Of the Comma.

RULE IX.

Any remarkable expression resembling a quotation or a command, is preceded by a comma; as, There is much truth in the proverb, Without pains no gains. I beseech you, be honest.

RULE X.

Relative pronouns admit of a comma before them in some cases, and in some not.

When several words come between the relative and its antecedent,* a comma is inserted; but not in other cases; as, There is no charm in the female sex which can supply the place of virtue. It is labour only which gives the relish to pleasure. The first beauty of style is propriety, without which all ornament is puerile and superfluous. It is barbarous to injure those from whom we have received a kindness.

RULE XI.

A comma is often inserted where a verb is understood, and particularly before not, but, and though, in such cases as the following: John has acquired much knowledge; his brother, (has acquired) little. A man ought to obey reason, not appetite. He was a great poet, but a bad man. The sun is up, though he is not visible.

A comma is sometimes inserted between the two members of a long sentence connected by comparatives; as, Better is a little with a contented mind, than great wealth and much trouble with it. As thy diligence, so shall thy success be.

* That is, when the relative clause is merely explanatory, the rela tive is preceded by a comma.

Of the Comma.

RULE XII.

It has been stated in Rule VI. that explanatory words and phrases, such as perfectly, indeed, doubtless, formerly, in fine, &c., should be separated from the context by a comma.

Many adverbs, however, and even phrases, when they are considered of little importance, should not be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas; as, Be ye therefore upright. Peradventure I shall be at home. All things indeed decay. Doubtless thou art our friend. They were formerly very studious. He was at last convinced of his error. Be not on that account displeased with your son. Nevertheless I am no judge of such matters. Anger is in a manner like madness. At length some pity warmed the master's breast.

These twelve rules respecting the position of the comma, include everything, it is presumed, to be found in the more numerous rules of larger volumes. But it is impossible to make them perfect. For, "In many instances, the employment, or omis sion of a comma, depends upon the length or the shortness of a clause; the presence or absence of adjuncts; the importance or non-importance of the sentiment. Indeed, with respect to punctuation, the practice of the best writers is extremely arbitrary; many omitting some of the usual commas when no error in sense or in construction is likely to arise from the omission. Good sense and attentive observation are more likely to regulate this subject than any mechanical directions."

The best general rule is, to point in such a manner as to make the sense evident.

No exercises have been subjoined to the Rules on punctuation; because none can be given equal to those the pupil can prescribe for himself. After he has learned the rules let him transcribe a piece from any good author, omitting the points and capitals; and then having pointed his manuscript, and restored the capitals, let him compare his own punctuation with the author's.

Of the Semicolon. [;]

The semicolon is used to separate two members of a sentence less dependent on each other than those separated by the comma.

Sometimes the two members have a mutual dependence on one another, both in sense and syntax; sometimes the preceding member makes complete sense of itself, and only the following one is dependent; and sometimes both seem to be independent.

EXAMPLES.

Hasty and inconsiderate connections are generally attended with great disadvantages; and much of every man's good or ill fortune depends upon the choice he makes of his friends.

Trust not to fortune, nor to titled name,
To lead thee to the avenues of fame;
But let some nobler aim thy mind engage,

And sow in youth what thou wouldst reap in age. Philosophy asserts, that Nature is unlimited in her operations; that she has inexhaustible stores in reserve; that knowledge will always be progressive; and that all future generations will continue to make discoveries, of which we have not the least idea.

The semicolon is sometimes employed to separate simple members in which even no commas occur: thus, The pride of wealth is contemptible; the pride of learning is pitiable; the pride of dignity is ridiculous; and the pride of bigotry is insupportable.

In every one of these members the construction and sense are complete; and a period might have been used instead of the semicolon; which is preferred merely because the sentences are short and form a climax.

Of the Colon. [:]

The colon is used when the preceding part of the sentence is complete in sense and construction; and the following part is some remark naturally arising from it, and depending on it in sense, though not in construction; as, Study to acquire the habit of thinking: no study is more important.

A colon is generally used before an example or a quotation; as, The Scriptures give us an amiable representation of the Deity in these words: God is love. He was often heard to say: I have done with the world, and I am willing to leave it.

A colon is generally used where the sense is complete in the first clause, and the next begins with a conjunction understood; as, Do not flatter yourselves with the hope of perfect happiness: there is no such thing in the world. Had the conjunction for been expressed, a semicolon would have been used; thus, Do not flatter yourselves with the hope of perfect happiness; for there is no such thing in the world.

The colon is generally used when the conjunction is understood; and the semicolon when the conjunction is expressed.

Note. This observation has not always been attended to in pointing the Psalms and some parts of the Liturgy. In them, a colon is often used merely to divide the verse, it would seem, into two parts, to suit a particular species of church music called chanting; as, 66 My tongue is the pen: of a ready writer." In reading, a cæsural pause, in such a place as this, is enough. In the Psalms, and often in the Proverbs, the colon must be read like a semicolon, or even like a comma, according to the sense.

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Of the Period. [.]

When a sentence is complete in construction and sense, it is marked with a period; as, The loss of wealth may be regained; of health, recovered; but that of time can never be recalled.

A period is sometimes admitted between sentences connected by such for, therefore, hence, &c. contributes to health of body. destruction.

words as but, and, Example: Good-will But envy tends to its

All abbreviations end with a period; as, A.D.

Of other Characters used in Composition.

Interrogation (?) is used when a question is asked.

Admiration or Exclamation (1) is used to express any sudden emotion of the mind.

Parentheses () are used to enclose some necessary remark in the body of another sentence; commas are now used instead of Parentheses. Apostrophe (') is used in place of a letter left out; as, earn'd for earned. Caret (^) is used to show that some word is either omitted or interlined. Hyphen (-) is used at the end of a line, to show that the rest of the word is at the beginning of the next line. It also connects compound words; as, Tea-pot.

Section (8) is used to divide a discourse or chapter into portions. Paragraph (¶) is used to denote the beginning of a new subject. Crotchets or Brackets [] are used to enclose a word or sentence which is to be explained in a note, or the explanation itself, or to correct a mistake, or supply some deficiency.

Quotation ("") is used to show that a passage is quoted in the author's words.

Index() is used to point out anything remarkable.

Brace {

is used to connect words which have one common term, or three lines in poetry having the same rhyme, called a triplet. Ellipsis (—) is used when some letters are omitted; as, K-g for King. Acute accent (') is used to denote a short syllable; the grave (*) a long. Breve (~) marks a short vowel or syllable, and the dash ( - ) a long. Diaëresis () is used to divide a diphthong into two syllables; as, aërial. Asterisk (*) Obelisk (†) Double dagger (†) and Parallels () with small letters and figures, refer to some note on the margin, or at the bottom of the page.

(***) Two or three asterisks denote the omission of some letters in some bold or indelicate expression.

Dash (-) is used to denote abruptness-a significant pause-an unexpected turn in the sentiment-or that the first clause is common to all the rest, as in this definition of a dash.