical expressions, as the tendency is to dispense with all unnecessary punctuation. The dash is used before words or expressions which are repeated by way of explanation or for the sake of emphasis. I shall never forget the dream — never. You speak like a boy — like a boy who thinks the old gnarled oak can be twisted as easily as the young sapling. Practise Sentences 1. The best the pleasantest and the most rewarding and also the cheapest way of passing the time is to be busy with one's work 2. It is indeed one of the highest rewards of success if one understands what success means to be in the way of putting others on the same road 3. This vessel battered as it was for the sea had handled it roughly produced a fine effect as it entered the roads 4. Even to a successful dramatist and Cervantes tells us that his plays were favorably received writing for the stage was not a lucrative profession 5. And high on a pillar in the centre of the place a vener- able pillar fetched from the church of San Giovanni stood Donatello's stone statue of "Plenty" 6. Byzantine coatings were chiefly of metal gold silver and copper-gilt into which jewels were introduced 7. My own first impressions of Japan Japan as seen in the white sunshine of a perfect spring day had doubtless much in common with the average of such experiences 8. Tito had an innate love of reticence let us say a talent for it which acted as other impulses do without any conscious motive 82 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 9. Who is 80 foolish I b^ everybody's pardon as tO ex- pect to see any such thing 10. I had his promise I should have had his bond that my collection should always bear my name 11. For such a death awaits you as it did what was the man's name Crinis 12. It strikes at the best sometimes alas the only refuge and consolation amidst the distresses and afflictions of the world 13. Thus some who have seen a philosopher and having heard one speak as Euphrates speaks and who can speak as he does they wish to be philosophers themselves 14. Professional real estate men brokers operators and builders r^ard this development with the greatest satisfac- tion 15. Rentals include heat elevator both passenger and freight and janitor's se^^^ice 16. The paramount interest of every state that which comprehends every other is security 17. They are going to repeal it as I told you mark my words at a season of distress 18. Upon such a character and such a career (Joseph Jefferson's) the voice of detraction never silent as to any meritorious person could say but little 19. Unsuccessful attempts have been repeatedly made to show that the unamiable characters they are not many in Don Quixote are real personages 20. He is very much like other persons in this respect very much like you and me 21. And you do you no longer think of it 22. And what poetry if we probe to the root of things what poetry is there that does not borrow nearly all of its charm neariy all of its ecstasy from elements that are wholly external 23. Never is virtue left without sympathy sympathy dearer and tenderer for the misfortune that has tried it and proved its fidelity 24. Their houses are built and furnished in all possible and THE DASH 83 impossible styles and yet you will find in them hardly a dozen good books 25. Shall I who was bom I might almost say but certainly brought up in the tent of my father that most excellent gen- eral shall I the conqueror of Spain and Gaul and not only of the Alpine nation but of the Alps themselves shall I com- pare myself with this half-year captain 3. A Series of Clauses Dependent upon a Con- cluding Clause. Ellipses. A series of phrases or clauses having a common dependence upon a concluding clause is separated from the latter by a dash. Fonnerly, both a comma and a dash were employed before concluding phrases, but, so far as possible, double punctuation is now avoided. To pull down the false and to build up the true, and to uphold what there is of true in the old — let this be our en- deavor. The dash is used to indicate the ellipsis of such words as namely, that is, etc. In short sentences a comma takes the place of the dash. The four greatest names in English poetry are almost the first we come to — Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton. He has happily united the two most familiar emblems of life, the short journey and the inn. Practise Sentences 1. Pure air pure water the inspection of unhealthy habita- tions the adulteration of food these and many kindred matters may be legitimately dealt with by the legislature 84 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 2. To know a man by his friends by his books by what delights him in recreation or satisfies him in sport by his standards of success and his ideals in life these are the true tests for those who are wise and charitable enough to apply them 3. True education rests on these two foundation stones love of truth and courage for the right 4. This is the curse of evil conduct that it ever brings forth more evil conduct 5. Here is the solemn and tragic fact which lies behind all human life that which we have done we can never change 6. When that befalls when the well-mixed man is bom with eyes not too dull nor too good with fire enough and earth enough capable of impressions from all things and not too susceptible then no gift need be bestowed on him he brings with him fortune followers love power 7. He is a planter a miner a shipbuilder a machinist a musician a steam-engine a geometer an astronomer a per- suader of men a lawyer a builder of towns and each of these by dint of a wonderful method or series that resides in him and enables him to work on the material elements 8. This special make of tiles is in every way satisfactory neat strong and not costly 9. The early presses required two workmen one to ink the type and one to pull or to print 10. Plantin published books in the vernacular of the people in French German Flemish Dutch English Spanish and Italian 11. Great perils have this characteristic that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers 12. There are two words which ought never to be heard by children 'luck' and 'chance' 13. Whilst thus the world exists for the mind whilst thus the man is ever invited inward into shining realms of knowl- edge and power by the shoi^TS of the world which interpret to him the infinitude of his own consciousness it becomes the office of a just education to awaken him to a knowledge of this fact THE DASH 86 14. If he is jovial if he is mercurial if he is great-hearted a cunning artificer a strong commander a potent ally ingenious useful elegant witty prophet diviner society has need of all these 15. The Egyptians knew what a monument should be simple noble durable 16. She did everything about the house made the beds did the washing the cooking and everything else 17. Thus much only can be safely affirmed that the race like all good races is a mixed one 18. We are fighting a momentous battle at desperate odds one against a thousand 19. I have been here a few days only perhaps a weeek 20. Grip conquers the world the faculty of sticking and hanging on when everybody else lets go 21. Shall I say further that the Orientals excel in costly arts in the cutting of precious stones in working in gold in weaving on hand-looms costly stufifs from silk and wool in spices and dyes and drugs henna otto and camphor and in the training of slaves elephants and camels things which are the poetry and superlative of commerce 22. Scorn of hypocrisy pride of personal character elegance of taste and of manners and pursuit a boundless ambition of the intellect willingness to sacrifice personal interests for the integrity of the character all these they have 23. Now this was the first and chief peculiarity of Socrates never to be irritated in argument never to utter anything abusive anything insulting but to bear with abusive persons and to put an end to the quarrel 24. I see that sensible men and conscientious men all over the world were of one religion the religion of well-doing and daring men of sturdy truth men of integrity and feeling for others 25. The clear conception outrunning the deductions of logic the high purpose the firm resolve the dauntless spirit speaking on the tongue beaming from the eye informing every feature and urging the whole man onward to his object 86 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION this this is eloquence or rather it is something greater and higher than all eloquence it is action noble sublime godlike action 4. Omission of Letters and Figures. A double-length dash is used to indicate the omis- sion of letters from a word, when it is not desired to give the word in full. A reception was held last evening at the residence of Mrs. L , on B Street. A short dash is used to indicate the omission of figures: 1890-91. When used between two numbers, the dash shows that the numbers given and all the intervening ones are in a series; Pages 339-400; Matthew iv: 5-10. In writing dates, only the figures denoting the century should be dropped: 189&-97. The full figures should be used in giving pages or numbers. 6. Sideheads and Extracts. The period and dash are mod aft/^r a ftidrhpad, that is, a heading at the beginning of a paragraph. These marks are placed also after an extract, when the name of the author or the work from which the extract is taken follows in the same paragraph. In such cases, the dash is an ornamental mark used by the printer. The Age of Elizabeth. — Lectures on the History of English Literature, from the Revival of Learning to Milton, exclusive of the Drama. THE DASH 87 There is no genius in life like the genius of energy and mdustry. — D. G. Mitchell. 1. Lecture I The Development of Language Oral and Written 2. Lecture II Ancient Systems of Writing Derivation of the English Alphabet 3. Paper History Manufacture Staples Machine-made Paper Hand-made Paper 4. History of the Printing-Press Early Presses of Wood Iron Presses Cylinder Presses The Continuous Web 5. Bookbinding Ancient Covers Medieval Bindings Commercial Bindings 6. A grain of water is known to have electric relations equivalent to a very powerful flash of lightning Faraday 7. Manifest virtues procure reputation occult ones for- tune Lord Bacon 8. There is one world common to all who are awake but each sleeper betakes himself to one of his own Heraclitus 9. Elevation of sentiment refining and inspiring the man- ners must really take the place of every distinction whether of material power or of intellectual gifts Emerson 10. *Tis time to fe«ir when tyrants seem to kiss Pericles 6. Change of Subject in the same Paragraph. A dash is used to denote a change of subject in a paragraph, when, from want of space, a separate paragraph cannot be made. It is so employed in dictionaries and encyclopedias. Questions and an- swers when given in the same paragraph are separated by the dash. Where was Napoleon bom? — In the Island of Corsica. — What sobriquet was bestowed upon him in France? — "The Little Corporal." 88 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION The dash is a mark which should be used sparingly. It should not be made to take the place of other punc- tuation marks nor to separate complete sentences. Its frequent use tends to disfigure a page either of manuscript or of printed matter. GENERAL PRACTISE 1. Bad times what are bad times 2. It seems to me that the thoughtful man needs no armor but this concentration 3. But there may have been even in early times some exceptions to general custom exceptions made by neces- sity 4. Through this selection of a favored few a higher type of life or at all events a type in which there is more life is attained in many cases but not always 5. East and West the fundamental parts of himian nature the emotional bases of it are much the same 6. These letters are or were real letters 7. Work is certainly one great factor of human life indeed in one sense the greatest 8. Perhaps ten thousand twenty thousand years ago all humanity so worshiped the Lord of Day 9. So speaks the heart Mr. Mami's version is that of the politician 10. We have have we not a real relation to markets and brokers and currency and coin 11. And the cathedral was not only society to him it was the world it was all nature 12. And she had her way with suspicious ease if she had had patience to observe it 13. There are always plenty of young ignorant people though some of them are seven and some of them seventy THE DASH 89 years old wanting peremptorily instruction but in the usual averages of parishes only one person that is qualified to give it 14. Besides it was the day after a holiday a day of disgust for everybody 15. This class of goods is now being sold at $12.50 per case that is combination cases of twelve quarts and twelve half- pints 16. All gone all dead before him 17. To make the young natives of Bengal familiar with Milton and Adam Smith to substitute geography astronomy and surgery for the dotages of the Brahminical superstition or for the imperfect science of Ancient Greece transfused through Arabian expositions this was a scheme reserved to crown the beneficent administration of a far more virtuous ruler 18. It is difficult to comprehend it is almost incredible that a force so vital a life so beautiful a beneficence so precious as that of Joseph Jefferson has come to an end 19. A thousand looks are cast from the crowd upon every face in the gallery a thousand muttered repetitions are made of every name 20. A man's habits do not always indicate his character in fact he may possess many good habits and still be at heart a veritable scoundrel 21. Character in handwriting is more personal oftentimes than the person himself as frequently in fact nearly always there is less change in the handwriting from year to year than in the features of the individual 22. He is moral we say it with Marcus Aurelius and with Kant whose aim or motive may become a universal rule binding on all intelligent beings 23. He was pronounced a most useful citizen and a right good man when he was asleep 24. Hast thou but how shall I ask a question which must bring tears into so many eyes 25. She said that he had a saucy eye which was not denied and was too masterful 00 EXERCISES TN PUNCTUATION 26. It seemed a long while to them it was but a moment 27. He cannot flatter he An honest mind and plain He must speak the truth 28. That patriotism which catches its inspirations from the immortal God and leaving at an immeasurable distance below all lesser groveling personal interests and feelings animates and prompts to deeds of self-sacrifice of valor of devotion and of death itself that is public virtue that is the noblest the sublimest of all virtues 29. The afTections which spread beyond ourselves and stretch far into futurity the workings of mighty passions which seem to arm the soul with an almost superhuman energy the innocent and irrepressible joy of infancy the bloom and buoyancy and dazzling hopes of youth the throbbings of the heart when it first wakes to love and dreams of a happi- ness too vast for earth these are all poetical CHAPTER VIII MARKS OF PARENTHESIS 1. Words which Break th« Unity of a Sontonoa. Marks of parenthesis are used to enclose words which break the unity of a sentence and which have no necessary connection with the sentence m which they occur. They should be used only to enclose words which are distinctly separate in sense or con- struction from the sentence. The gentleman who has just addressed you (Mr. Jeffer- son) has left little to say. The profound learning and philosophical researches of Sir William Jones (he was the master of twenty-eight languages) were the wonder and admiration of his contemporaries. A.B. {Artium Baccalaureus) is an abbreviation meaning Bachelor of Arts. The interrogation point placed within parentheses is sometimes used to question the truth or accuracy of a statement. Aldus Manutius went to Venice in 1489 (?). 2. Punctuation within a Paranthasis. Marks of parenthesis do not take the place of other marks of punctuation. (91) 92 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION Words enclosed within the parenthesis should be punctuated as independent sentences. A period is sometimes required before the last curve. Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into Heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above;) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? Sometimes a whole sentence, or more than one sentence, is parenthetical. In such cases the entire interpolation, including the final point, should be enclosed within parentheses. Each sentence, of course, should begin with a capital. A certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold he whom Thou lovest is sick. 3. Punctuation b«fer« and after a Parenthesis. If no mark would be required were the parenthesis omitted, no point should be placed either before the first or after the last curve. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. — St. Paul. If a mark is required after the portion of the sen- tence preceding the parenthesis, it should be placed after the second curve. MARKS OF PARENTHESIS 93 I cite this, not that it is the only instance (for there are many others), but because the violation in this particular is too notorious and palpable to be denied. Just at that moment the candle went out, and the brother- in-law, looking through a chink in the door, saw the two dark men stealing up-stairs; one anned with a dagger, that long (about ten inches) ; the other carrying a chopper, a sack, and a spade. When the parenthesis is a question or an exclama- tion, the comma is placed before the first curve. While a Christian desires the approbation of his fellow- men, (and why should he not desire it?) he desires to receive their good-will by honorable means. Let me be understood, however, distinctly as not meaning to say that I dread war in a just cause, (and in no other way may it be the lot of this country ever to engage!) from a dis- trust of the strength of the country to commence it, or of her resources to maintain it. — George Canning: Aid to Por- tugal. 4. On« Parenthetical or Explanatory Expression within Another. When one parenthetical or explanatory expression occurs within another, one may be set off by dashes and the other enclosed within marks of parenthesis, according to the meaning or construction of the sen- tence. I wish you would send me one one-ounce vial — that is, if the acid referred to (I think I quote it correctly) is put up in ounce vials. 94 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION So far as possible, parentheses should be avoided. In many cases the thought can be conveyed by a different construction of the sentence. The dash, however, should not be used as a cover for ignorance of the proper marks to be used, nor to set off all kinds of parenthetical expressions. Practise Sentences 1. The goods will be shipped to-morrow Wednesday 15th inst and should reach you by the 20th 2. Such a capital is a necessity with all companies whether mutual or not organized in New York 3. You can send the insertion to us direct or through your agency if you employ one just as you desire 4. We will send you Harper's Bazar from May 5th 1905 to January 1st 1906 eight months for $2.00 R^ular price $4.00 a year 5. In an account not a balance sheet the words 'to' and *by' should always be inserted 6. I will mail you full ptarticulars as to the cost for each year for twenty years if you will send me the ages birthdays preferable of yourself and partner. 7. Few men can be trusted i e scarcely any is practically equivalent to the negative statement Most men are not to be trusted 8. Mr Fox afterwards Lord Holland s^d he must have the Treasury he had served up to it and would have it 9. As the purchase price is to be paid although the ques- tion does not state that it was paid due provision must be made in accordance therewith 10. Some of the worst bores to use plain language we ever meet with are recognized as experts of high grade in their respective departments MARKS OF PARENTHESIS 95 11. He knows nothing of your peril and Berwick not Wark is the apple of his eye 12. When Saul was most energetic against the disciples Actsix : 1, 2 the turning-point in his life was at hand 13. The Egyptian styJe of architecture see Dr. Pocock not his discourses but his prints was apparently the mother of the Greek 14. Then and there amid the mists of November which the Scots who live mostly in fogs care little about he with his force came down into the Merse. 15. Pepin Le Bref became King of France in 752 A D 16. Henry IV of France 1589-1610 devoted much atten- tion to the continuation of the Louvre 17. Of the libraries formed of brick tablets the great national library of Assurbanipal Greek Sardanapulus was the most famous 18. Things themselves materials are indifferent but the use of them is not indifferent 19. To whom then does the contemplation of these matters philosophical inquiries belong 20. While they wish to please and why should they not wish it they disdain dishonorable means 21. If a revolution which God avert were to drive us into exile and to cast us on a foreign shore we should expect at least to be pardoned by generous men for stubborn loyalty and unseasonable fidelity to the laws and government of our fathers 22. Consider and may the consideration sink deep into your hearts the fatal consequences of a wicked life 23. Not a few are the incitements of the working classes would that they were greater to the accumulation of property 24. Swift in the most exquisite piece of irony in the world his argument against the abolition of Christianity uses the language of those shallow atheistical coxcombs whom his satire was intended to scourge 96 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 25. Henry Estienne was bom in 1460 (Question the statement.) 26. The next day we were shown over the building by Mr Jones he has full power in the absence of the manager It was an interesting visit 27. The air was mild as summer all com was off the ground and the sky-larks were singing aloud by the way I saw not one at Keswick perhaps because the place abounds in birds of prey 28. And that unmentionable cause of her distress Madame de Vionnet Can't we almost hear "tough" applied to her 29. In this catalogue only the prices made by the pub- lishers themselves are given retail if retail in the first column net wholesale if net in the second colunm 30. But it is difficult to mingle and to bring together these two things the carelessness of him who is affected by the matter or things about him and the firmness of him who has no regard for it CHAPTER IX BRACKETS Words enclosed within marks of parenthesis are a part of the original matter, that is, they are explana- tions given by the writer or speaker. Brackets are used to enclose extraneous matter, or the words of the reporter or editor or of some person other than the speaker or writer. 1. Extraneous Matter. Brackets are used to enclose all extraneous matter, such as interpolations, corrections, criticisms, or ex- planations, made by an editor, or by a writer in a quotation from another person. Few books have been perused by me with greater pleasure than his [Watt's] "Improvement of the Mind."— Dr. S. Johnson. But if you ask me how you will fare [in Rome] I can tell you: If you have right opinions, you will fare well; if they are false, you will fare ill. The bubble has [is] burst. K. C. H. Knight Commander of [the Order of] Hanover. 2. Reports of Speeches. In reports of speeches, names of persons referred to by the writer of the report and exclamations of (97) 98 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION approbation and disapprobation are enclosed within brackets. In doing so, I agree with my honorable friend [Mr. Canning] that it would, in any case, be impossible to separate the present discussion from the former crimes and atrocities of the French Revolution. We have met for the freest discussion of these resolutions, and the eventa which gave rise to them. [Cries of "Ques- tion," "Hear him," "Go on," "No gagging," etc.] An interpolation made by the writer in matter already enclosed within marks of parenthesis should be placed within brackets. They have given way to the absolute power of one man, concentrating in himself all the authority of the state, and differing from other monarchs only in this, that (as my hon- orable friend [Mr. Canning] truly stated it) he wields a sword of a sceptre. — William Pitt: Refusal to Negotiate. 3. Printed Dramas. In printed dramas, brackets are used to enclose stage directions, and, in single form, to indicate the entrance and departure of certain characters. Shylock. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he looks! Lennox. May't please your highness, sit. [The ghost of Banquo enters, and sits in Macbeth's place. [Various women and Bathsheba come slowly on in the gallery above. [Exit Gadias. Murmurs outside. BRACKETS 99 Practise Sentences 1. Mrs Percival Spencer Miss Mary Manly arrived yesterday 2. Mrs Thomas Williams n^ Watson sails for Europe to-morrow 3. It enthusiasm forced Fulton's "Folly" up the Hud- son to demonstrate to all coming time the wisdom of the inventor 4. In the eighth century B C Tyre had an important trade with Tartessus Southern Spain 5. The day of their the Com Laws' entire abolition ought to be a day of jubilee and rejoicing to every man interested in land 6. Each of the four living writers had his not their writings recited 7. They conceptions of great minds are the organs of the time 8. Here in the household is economy and glee and hospitality and ceremony and frankness and calamity and death and hope 9. I saw all not all of my friends once more 10. As a writer of English he Addison is not to be com- pared except with great peril to his reputation with at least a score of men 11. Crotchets the writer means marks of parenthesis are used to enclose words which have no necessary con- nection with the sentence 12. The comma , marks the smallest division of a sentence 13. Signed James Osgood Chairman (Form used when a signature is typewritten or printed.) 14. F. R. H. S. Fellow of the Royal Historical or Horti- cultural Society 15. K. G. C. Knight of the Golden Circle United States Knight of the Grand Cross Great Britain 100 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 16. C. I. E. Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire 17. The Senator from Missouri Mr. Atchison now the president of this body made a speech upon the bill 18. The learned gentleman Mr. Erskine has revived and retailed all those arguments from his own pamphlet 19. My honorable friend Mr. Whitbread properly asked Is not the receiver as bad as the thief 20. I thought those pictured lips pointing to the portraits in the Hall would have broken into voice to rebuke the recreant American the slanderer of the dead 21. We are relieved of all the cares and responsibilities of life We are no longer Ambassadors Applause 22. You are at liberty to connect them with every context and sequel and to bestow upon them the mildest interpreta- tions Here Mr Erskine commented upon several of the selected passages and then proceeded as follows 23. It is this to admit the middle class to a large and direct share in the representation without any violent shock to the institutions of our country Hear hear 24. Now what do you see A system of rapid transit com- plete the Subway a success provided the Croton River does not too often deluge it Laughter and applause 25. I hope as the years go by that more of the personal virtue of men such as those to whom I have referred will find its way into the public service which I am sure will redound to the great benefit of our country Voices "Bravo bravo" 26. The English people certainly were completely friendly to us when I went there and it is my great good fortune that I did not do anything to disturb that friendship Applause and laughter 27. King John To Elinor So shall it be your grace shall stay behind 28. Miriam Kneeling by her Dear Martha 29. Petruchio Aside Hortensio say thou wilt see the tailor paid BRACKETS 101 30. Mardyke After a pause Now sirs that we have sought the Lord in prayer Each one m silence will we hear and judge 31. Thaisa Now I know you better When we with tears parted Pentapolis The king my father gave you such a ring Shows a ring 32. Constance Here is my throne bid kings come bow to it Seats herself on the ground 33. Lear True my good boy Come bring us to this hovel Exeimt Lear and Kent CHAPTER X QUOTATION MARKS 1. Quoted Words or Passogos. Marks of quotation are used to enclose passages from an author or what is said by another person, if given in his own words. Goethe says, "Man makes mistakes as long as he struggles." Socrates said, "I believe that the soul is immortal." When the syb^tance only of a passage is given, or when the .woixls jof another are not given in the first person, quotation, marks should not be used. Socrates said thai ne believed in the immortality of the soul. Dryden says that we can see Nature through the spectacle of books. When an extract is taken from a work and credit is given to the writer in the text or in a foot-note, quotation marks are superfluous. When cited matter consists of more than one para- graph, quotation marks are used before each para- graph, but they are not placed at the end of any paragraph except the last. (102) QUOTATION MARKS 103 The following paragraphs are taken from an essay by- Godwin: "No subject is of more importance in the morality of pri- vate life than that of domestic or family Ufe. "Every man has his ill-humors, his fits of peevishness and exacerbation. Is it better that he should spend these upon his fellow-beings, or suffer them to subside of themselves? If the matter quoted does not begin a new para- graph, no paragraph should be made before the close of the quotation. Words, phrases, or sentences that have acquired the nature of sayings or proverbs are generally en- closed within quotation marks. You should remember that "he can conquer who thinks he can." Practise Sentences 1. Sir Humphry Davy said when he was praised for his important discoveries My best discovery was Michael Faraday 2. Keep cool and you command everything said St. Just 3. Say with Antoninus If the picture is good who cares who made it 4. Eat at your table as you would at the table of the king said Confucius 5. Our proverb of the courteous soldier reads An iron hand in a velvet glove 6. William Blake the artist said that he never knew a bad man in whom there was not something very good 7. Burke said that it is not only our duty to make the right known but to make it prevalent 104 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 8. According to Tacitus great minds are deterred as adulation increases 9. Charles James Fox thought poetry the great refresh- ment of the human mind 10. Newton said that there was no contending against facts 11. It is an old proverb that Every people has its prophet 12. In the words of Emerson's great phrase Character is destiny 13. It has been written An endless significance lies in work 14. Let every young man keep constantly before him the maxim If I would succeed I must work 15. Animals have been called the dreams of nature 16. It was said of an eminent Frenchman that he was drowned in his talents 17. In Greek mythology the return of the soul to God was described as a flask of water broken in the sea 18. That was her first aid to the injured 19. You will probably be offered something just as good at other stores 20. Some one will call some one who can talk intelligently and who can make a price then and there without letting you know this afternoon 21. The pressmen gave the early cylinder machines the name of type-smashers 22. Will you please advise me how you will run this train whether daily or daily except Sunday 23. I draw attention to what I said on a former occasion that no man can be happy who is destitute of good feelings and generous principles 24. What I am now saying must be regarded in the light of my previous statement that it is always better to be pre- p>ared for an emergency Ukely to arise 25. The saying of Marcus Antoninus it were hard to mend It were well to die if there be gods and sad to live if there be none QUOTATION MARKS 105 2. A Break in a Quotation. A break in a quotation is generally indicated by points or periods. No quotation marks are used except at the beginning jand the end of the whole matter quoted. If the words following the points begin another paragraph, they should be preceded by quotation marks. "Ah, nothing is too late Till the tired heart shall cease to palpitate. Cato learned Greek at eighty. ****** Chaucer, at Woodstock with the nightingales, At sixty wrote the Canterbury Tales. Goethe, at Weimar, toiling to the last. Completed Faust when eighty years were past. " If a dash is used to denote that a quotation is not complete, quotation marks should be placed after the dash. "O Csesar, we who are about to die Salute you, was the gladiator's cry In the arena " When a break in a quotation is made by the intro- duction of descriptive words, marks of quotation are used where the quoted words begin and end, and again where the words quoted are recommenced and ended. "Let me make the ballads of a nation," said Fletcher of Saltoun, "and I care not who makes its laws." 105 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION Practise Sentences 1. These islands he was told are called the Islands of the 2. Nature said Swedenborg makes almost as much demand on our faith as miracles do 3. I speak now the Scrivener went on after a pause of a greater game than chess 4. I have a lucky hand sir said Napoleon to his hesitating Chancellor those on whom I lay it are fit for anything 5. Paint me as I am said Oliver Cromwell while sitting to young Lely If you leave out the scars and the wrinkles I will not pay you a shilling 6. When all is said remarks Goethe my life has been noth- ing but care and work I can even say that in my seventy- five years I have not had four weeks of real happiness 7. There is but one object says St. Augustine greater than the soul and that one is the Creator 8. I rise he said to a point of order 9. Art is long says the thinker and life is short 10. And I says Bill who was yet but four years old love every place that my papa is in 11. You are going my boy said I to London on foot in the manner Hooker your great ancestor traveled there before you 12. I hope said Walpole that nobody will attribute D'Alem- bert's works to me He was in little danger 13. I am not says the man at the top of my condition to-day but the favorable hour will come when I can command all my powers and when that will be easy to do which is at this moment impossible 14. A little onward lend thy guiding hand To these dark steps a little 15. When the mind's free The body's delicate: the tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feelings else QUOTATION MARKS 107 Save what beats there. Filial ingratitude I ***** No, I will weep no more. In such a night To shut me out! Pour on; I will endure. 3. A Quotation within m Quotation. Single marks should be used to enclose a quotation included within another quotation. A minister of some experience remarks, "I have heard more than one sufferer say, *I am thankful, God is good to me'; and when I heard that I said 'It is good to be afiOicted. ' " Practise Sentences 1. The speaker went on It is well for us always to remem- ber that all that glitters is not gold 2. An eminent writer relates the following anecdote Madame Stafil valued nothing but conversation When they showed her the beautiful Lake Leman she exclaimed O for the gutter of the Rue de Bac the street in Paris in which her house stood 3. Trench well says What a lesson the word diligence con- tains The only secret of true industry in our work is love of that work 4. Emerson gives the following anecdote I remember to have heard Mr. Samuel Rogers in London relate among other anecdotes of the Duke of Wellington that a lady having expressed in his presence a passionate wish to witness a great victory he rephed Madam there is nothing so dreadful as a great victory excepting a great defeat 5. Emerson remarks in " Social Aims " One of my friends said in speaking of certain associates There is not one of them but I can offend at any moment 108 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 4. Words Spoken of by Name. Words spoken of by name are generally enclosed in single quotation marks : the verb ' to do ' ; the adjec- tive 'beaut if ur. Some writers use double quotation marks or italic type to specify such words. In long lists no distinguishing mark is considered necessary. The meaning would be quite as clear in any case, if the words were put simply in roman with no enclos- ing marks. Practise Sentences 1. No one can make the word being full of depth and meaning without also giving new depth and meaning to the word doing 2. There are strange notions about the word capital 3. I notice the omission of the words to and by in the heading of your accounts 4. Suggests were perhaps a better word than expreflses 5. What then seems to every man is not sufficient for determining what is 6. The term genius when used with emphasis implies imagination 7. You cannot help being delighted by such conditions or feehng indignant at hearing them denounced as heathen 8. It is important that the cheese be marked on top and bottom with the words Full Cream 9. The words Sold by are in these proofs but will be re- moved 10. One mark D P Z we find to be satisfactory as they are of good size smooth and round 11. The word strenuous is overworked 12. The word Shinto signifies The Way of the Gods QUOTATION MARKS 109 5. Titles of Bookc, Periodicals, Pictures, etc. Quotation marks are used to enclose titles of books, periodicals, plays, pictures, etc. One of the best known of the works of Dickens is "David Copperfield. " If the title is well known or is used frequently, or if many titles occur in the same work, they should be printed in roman type without quotation marks. The Iliad, The iEneid; the Messiah, the Creation; the Dance of Death. Titles of books in foreign languages are put by some authors in italics; when thus printed no quotation marks should be used. La Mare au Diable; Die Rdvber; La Divina Commedia; La Vida es Sueno. When reference is made to characters found in books or plays, the names are sometimes put in italics. This is necessary only when the name of the character is the same as the title of the work. Names of vessels, which were at one time either enclosed in quotation marks or put in italic type, are now printed in roman. Neither italic letter nor quotation marks are really needed to specify the titles of books and periodicals. In most cases, the title is sufficiently distinguished by the initial capital. 110 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION Practise Sentences 1. The article to which I refer is signed Ion and may be found in The Liberator of December 17th 1852 2. Ruskin in his Seven Lamps of Architecture says that there is a marked likeness between the virtues of man and the enlightenment of the globe he inhabits 3. Give them Robin Hood's ballads or Griselda or Chevy Chase or Tam O'Shanter and they like these well enough 4. The principal characters that Jefferson chose were Rip Van Winkle Acres and Caleb Plummer 5. We believe that a large number of buyers can be influ- enced by an advertisement of your goods in The Evening Post 6. We have your letter of the 10th inst with regard to your advertisement in The Age 7. Lear and Bfacbeth and Richard III they know pretty well without guide 8. The periodical will be about the size of The Century Magazine and illustrated handsomely 9. Have you read Heam's Japan 10. It is a service to our Republic to publish a book that can force ambitious young men before they mount the plat- form of the country conventions to read Laconic Apothegms and the Apoth^ms of Great Conmianders 11. Samson Agonistes is one of Milton's finest works 12. The steamship Oceanic sailed to-day at ten o'clock 13. The Lorraine reached this port last night 14. The trip was made in The Twentieth Century Limited 15. The Oratorio of Elijah was well rendered last evening 6. Position of Points of Punctuation Usod with Closing Quotation IVlarks. The period and the comma at the close of a quoted passage are usually placed by compositors before or QUOTATION MARKS 111 rather under the quotation mark, whether they belong only to the quotation or to the sentence as a whole. This is probably done because both these points are so small that they seem isolated when placed outside the closing quotation mark. When a quotation occurs at the end of a sentence but is only a portion of that sentence, the mark needed to punctuate the entire sentence properly belongs after the closing quotation mark. When the quotation forms one complete sen- tence, the quotation marks, of course, follow the point. 7. Us« of Quotation Marks In Latin Languages. In many foreign books, especially in French, Span- ish, and Italian novels, no quotation marks are used in dialogues or conversations, a dash serving to indi- cate the beginning of a conversation, also when one person ceases speaking and another begins. Some publishers use quotation marks, but only at the beginning and the end of the whole dialogue or con- versation. Quotation marks are always employed, however, to enclose extracts and short quotations from the words of others. In the authorized version of the Bible, an initial capital takes the place of an opening quotation mark, yet there is no difficulty in distinguishing the spoken words from the descriptive portion of the text. The marks now generally used in English to enclose the words of different speakers in dialogues and con- 112 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION versations, therefore, are not really needed. An initial capital at the beginning of the words of each speaker, or a dash and capital if what is said by the various persons fonn separate paragraphs, would sufficiently set apart the conversation from the rest of the text. GENERAL PRACTISE 1. Good company upon the road says the proverb is the shortest cut 2. What news asks man of man everywhere 3. Who would hold the order of the almanac so fast but for the ding-dong Thirty days hath September etc or of the Zodiac but for The Ram the Bull the Heavenly Twins et<; 4. Men are bom to command and it is even so come into the world booted and spurred to ride 5. That a man's house is his castle cannot be asserted in Japan except in the case of some high potentate 6. And say What is it your honor will command 7. A mighty fear came on all and they said The end of the world is near 8. In order to get the capacity for happiness one must obey the commands Six days shalt thou labor and In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread 9. A man's ransom who was it that had said five hundred florins was more than a man's ransom 10. The commissioners sail to-morrow on the steamship Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse 11. Little Nell is a pathetic character in The Old Curiosity Shop 12. Maude Adams has played the role of Babbie in The Little Minister more than a thousand times QUOTATION MARKS 113 13. The Columbia arrived at her dock one hour ahead of the scheduled time 14. I am apt to believe with the Emperor Charles V that as many languages as a man knows so many times is he a man 15. He may soon come to see that the highest price a man can pay for a thing is to ask for it 16. When Fenelon's library was on fire God be praised said he that it is not the dwelling of a poor man 17. I am not sure but that the golden age of manners is to begin among those who are now despaired of for their want of refinement 18. The question everywhere was Fox or Pitt 19. If not some people but all would work and work faith- fully the social question as it is called would be forthwith solved 20. There is still another barrel of apples stenciled Green- ings 21. A house says Ruskin is not in its prime until it is five hundred years old 22. If I were Queen said Madame de Tees6 I should com- mand Madame de Sta6l to talk to me every day 23. The laughter of fools is as the crackling of thorns under a pot says the Wise Man 24. The aged Michel Angelo indicates his perpetual study as in boyhood I carry my satchel still 25. And what is Wall street asked the woman Well repUed the man it is a little crooked street at one end of it a graveyard at the other end a river CHAPTER XI THE APOSTROPHE The apostrophe is used to denote: 1. The possessive case; as, my brother's house; James's father; children's games. In order to avoid a prolonged hissing sound, when more than two sounds of s would come together, the possessive may be formed by the use of the apos^ trophe only: Moses' hat, Francis' son, for con- science' sake. If the sound of the s forming the pos- sessive is not given in pronouncing the word, the letter is not needed in writing it. The possessive case of it (its) is written without the apostrophe; the possessive of one, with the apostrophe: one's feelings; but itself, oneself. In such titles as Farmers National Bank, Adams Express Company, Teachers College, Ladies Dress- ing-room, the first word is usually regarded as an adjective and written without the apostrophe. 2. The intentional elision of a letter or letters; as, I'm for I am; .'tis for it is. 3. The omission of the century in dates, when the century is understood; as, The Fourth of July, '76. 4. The plural of figures and letters: there are three 5's in the number; your n*s and w's are made too much alike. In forming the plural of (114) THE APOSTROPHE 115 figures, the apostrophe might be altogether omitted. In making the plural of letters, it is sometimes needed to prevent confusion: i*s without the apos- trophe would be is, and w's would become lis. The apostrophe is never needed when the plural of a figure or letter is written in full: there are three fives in the number; this line is nineteen ems long. Practise Sentences 1. Sometimes with the music-masters assistance the girls would give a very agreeable concert 2. Boys Training School. Girls Reading-Room 3. St. Thomas s Church has just been destroyed by fire 4. The Princess chief passion was music 5. Midsummer Nights Dream. Birds Christmas Carol. Cervantes works 6. Farmers and Mechanics National Bank 7. You will find the Ladies Parlor on the second floor 8. Master Throckmorton was English Ambassador to the Queen of Scots, a friend of the Lord James s 9. The boats of the Peoples Line are large and com- modious 10. I show you after thirty years trial what is the depressed condition of the agriculturists 11. We re expecting an answer to-day 12. Well let you hear from us in a day of two 13. Why tis impossible 14. I m to go to-morrow 15. Let s see let s see You re making a great ado about the matter 16. The boat leaves promptly at six o clock 17. That s all settled There s nothing more to be done 18. One s enough I do not care for more 116 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 19. I U be there before you 20. He talks when he likes Hes lost his hearing with ringing the bells He s not dumb 21. Is the last word spelled with one or two 88 22. He is following a will o the wisp 23. The gold fever in the early fifties led many men across the Rockies 24. Your ws look like ms 25. How many Is are there in the word CHAPTER XII THE HYPHEN The hyphen is used both to join and to sepa- rate. It is employed between the parts of some compound words; also to divide words into sylla- bles, either at the end of a line or for the purpose of showing the proper pronunciation. Fellow-being, twenty-five, long-suffering, in-dus-tri-ous. Neither hyphen nor dieresis is needed in such words as: Coordinate, cooperate, zoology, reestablished, preeminent. In re-^reatioriy re-formation (forming anew), and similar words, the hyphen is used to distmguish the word from another spelled in the same way, but having a different meaning. Such words as the following are usually written with the hyphen: Neo-platonism, pre-raphaelite, non-essential, inter-rela- tionship, thermo-electric, a-hmiting. COMPOUND WORDS A compound word is made up of two or more simple words, each of which is used separately in (117) 118 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION English; as, eyeball, meeting-house. A derivative contains simple words, and parts of words which are not used separately in English; as, neo-Greek, pseudo- branch, 1. Separate simple words in common use which are accented as single words, should be united without the hyphen: anybody, everything, anywhere, somewhere, eyebrow, railroad, forevermore. any one and every one are written as separate words. 2. When only one of two simple words forming a compound is strongly accented, the compound is generally written as one word. bookseller, blackberry, classroom, copperplate, glassware, grandfather, stepdaughter, needlework, northeast, southwest, schoolfellow, towboat, townfolk, township. town gate, town hall, town house, and town talk are written as separate words. 3. Attributive adjectives are generally compound- ed : a high-minded man, a well- ventilated house, the above-named conditions, the so-called reforms. Such long phrases as the following should not be compounded: attorney at law, pen and ink (drawing), by and by, ever to be remembered, long looked for, much to be regretted, never to be forgotten, uncalled for, well to do. THE HYPHEN 119 4. A compound should not be made when separate words will convey the meaning quite as well : coffee trade, common school, common sense, multiplica- tion table, sister city, Sunday school, good morning. 5. A compound should not be made simply because a noun is used as an adjective: brother minister, county town, master printer, mountain top, palm leaf, peasant woman, supper table. 6. When either of two nouns in apposition is applicable separately to the person or thing men- tioned, the hyphen is not used; when the noims are not in apposition, and only one is applicable to the person or thing, they are sometimes united by the hyphen. Lord Chief Justice, Lord Mayor, Major General; JnU field- marshal, bone-setter. Many words of the latter class have been consoli- dated: bookkeeper, bookseller, newsboy, newspaper. 7. Numerals compounded of tens and digits are written with a hyphen: twenty-one, seventy-six. Numerals are compounded with various adjectives and nouns: one-sided, three-legged, four-footed, five- story, one-horse chaise, twenty-dollar note. 8. Such fractions as the following, when written out, are made separate words: one half, three quarters, seven eighths, five thousandths. Com- 120 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION pounds of half, quarter, and eighth, generally take the hyphen: half-dollar, half-past, half-yearly, quart- er-deck, quarter-barrel; hut halfpenny, headquarters, quartermaster. 9. Compounds ending with hoard, hoat, hook, drop, house, light, room, side, stone, time, and yard are writ- ten as single words, if the first part of the compound consists of only one syllable: blackboard, bulletin-board; sailboat, canal-boat. Bchoolhouse, dwelling-house; greenroom, dining-room, churchyard, marble-yard. Compound nouns ending with man or woman should be written as one word, unless the word so formed would be too long: chairman, countryman, horsewoman, needlewoman, oystennan, market woman, workingman. Englishman, Frenchwoman; but an American woman. 10. A compound beginning with school is not gen- erally hyphened, unless formed with a participle : schoolboy, schoolfellow, schoolhousc, schoolmaster, schoolmate, schoolroom; school board, school children, school committee, school days, school district, school teacher; school-bred, school-teaching. 11. A compound consisting of a present participle and a noun or an adjective is generally written with a hyphen: dining-hall, good-looking, printing-ofl5ce, writing-desk, writing-paper. THE HYPHEN 121 12. With few exceptions, words beginning with self take the hyphen: self-esteem, self-love, self- sacrifice ; hiU selfhood, selfsame, selfish. When self is added as a termination to a pronoun, the compound is written as one word: himself, itself, myself, oneself, themselves. 13. When two words, generally expressed as one, are employed in an unusual sense, they should be written as two separate words. A blackbird is a species of oriole; but a crow is a black bird. The coalescence of words often depends upon the length of time they have been in use. While the idea is novel, words are generally kept apart; as, long boat, steam boat, electric fan. When an object or an idea has become common, words are usually written as one: longboat, steamboat, railroad. The use of the hyphen is to some degree a matter of taste. If the meaning of the compoimd would not be clear if it were written as one word, if the compound is made with an uncommon word, or if there is an awkward joining of letters, the hyphen should be used. SYLLABICATION The proper division of words at the end of lines is not considered a matter of primary importance, as is shown by the inconsistencies in our dictionaries and 122 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION the discrepancies between them. The proofreader and the compositor, however, must be governed by some general principles, as the transfer of letters or syllables from one line to another sometimes necessi- tates the respacing of two or three lines. The usual practice in English is to divide words so as to show, as nearly as possible, their correct pro- nunciation, some regard being given also to deriva- tion, composition, and meaning. 1. Every vowel or diphthong which is sounded should make a separate syllable: a-nem-o-ne, con-tem-plate, la-i-ty, re-al, re-ceive, re-en-ter. 2. A short vowel followed by a single consonant or a digraph* keeps the consonant or the digraph with it, unless in so doing the sound of the consonant would be misrepresented: hab-it, diaph-a-nous, Goth-ic; biU le-gend. 3. After long vowels and unaccented short ones, the consonant or consonant combination goes with the following syllable: mo-tive, de-press. 4. Two consonants which do not form a digraph, coming between two vowels or a diphthong and a vowel, must be divided: * Digraph, a combination of two letters to rgpre aen t one Bound, as th in church, ea in head. A Trigraph is a combination of three letters to represent one sound. as tc^ in pitch, eou in beau. THE HYPHEN 123 ab-bey, ac-celerate, ac-cent, con-ver-sion, for-mer, for- tune, gar-den, mil-lion, pas-ture, per-cep-tible, statis-tics, vel-lum. 5. When three or more consonants occur between two vowels, the first of which is short, all the con- sonants which can be sounded together except the first should be written with the latter syllable: blas-pheme, dis-tress, elec-trify, in-stnic-tress, pam-phlet, ven-triloquist. 6. The division of a compound word on any syllable is allowable, but it is better to make the sepa- ration only between the simple words: heart-broken, self-sacrificing, fellow-creature, tuning-fork. 7. Proper names consisting of only one word should not be divided. 8. In purely English words, the division Is made between the primitive and the suffix, even when the vowel of the primitive is long, except when the e or the i of the suffix is preceded by soft c or g. A syllable of only two letters, however, should not be carried over. When the consonant ending of a primi- tive is doubled, the second consonant goes with the sufi^x: bak-ing, lin-ing, mak-ing, self-ish, wis-dom, fast-cst, wis- est; biU roman-cer, embra-cing, char-ging; hot-ter, nin-ning. 124 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION There are but few purely English suflSxes. Some of those most coimnonly used are: ed, er, en, ing, ish, dom, ship, ful, hood, less, ness, ry, ty, y, ways, wise, and er and est, the signs of the comparative and the superlative degrees of adjectives. 9. In words with Latin or Greek tenninations, the division is generally made according to sound: practi-cal, condo-lence, stu-dent, percepHtive, systema- tize, proc-tor, opera-tor. 10. C OT g should always be joined to the following e, if or y which governs its soft soimd: ne-cessary, capa-city, le-gend, sur-ging. 11. The letter x should never begin a syllable, as no English word begins with it; ; should never end a syllable, as it never ends an English word: parox- ysm, pre-judice. 12. Such terminations as cial, tial, Hon, iion, etc., which are pronounced as one syllable, should never be divided. The letter q should never be separated from the u which always follows it in an English word: artifi-cial, par-tial, provi-eion, posi-tion; li-quid, re-quisi- tion, ubi-quity. 13. In cases where the exact prommciation is doubtful, or where it cannot be indicated, the divi- sion should be made upon the vowel: THE HYPHEN 126 dou-ble me-moir, pro-duct, pro-gress, wo-man; busi-ness, colo-neL 14. A line should not end with the first syllable of a word when it is but a single letter; as, a-broad, a-long. A line should not begin with a syllable of but one letter (as w in vacwum), unless this immedi- ately follows a primitive (as in profit-a-ble), nor should it begin with the last syllable when this consists of only two letters; as, exception-al, happi-er, brave-ly. Three or more lines in succession should not end with the hyphen. The division of words at the end of a line, whether in print or in manuscript, should be made as seldom as possible. The principles of taste and beauty should be considered as well as the proper mode of syllabication. CHAPTER XIII REFERENCE MARKS— MISCELLANEOUS MARKS REFERENCE MARKS References are signs, figures, or letters, which refer to matter in the margin or at the foot of the page. The following marks were formerly employed as references, in the order given: Asterisk, or Star * Section ( Obelisk, or Dagger f Parallel |I Double Dagger % Paragraph ^ Superior figures and letters have taken the place of these marks. When notes are given in the margin, the figure * or the letter * should be the first reference mark on every page containing notes. If the notes are at the end of the work, figures and not letters should be used. When letters are used as superiors, j should be omitted because of its similarity to i. Accent Marks are placed over words to indicate their pronunciation; they are acute ( ' ), grave C )> and circumflex ( * ). Accents are also primary, secondary, and double. Only one such mark ( ' ) is commonly used to denote the stress or accent in English, except in works on elocution, in which the three are employed. (126) MISCELLANEOUS MARKS 127 The Brace { is used to connect a number of words on lines one below another, with one com- mon term. Prelude in B minor, '\ Air in D, >- Johann Sebastian Bach. Bourrfe in B minor, ) The brace should point toward the one general term. The Breve shows that the vowel over which it is placed is short; rSsh, net, hot, but. The Caret is used to indicate the omission of a letter or letters, a word or words. It is employed only in manuscript. e is Wll begim half done. A A The Cedilla is a mark resembling a comma, placed under the letter c to show that it has the sound of sharp 8 before a and o in words adopted from the French: facade, garyon. Two Commas are used to show that something is imderstood which was given in the line and word immediately above. Figures and names of persons spelled in the same way should always be repeated. Bought: Dec. 9, 8 yd. broadcloth. " 15,8 " flannel. William Smith, Chicago. William Brown, " 128 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION Marks of Ellipsis consist of a long dash or a suc- cession of points or stars. They show the omission of letters in a word, of words in a sentence, or of sen- tences in a paragraph. Points are preferable tp stars. Truly, Lady Teazle is as censorious as Miss S W .—Sheridan. You would pity ... the poor soul that shivers Out here at your door in this merciless blast. — Horace. In his conception of characters, Sheridan was a wit rather than a humorist. His humor, fine and dry as it was, was the humor of the wit. — Brander Matthews. The Index calls special attention to a passage. N. B. (nota bene), meaning "mark well," is often used for the same purpose. 9^ The door of the lecture-room will be closed promptly at eight o'clock. N. B. No goods exchanged during the holiday season. Leaders are points or periods employed in tables of contents and in lists of a similar nature, to direct the eye to the matter at the end of the line. PAGE Introduction 3 Author's Preface 9 Dramatis Persons 13 The Macron is a short horizontal line placed over a vowel to show that it has the long sound: late, mete, pine, rove, utilize. MISCELLANEOUS MARKS 129 Three Stars (***) call attention to some special passage. The Tilde is a mark forming part of the letter n in Spanish. It indicates the sound of n followed by y in English: canon, nino, senorita. CHAPTER XIV CAPITAL LETTERS 1. Independent Sentences and Lines of Poetry. Direct Quotations and Direct Questions. The first word of every independent sentence and of every line of poetry should begin with a capital. Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can. This is the service of a friend. With him we are easily great. There is a sublime attraction in him to whatever virtue is in us. — Emerson: Considerations by the Way. Howe'er it be, it seems to me, 'Tis only noble to be good; Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood. Tennyson: Lady Clara Vere de Vere. A capital should begin the first word of a sentence given as an example; the first word following an introductory word or clause; and the first word of a series of numbered phrases or clauses, even when the clauses are not separated by periods. A proverb contains a truth, generally in terse form; as, Wilful waste makes woeful want. Resolved, That the House adjourn, sine die. The writer asserts: (1) That Nature is unlimited in her operations; (2) That she has inexhaustible treasures in reserve; and (3) That all tuture nations will continue to make discoveries. (130) CAPITAL LETTERS 131 Direct quotations and direct questions should begin with capitals. Theodore Parker said that democracy meant, not "I'm as good as you are," but "You're as good as I am," Maury asks, "What is this you call eloquence?" 1. Everything has two sides a good and an evil every advantage has its tax I learn to be content 2. What is the difficulty here where iis there room for the words how will it be and how will it turn out and will this happen or that 3. The Goths were not used to such enemies they did not yield without a struggle it is said that sixteen thousand men were killed in the battle of the Guadalete 4. The answer was yes 5. Resolved that the meetings of this Association shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month 6. Franklin said life is rather a state of embryo a prepa- ration for life 7. If you wish to succeed bear in mind the maxim nothing ventured nothing won. 8. Resolved that the officers of this Society shall consist of a President a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer 9. Resources of America why one thinks of St. Simon's saying, the golden age is not behind but before you here is man in the Garden of Eden here is the Genesis and the Exodus 10. Mans heart the Almighty to the Future set by secret but inviolable springs 2. Proper Nouns and Words Derived from Proper Nouns. Every proper noun should begin with a capital. Verbs and adjectives derived from proper nouns 132 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION should be capitalized, unless usage has sanctioned a small letter. Europe, America; Philip, Zenobia, James, Elizabeth; the Pyrenees, the Strait of Gibraltar, the North Sea. Roman, American, Ehzabethan, Augustan. romanized, anglicized, americanized, itahcize. China, chinavxvre; Cordova, cordovan leather; Damascus, damask, damascene; Philip, philippics; Vandal, vandalism; Don Quixote, quixotic. Such verbs as christianize and judaize are now written with a small letter. 1. During the first months we received many inquiries from Scotland hamburg antwerp and india 2. The promontories at the western entrance to the medi- terranean sea were known to the ancients as the pillars of hercules 3. It is a quixotic idea to expect always to meet with appreciation 4. The Pyrenees have ceased to exist said louis XIV at the time of the accession of philip of anjou to the throne of Spain 5. Henry david thoreau was bom in concord massachu- setts on the 12th of July, 1817 6. The leather known as cordovan can be better ob- tained in tangier than in cordova spain 7. Abderahman carried the moslem army into france but near tours he was checked in a memorable battle by the famous Charles martel 8. When many words are italicized the force of the in- tended emphasis is lost 9. Specifications were presented for a bridge to connect the criminal court building with the tombs or city prison CAPITAL LETTERS 133 10. Swords daggers and damascened wares are made at the Weapon Factory near toledo spain The old toledo blades were so elastic that they could be rolled up like a watch- spring 3. The Pronoun I and the Interjection O. The pronoun / and the interjection should always be capitals. Oh should not be capitalized unless it begins a sentence, a direct quotation, or a line of poetry. 4. Names of Days, Months, Seasons, and Fes- tivals. Names of the days of the week, of the months of the year, and of festivals should begin with capitals. The names of the seasons, unless personified, begin with small letters. Sunday, January, Easter, Thanksgiving He will be absent during the sunamer. Sunday always begins with a capital; while sab- bath, or sabbath-day, is generally written with a small letter. The words day, holiday, etc., even when used with a proper name, generally begin with small letters: Christmas day, the Easter holidays. Nouns personified begin with capital letters. a. m. and p. m. are not capitalized in ordinary text matter. 134 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 1 . The goods will be shipped promptly on Wednesday the 17th inst 2. Lectures on Electricity will be given on thursday even- ings during the months of januarj' and february 3. The storms of winter have passed and there are signs of returning spring 4. New Years day in 1906 will occur on monday 5. The thanksgiving holidays are faithfully observed in new england 6. The sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath 7. They may wdl fear fate who have any infirmity of habit or aim 8. But it is a capital truth that nature moral as well as physical is always true to herself 9. The poet must let humanity sit with the muse in his head 10. When I think of reason of truth of virtue I cannot con- ceive them as lodged in your soul and lodged in my soul but that you and I and all souls are lodged in that 6. Goographieal Nam«s. General names, such as county and states when preceding a specific name, in ordinary writing begin with small letters: the county of Cumberland, the state of Massachusetts: In formal writing, both the general name and the specific name begin with capitals. Each word is capitalized also in an appel- lation bestowed upon a state or city: the Keystone State, the Lone Star State, the Crescent City. When state means a political community or the powers exercised by government; it begins with a CAPITAL LETTERS 135 small letter: the states of Europe, the union of church and state. General names, when not formmg part of a proper name, should always begin with a small letter: the law of the state; the exports of this city. Government is capitalized when it forms part of a proper name: the French Government; hut the government of the country. According to the latest usage, and in conformity with the rule for the use of general and specific names, when river, valley, city, square, street, or place is used with a proper name, the general name is begun with a small letter: the Connecticut river, the river Charles, the Mississippi valley, the city of New York, Union square, York street, Graver's lane, Delancey place. Many writers, however, still use a capital. When forming part of a proper name, mountain, lake, province, and district usually begin with capitals. The Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes, the Province of Quebec, District of Columbia. In display matter, both the general and the specific name should be capitalized. The words north, east, south, and west, when used to indicate certain sections of a country should be capitalized; when they refer in a general way to a region, or simply denote direction, they are written with a small letter. The new Northwest. In Southern Europe. The east of Asia. 136 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION The dweller on the Pacific Coast regards everything east of the Rocky Mountains as "the East". They have had snow in the north. The sun sets in the west. The West is rapidly developing. 1. These trains run between topeka and the city of mexico 2. The greater pjart of our circulation is in the state of Ohio and the remainder is scattered throughout the west 3. We know that it will pay you to use our space if only to reach our eastern subscribers but you could cultivate also the trade of our western readers for some of your specialties 4. This explains why there is so great prosperity in the north 5. In almost every state of the union Jeffersons presence was familiar while in parts of south america great britain and australia he was not unknown 6. We recommend you to take your chainless bicycle to our new york store on cedar street 7. The drought extends throughout the mississippi valley 8. The birds are flying south which is a sign of approach- ing winter 9. The Jesuits established missions throughout the south- west 10. On the northern or french side of the pyrenees the descent from the sunomits is gradual 6. Nam«s of Important Historic Days, Events, or Doouments; of Religious Sects, Political Parties, etc. Words denoting historic days or events, or im- portant documents, and names of bodies of men, religious sects, and political parties are capitalized. The Fourth of July; the Ascension; the Constitution, Magna Charta, the Pandects of Justinian; the Pilgrim CAPITAL LETTERS 137 Fathers; Jew, Protestant, Presbyterian; Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal, the Right, the Left. The names of certain epochs and eras that are not derived from proper names, are written with small letters. The dark age, the middle age; the Augustan age, the Elizabethan age, the Christian era; btU the Deluge, the Captivity, the Advent. 1. So the year wore from Christmas to epiphany and so to candlemas 2. The elizabethan age was one of great glory for england 3. We have had once what was called the revival of letters 4. In modern europe the middle ages were called the dark ages who dares to call them so now 5. To the parliament debating how to tax america burke exclaimed shear the wolf 6. The opiX)sition was in every sense formidable At its head were two royal personages the exiled head of the house of Stewart and the disgraced heir of the house of brunswick 7. The poor jews of the wilderness cried let not the Lord speak to us let moses speak to us 8. There was a time when Christianity existed in one child 9. The congress of the united states is composed of two bodies the senate and the house of representatives 10. If sir I had adopted what are called peace principles I might lament the circumstances of this case 7. Titles of Respect, Affection, Dignity, or Office. Titles of respect, honor, or affection, and titles of dignity or office, if applied to a particular person or if 138 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION used in connection with a proper noun or in formal address, should begin with capitals. Father Ambrosius; Uncle William; the Iron Chancellor. The President of the United States; the King of Italy; Governor Morton. Her Royal Highness; to His Excellency, the Governor. When a title useossible enlargements to their narrow horizons 15. Lorenzo de* medici it was thought did much to prevent the fatal outbreak of jealousies keeping up the old floren- tine alliance between naples and the pope 16. Well then if some man should come upon me when I am alone and murder me Fool not murder you but your poor body 17. We use in our idlest poetry and discourse the names jove neptune mercury as mere colors and can hardly believe that they had to the lively greek the anxious meaning which in our towns is given and received in churches when our religious names are used 18. He was at friedland he saw moscow he accom- panied napoleon to the island of elba 19. When nature creates a national man she puts a sym- metry between the physical and the intellectual powers 20. If plutarch delighted in heroes and held the balance between the severe stoic and the indulgent epicurean his humanity shines not less in his intercourse with his personal friends 21. I have prepared a correct list giving the county grade name and address of every teacher county examiner and city superintendent in this state 140 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION 22. Secret retributions are always restoring the level when disturbed of the divine justice 23. The attorney general and solicitor general appeared for the crown 24. Hastings continued to live in the government house and to draw the salary of governor general 25. After sheridans speech in the trial of warren bastings mr pitt moved an adjournment that the house might recover from the overpowering effect of sheridans oratory CHAPTER XV THE ITALIC LETTER ITALIC type is a letter which incHnes to the right. It was introduced by Aldus Manutius, a celebrated printer of Venice, who desired a compact type for the purpose of issuing small editions of the classics. The letter was cut by Francisco da Bologna, an able engraver; it is supposed to be copied from the handwriting of Petrarch. An edition of Vergil was put in this letter by Aldus in 1501; an edition of Petrarch, which Aldus issued the same year, is said to be the first Italian work printed in italic type. Originally, this letter was known as Venetian or Al- dine ; but later it was called italic, except in Germany and Holland, where it received the name of cursiv. Italic letter was at first intended, and was employed, for the whole text of classical works, but after a time its use was restricted to portions of a book not prop- erly belonging to the work, such as prefaces, introduc- tions, notes, and indexes, the text being printed in roman; at a later period quotations occurring in the text were put in italic type. All proper names and nearly all words of more than usual significance were at one time printed in this character. At the present day, its chief use is to denote emphasis. For this purpose it should be used sparingly and might altogether be dispensed with; when introduced too (147) 148 EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION frequently it tends to perplex rather than to assist the reader. No italic is used in the Bible, except to show that words not found in the original have been supplied by the translator to make the sense more perfect, yet it is not difficult to tell just where the emphasis should be placed. At the present day, italic is generally employed, as follows: 1. Unfamiliar words from foreign languages when printed with our alphabet are italicized the first time they appear; roman type is employed for the repeti- tion of these words. Foreign words which have become familiar through constant use and which are found in the standard English dictionaries should be put in roman type; as, cicerone, dilettante, role, vice versa. When citations are made from other languages, it is better to use quotation marks and print in roman. Words spoken of by name should be put in roman, with single quotation marks. 2. The titles of books, pictures, etc., are some- times put in italic, but roman type with quotation marks is more common. Titles of books in foreign languages may be put in italics if not quoted. Neither quotation marks nor italics should be used for titles of well-known works: The Iliad, Faust, The Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost. 3. It is a common practice to print in italic the names of newspapers and magazines, when used in the body of a book or pamphlet. The titles of THE ITALIC LETTER 149 periodicals and serials occurring in the text or in a foot-note need no other distinguishing mark than the initial capitals of roman type. When the name of an author or of a book is put as a credit at the end of a paragraph, roman is used for author and italic for book or periodical. 4. The scientific names of plants and animals, when first used, are put in italic. The name of the species should always be italic, however often it may occur. When other scientific names in botany or zoology are repeated, they are printed in roman. 5. Italic is used for running headlines, headings of tables, sub-headings, and sideheads. 6. In algebraic and other mathematical works, let- ters used as signs should be printed in italic, whether capital or small. 7. In lists, as in programs, when the enumeration is made by letters instead of figures, the letters should be italics. In manuscript, italic is indicated by one stroke under the word. The common Latin abbreviations, i. e., e. g., etc., viz., are usually printed in roman letters. THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WrLL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PE^L^ O^ERDUt "^ ■'"^ SEVENTH DAY SiF FEB 15 193?. 25 193J JUN 7 I OOT J.0 1946 \ft LD 21-50m-l,'33 Tb u^:uo^ 642564 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY