(42.\.9 KM I PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED PRACTICAL ADVICE 12 AUTHORS^ HOWS CORRECT PRINTERS' PROOFS T, BRIDGES I ■ g L I B R A HY OF THE U N I VERSITY OF ILLINOIS £>76p Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. A charge is made on all overdue books. University of Illinois Library FEB -9 1348 MAY 12 (961 HRY ^3 I3bi oci i6 isfci2,i* OECii 1982 MfiR -8 1986 DEC 1 4 W9 H0\ 26 W1 M32 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED WITH NUMEROUS INTERESTING EXAMPLES. ALSO PEACTICAL ADVICE TO AMATEUR AU- THOKS; INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO CORRECT PRINTERS' PROOFS, ETC. BY T. BRIDGES. THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY, Akron, Ohio. -Chicago, New York. COPYRIGHT, 1907 By SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY 4il-<) PREFACE. The Author of this Manual has, as a Cor- rector of the Press, had much experience in the ~ treatment of the various phases of Punctuation. • - The subject is ' ' simplified 9 9 in that the defini- tions and rules, while strictly based on the prin- ciples of grammar combined with rhetorical con- siderations, are stated without the use of gram- '. matical terms (such as noun, pronoun, verb, J L etc.), and by the numerous examples given, which examples have been carefully selected : - with a view to their illustrating the rules, and also for their intrinsic literary or other inter- est. It is hoped that by a reasonable study of this work those engaged in professions or in business will find it of practical value, and the general public be enabled to make their correspondence clearer. The Author's acknowledgments are due to Horace Hart, Esq., Printer to the University of . Oxford, for permission to use the extracts on pages 64 and 65, treating of the hyphen, from his concise and authoritative "Rules for Com- "^positors and Readers/' and to F. T. Larder, Esq., for suggestions after careful reading of the proofs. 3 PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. In less than a year from its first publication it has become necessary to issue a third edition of this Manual. The text of this edition is practically the same as that of the first and second editions, but there is one additional page, giving instructions how to correct printers' proofs. This very service- able page is taken, by permission of Messrs. Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Ltd., from the 1900 edition of " Hazell 's Annual," a work which stands in the first rank of books of reference. The Author hopes that the subject of Punc- tuation will in the near future be taught sepa- rately in the more advanced classes of our schools, since the present-day commercial re- quirements of an educational system manifestly demand it. 4 PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. The third edition, of five thousand copies, hav- ing been exhausted in six months, this fourth edition is now issued. In it there are two de- tailed explanations of Rules more or less dis- putable (Rule IV., p. 9), on the use of the comma after the number of an address, and its use be- fore the dash (Rule II., p. 51) ; an important example of a statement previously made, as to the use of the semi-colon, but not formulated as a distinct Rule (Rule II., p. 28) ; and an extra page, taken, by permission of the Editor, from an article in T.P.'s Weekly, giving some very sound advice to amateur authors. 5 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/punctuationsimplOObrid PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED THE COMMA. The Comma is the most frequently used of the points, and it will be necessary to study its use in full detail. The Comma marks the smallest division in a sentence, and usually indicates the briefest pause in delivery. Rule I. — The word or words which indicate the person addressed must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Examples: — Dear Mother, I am writing to let you know, etc. John, to be idle is the most ruinous thing in the world. Morning is the best time to study, my son. The whirl of London, though seemingly chaotic, is really well regulated, Albert. I think, James, you have not tried to succeed. I am very glad, my dear, that you have returned. Come, companion of my toils, let us take fresh courage. This, my lords, is a perilous and tremendous mo- ment. Sir, the declaration will inspire the people with increased courage. I have, Sir, nothing to answer to your protest. 7 8 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully. Thou who despisest the outward form, lose not the inward spirit. Rule II.— The connecting words and phrases below in italics, and others of a similar char- acter, are followed by a comma when they com- mence a sentence, and a comma is placed before and after them when they are used between sen- tences : Again, finally, besides, first, firstly, hence, however, lastly, moreover, namely {viz.), nay, now, then, therefore, thus, too, why, well, to wit, indeed, in fact, no doubt, of course, that is (i. e.), in short, on the other hand, accordingly. Ex- amples: — Again, perfection requires that each quality should be without debasing alloy.— Perfection requires, again, that each quality should be without de- basing alloy. Finally, let me repeat what I stated at the begin- ning of my lecture.— Let me repeat, finally, what I stated at the beginning of my lecture. Besides, it may be of the greatest advantage to you.— It may, besides, be of the greatest advan- tage to you. Why, these are testimonies of what the unfriended may do. In fact, there was such a scarcity of provisions that death from starvation threatened the be- sieged.— There was such a scarcity of provi- sions, in fact, that death from starvation threat- ened the besieged. However, he soon relinquished his fruitless efforts. THE COMMA. 9 — He soon, however, relinquished his fruitless efforts. Indeed, his disposition was not genial.— His dis- position, indeed, was not genial. To Greece we are indebted for the three principal orders of architecture, viz., the Doric, the Ionic, and the Corinthian. Rule III. — Such words as however, now, then, too, indeed, are, the preceding rule notwithstand- ing, not separated by a comma when used as be- low. Examples: — However contrary to our own, we must pay some deference to the opinions of others. Now I repeat my arguments in favor 'of the doc- trine. Then shall I know even as also I am known. We look at all things too exclusively from our own point of view. It is indeed beautiful ! — J ones and Smith were players indeed. Rule IV. — When four or more figures are used, a comma is placed before every three from the right end. Examples: — There are 1,760 yards in a mile. The Rocky Mountains rise 12,500 feet above the level of the ocean; the Andes, 21,440 feet. The sun is 883,210 miles in diameter, about 2,774,- 692 miles in circumference, and about 95,000,- 000 miles distant from the earth. 10 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. This rule does not apply to dates, and when round numbers are used without comparison with other numbers it is customary to put them in words. Example: — The population of China in 1743 was about fifteen millions. A comma is used after figures which precede the name of a street. (This is a much disputed rule, and in lists and non-literary matter the comma is for convenience, though undesirably, often omitted after the figures by the printer. Its insertion is, however, necessary both for clear- ness of indication and as a natural breath-pause.) Examples : — Dr. Smith resided at 16, North Street. The offices of the National Music Company are at 72, Wabash Ave., Chicago. Rule V. — The comma is placed before a quo- tation which forms a sentence in itself. Exam- ples: — There is much in the proverb, "Without pains, no gains." A celebrated modern writer says, " Take care of the minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves." But when the words quoted run straight on with the words introducing them, or are preceded by that, no comma should be used before the quotation. Examples : — THE COMMA. 11 Coleridge said he had the habit of seeking for the "good and beautiful" in all his eye beheld. Experience of life teaches us that " it is a great loss to lose an affliction." It may be laid down as an unfailing and universal axiom that " all pride is abject and mean." A comma is placed before an expression which resembles a quotation. Examples : — I say unto all, Watch. I reply, I do and must regard heaven as a world of intercourse and sympathy. Rule VI. — "When the words and, or, nor, join two other words in close connection, no comma is used. Examples: — Pay supreme and undivided homage to goodness and truth. Virtue or vice predominates in every man or woman. An unjust merchant is neither loved nor respected. Rule VII. — When the same words, or words of practically the same meaning, are not joined by and, or, nor, etc., a comma is used between them. Examples: — Lend, lend your wings. Sound, sound the tambourine! Strike, strike the mandoline ! The outward, material world is the shadow of the spiritual. Never was beheld a child fairer, more beautiful. 12 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Rule VIII. — When a word is emphasized by repetition, or amplified as in the three conclud- ing examples to this rule, a comma is placed after both the first and second words. Examples: — Verily, verily, I say unto you. On, on, when honor calls ! Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! Thought, thought, is the fundamental distinction of mind. Reason, virtue, answer one great aim. The earth is filled with the labors, the works, of the dead. The world that is outward, material, is the shadow of that which is spiritual. Rule IX. — The comma must be omitted be- tween two words when the first is inseparable from the second in order to express what is usually conveyed by one word, or is otherwise practically part of the second word. Exam- ples: — The Emperor possessed a beautiful white horse. The part was remarkably well performed. The poet Milton was blind. He himself was never known to complain. Rule X. — When a series of words of the same class is used together, a comma is placed between each. Examples: — Industry, honesty, and temperance are essential to happiness. THE COMMA. 13 Alfred the Great was a brave, pious, and patriotic prince. The spirit of the Almighty is within, around, and above us. Rule XI. — When the first of a series of three words of the same class is preceded by a word which applies to the first and not to the other words, the comma is omitted between the second and third words. Examples: — The characteristics of his mind were real great- ness, strength and sagacity {real belonging to greatness only, not to strength and sagacity). There was much true eloquence, thought and in- spiration in his words (true belonging to elo- quence only, not to thought and inspiration). Rule XII. — If the last word in a series is not joined to the others by and, or, nor, etc., and does not end a sentence, a comma should be placed after it. Examples: — Reputation, virtue, happiness, depend greatly on the choice of companions. Ease, indulgence, luxury, sloth, are the sources of misery. Rule XIII.— -If the last word in a series is joined to the others by and, or, nor, etc., and does not end a sentence, no comma should be placed after it. Example^: — Eeputation, virtue, and happiness depend greatly on the choice of companions. 14 PUNCTUATION SIMPJLIFlUiu. Ease, indulgence, luxury, and sloth are the sources of misery. Rule XIV. — In cases where three words of the same class are placed together, but do not form a series, the word "and" coming between the sec- ond and third, a comma is placed after the first word. Examples: — In Paradise, Adam and Eve reigned supreme. In reference to time, hours and days are of great importance. In respect to eternity, years and ages are noth- ing. According to the Thomsonian philosophy, heat and cold are antagonistic identities. Rule XV. — When groups of words of the same class are connected by and, or, nor, a comma should not be used to separate them, the effect otherwise being stilted. Examples: — Let us freely drink in the soul of love and beauty and wisdom from all nature and art and history. All that charms the eye or the ear or the imagina- tion or the heart is the gift of God. Rule XVI. — A comma should be used to sepa- rate any words coupled together from other such coupled words. Examples: — A Christian spirit may be manifested to Greek or Jew, male or female, friend or foe. Sea and land, heat and cold, life and death, are parts of the same great scheme* THE COMMA. 15 The poor and rich, the weak and strong, have all one Father. We should be devout and humble, cheerful and serene. Rule XVII. — When a word is repeated imme- diately after its first use, a comma should be placed between the words repeated. Exam- ples: — Whatever is, is right. Who does nothing, nothing knows. Rule XVIII. — When a person or thing re- ferred to commences a sentence, and is men- tioned again, another word being used (He, Soc- rates), at the close or in the closing clause of a sentence, a comma should be used before the sec- ond mention. Examples: — He was a distinguished philosopher, Socrates. He seemed wanting in every good affection, Nero. The careless poet of Avon, was he troubled for his fame? He groweth rich, that fawning and supple para- site. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Rule XIX.— -Where a word or phrase is fol- lowed by another word or phrase for the purpose of description, emphasis, development, contrast, or explanation, a comma is placed before such addition, and also after it if the sentence is un- finished. Examples ; — 16 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. The butterfly, child of the summer, (description) flutters in the sun. Homer, the greatest poet of antiquity, (descrip- tion) is said to have been blind. He, and he only, (emphasis) is worthy of our su- preme affections. Poesy is love's chosen apostle, and the very almoner of God (development), Mahomet was a native of Mecca, a city in Arabia (explanation) . The wisest of the Jewish kings, Solomon, (expla- nation) became a fool. The laverock, or lark, (explanation) is distin- guished for its singing. Strong proofs, not a loud voice, (contrast) pro- duce conviction. False delicacy is affectation, not politeness (con- trast). Rule XX. — The comma is omitted when two contrasted words are united by but, though, yet, as well as. Examples: — Csesar delivered his orations in elegant but pow- erful language. He was a great though an erring man. Milton burned with a deep yet calm love of moral grandeur. Hercules had the strength as well as the courage of the lion. Rule XXI. — The above rale is varied when the words not or though precede words con- nected by but or yet, and a comma is inserted. Examples: — THE COMMA. 17 Not beautiful, but graceful. Though black, yet comely. Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull. Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small. Rule XXII. — If a sentence which is complete in itself is continued by an explanatory or con- trasted clause, joined to it by but, for, and, etc., a comma is used to separate the two sections. Examples: — We promise according to our hopes, but perform according to our fears. Economy is no disgrace, for it is better to live on a little than to outlive a great deal. A good conscience is a continual feast, and proves a spring of joy amidst the greatest distresses. Rule XXIII. — Where a sentence expresses an uninterrupted flow of thought, no comma is ad- missible in any part of it, though on a strict application of some of the rules relating to phrases modifying or illustrating other phrases a comma might argumentatively be placed. This is an important rule, the non-intuitive percep- tion of which in practice destroys the flow and force of much rhythmic composition. Exam- ples: — To be totally indifferent to praise or censure is a real defect in character. The good taste of the present age has not allowed 18 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. us to neglect the cultivation of the English lan- guage. In exact proportion to the weight of the truth or the grandeur of a thought was the degree of punishment meted out to him. Past history is full of the pains and penalties visited upon the individual who disturbed the es- tablished order of things by initiating a new truth or living thought. This 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. In China to this day there is no recognition in their national worship or purely indigenous lit- erature of what our theologians call the sense of sin. The early Celts who laid the foundations of our British civilization were far removed by na- ture and by political education from the vulgar type of barbarians with whom the slavish fol- lowing of Roman and ecclesiastical tradition has filled both our learned and popular histories. Rule XXIV. — The use or non-use of the comma before who, which, and that is a source of difficulty, but this need not be if it is remem- bered that the comma is placed before who, which, and that when these words are explana- tory of or additional to what has gone before, and omitted when they are merely a necessary part of the preceding word to indicate the pre- cise kind meant. Examples: — THE COMMA. 19 The child was attached to Jane, who loved him dearly (explanatory). Avoid rudeness of manners, which must hurt the feelings of others (explanatory). What is more wonderful than the human eye, that sees all around 1 ? (additional.) The following are examples showing the pre- cise kind of boy, season, and actions meant, and therefore not requiring the comma before who, which, and that: "a boy who is attentive/' not any boy; "the season which brings our affec- tions to the test, ' ' not any season ; ' ' actions that are of themselves ungracious, ' ' not any actions. Every teacher must love a boy who is attentive and docile. Death is the season which brings our affections to the test. Urbanity often lends a grace to actions that are of themselves ungracious. Rule XXV. — The same rule applies to clauses as to words, those inserted as explanatory re- quiring the comma before and after them, and those which are restricted to a precise definition of words which would otherwise be incomplete not requiring commas either before or after them. Examples: — Macpherson, who has given us some highly orig- inal images, (explanatory) spoils half his work by forgetting that his bard was a Gaul. Slaves and savages, who receive no education, (ex- planatory) are proverbially indolent. 20 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. The memory of the eyes that hung over a man in infancy and childhood will haunt him through all his after life (restrictive).— (" The eyes that hung over," not any eyes, and therefore no comma before or after.) There is a philosophic spirit which is far more valuable than any limited acquirements of phi- losophy (restrictive). — ("The philosophic spirit which is far more valuable," not any spirit.) Rule XXVI.— Parenthetical phrases and short expressions are separated by commas from the other portion of the sentence. Parenthetical phrases are parts of sentences necessary to their full meaning, whereas parentheses (see p. 47) are capable of being omitted without necessarily impairing the sense. Examples: — The sun, with all its attendant planets, is but a very little part of the grand machine of the uni- verse. The benevolent and pious man, even when perse- cuted, is, on the whole, a happy man. Books, regarded merely as a gratification, are worth more than all the luxuries on earth. Study, I beseech you, to store your minds with the exquisite learning of former ages. It is mind, after all, which does the work of the world. The ship leaps, as it were, from billow to billow. Thou knowest, come what may, that the light of Truth cannot be put out. Simple truths, when simply explained, are more easily comprehended, I believe, than is com- monly supposed. THE COMMA. 21 Rule XXVII.— A comma is inserted after a phrase which is introductory to, or explanatory of, the remainder of the sentence. Examples: — - Generally speaking, the conduct of that man is honorable. Crowded in filth, the poor cease to respect one another. Cradled in the camp, Napoleon was the darling of his army. Speaking in round numbers, he made one hundred thousand dollars. Raising his head from the earth, man looks be- fore and after. Rule XXVIII. — When one section of a sen- tence relates to or modifies another section, and the parts are closely connected in sense, a comma is not necessary between the two sections. Ex- amples: — Cultivate your intellectual powers by habits of study and reflection. The idea is very happily applied under one of its forms. A year is much in human life to the very young and very old. But the comma must be inserted when words which break the direct connection (as those printed in italics in the examples) are introduced between one section of a sentence and another. Examples : — 22 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Cultivate your intellectual powers, especially by habits of study and reflection. The idea is very happily applied, at least under one of its forms. A year is very much in human life, particularly to the very young and very old. Rule XXIX. — When a sentence is inverted, the inverted portion should be divided by a comma from what would otherwise have been the com- mencement of the sentence. In the examples (1) and (2) is shown in italics what is meant by an inverted sentence, with the comma properly placed. Examples : — (1) Old age presents a scene of tranquil enjoy- ment to the wise and good.— To the wise and good, old age presents a scene of tranquil en- joyment. (2) Sight is the most perfect and delightful of all our senses.— Of all our senses, sight is the most perfect and delightful. It is, however, not necessary to insert a comma between brief inverted phrases where no ob- scurity of sense is created by its omission. Ex- amples: — (1) Humanity is built on pity.— On pity human- ity is built. (2) The mind is peculiarly ductile in infancy.' — In infancy the mind is peculiarly ductile. Rule XXX. — When one part of a phrase is dependent on another part for its completion, THE COMMA. 23 the two parts are separated by a comma. The first part of such phrases usually implies a con- dition, or limitation or expansion of idea. Examples: — Since none enjoy all blessings, be content with a few. Andrew went to California, where he does a flourishing business. Make up your mind to do a thing, and you will do it. Fill thy heart with goodness, and thou wilt find that the world is full of good. When pride cometh, then cometh shame. Rule XXXI. — 'When two related expressions are united by as or than, no comma is used. Examples: — Men are never so easily deceived as when they plot to deceive. Do not spend more time in bed than is required for sleep. Rule XXXII — But when any other word than as or than unites two such related expressions, a comma is used. Examples: — If you know that your object is good, then with- out hesitation seek it. Though Truth is fearless and absolute, yet she is meek and modest. Such as the tree is, such will be the fruit. 24 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Rule XXXIII. — When two or more phrases or clauses are complementary to each other, a comma is used between each phrase, and at the end of the last phrase if the sentence is not completed. Examples : — Suffering often calls forth our best feelings, and the highest energies of the mind. Speak as you mean, do as you profess, and per- form what you promise. Regret for the past, grief at the present, and anx- iety respecting the future, are plagues which affect the generality of men. Rule XXXIV. — In a compound sentence, words that are understood, but omitted, should be represented by a comma. Examples: — The benevolent man is esteemed; the pernicious, condemned. The young are slaves to novelty; the old, to cus- tom. But when short clauses are joined by and, or, nor, but, or when a series of clauses is given, the comma should be omitted where the word is understood, and a comma be inserted after the first clause. Examples: — Life is precarious, and death certain. Concession is no humiliation, nor admission of error any disgrace. Mathematicians have sought knowledge in figures, THE COMMA. 25 philosophers in systems, logicians in subtleties, and metaphysicians in sounds. Some men are eminent for what they possess, some for what they achieve, and others for what they are. Note.— In Rules XIX., and XXIV. and XXV. the words 6 £ contrast, ' ' ' 6 description/ ? ' ' development, ' ' " explanatory, ' ' etc., printed in italics, are placed in parenthesis before the comma when the comma is necessary to the par- ticular phase of the Rule. The use of the comma before a parenthesis or dash depends on whether the comma belongs to the preceding clause irre- spective of the introduction of the parenthesis or dash. V THE SEMI-COLON. The Semi-Colon [ ;] is a point which is used when one part of a sentence is not quite so closely related to the other part as when a comma is used. It may be said to indicate a slight development of the original thought. Its use must therefore depend on whether or not the character of the composition — philosophic, scientific, or purely literary — requires nice dis- tinction in order to bring out the full meaning of the writer (see Rule II.). In philosophic and scientific works it is generally necessary to use the semi-colon where a comma would be used in ordinary composition. The rules given here show its more general use, though its stricter application has not been lost sight of. Rule I. — Short, but slightly connected, com- plete sentences should be separated by a semi- colon. Examples: — . We love liberty ; we glory in the rights of men ; we glory in independence. -There is good for the good; there is victory for the valiant; there is spirituality for the spir- itual. The epic poem recites the exploits of a hero; tragedy reptesents a disastrous event; comedy 27 28 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. ridicules the vices and follies of mankind; pas- toral poetry describes rural life; and elegy dis- plays the tender emotions of the heart. Rule II. — When it is desired to indicate more emphatically the various statements in a sen- tence otherwise capable of being separated by the use of a comma, a semi-colon is used. Example : — " These thirty-seven volumes," says Mr. Freder- ick Harrison in his notice of " The Complete Ruskin," " contain enough teaching about build- ings to equip a leading authority in Architec- ture; enough teaching about Painting to found a school; enough material to base a general his- tory of Art; enough history to give a new read- ing to the Middle Ages; enough about Poetry to make a master in criticism; enough of Economy to create a special type of Socialism; enough verse to rival an average minor poet; enough of perfect prose to place him beside Bacon and Burke for his inimitable style." Rule III.— When a sentence is otherwise com- plete in itself, and an addition in the nature of an afterthought, or an expansion or sequence of the primary statement, is made to it, a semi- colon is used between such sentence and the addition. Examples: — j It is the first point of wisdom to ward off evils; the second, to make them beneficial. The noblest prophets and apostles have been chil- THE SEMI-COLON. dren once; lisping the speech, laughing the laugh, thinking the thought, of boyhood. So, also, we play with the words of the dead that would teach us, and strike them far from us with our bitter, reckless will; little thinking that those leaves which the wind scatters had been piled, not only upon a gravestone, but upon the seal of an enchanted vault. Rule IV. — "When sections of a sentence are divided by a comma, a semi-colon is placed be- tween each section. Examples: — In a lawyer's hands we trust only our property, but that is an important trust; in a physician's, a far more important trust, our lives. In the hope of a dynasty, Napoleon upheld the Crescent; for the sake of a divorce, he bowed before the Cross; the orphan of St. Louis, he became the adopted child of the Republic; and, with a parricidal ingratitude, on the ruins both of the Crown and the Tribune he reared the throne of his despotism. Note.— A semi-colon is sometimes placed be- fore viz., i.e., to wit, when they precede details of statement, as, for example, ' 1 Some men dis- tinguish the period of the world into four ages ; viz., the golden age, the silver age, the bronze age, and the iron age. " But the use of the semi-colon in such cases is not recommended. 1 THE COLON. The Colon [ :] is used when the part which follows it has but a remote connection with the part which precedes it, and yet is sufficiently a portion of the whole as not to justify its entire separation by the use of a full point. The colon is seldom used in ordinary composition except before an enumeration of details, but in dis- tinctly literary and philosophic works its use is frequent and effective. Rule I. — A colon is used when a complete clause is not joined by for, but, and, etc., to an additional clause which illustrates, or expands the idea of, the first clause. Examples: — Avoid affectation: it is a contemptible weakness. Endeavor to excel: much may be accomplished by perseverance. Nor was the religion of the Greek drama a mere form: it was full of truth, spirit, and power. Rule II. — A colon is used before a quotation unless the quotation is short and closely con- nected with the words preceding it. Exam- ples: — Silvio Pellico, in his excellent work, " The Duties of Man/ 7 thus remarks : " To love our country 31 32 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. with truly elevated feeling, we ought to begin by supplying it, in ourselves, with citizens of whom that country need not be ashamed." Ruskin, writing on the subject of lying, says : " Do not let us lie at all. Do not think of one fal- sity as harmless, and another as slight, and an- other as unintended." An example of a short quotation, referred to in Eule II., not requiring to be preceded by a colon, is as follows: — In reply to my question he answered, " No." Rule III. — A colon is used before a definite statement, or a course of reasoning, as distinct from any actual quotation, when formally in- troduced. Examples : — Be our plain answer this: We will not submit to arbitrary dictation. Now, pray, remember this: Unmixed carbonic acid gas, when inhaled, is a deadly poison. When the love of fame acts upon a man of genius, the case appears to stand thus: The generality of the world, distinguished by the name of read- ers, observe, with a reluctance not unnatural, a person raising himself above them. Rule IV. — A colon precedes a report of a sj. eech when the actual words of the speaker are Uk£d. Example : — IFhe Chairman, addressing the meeting, said: My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, it gives me great THE COLON. 33 pleasure to bring before your notice the cause we all have so much at heart. Rule V. — Numerical statements, lists of ar- ticles, and enumeration of subjects, are preceded by a colon. Examples: — In 1902 the Registrar's returns for England and Wales were: Births, 940,509; marriages, 261,- 750; deaths, 535,538. A glance round the room showed its contents to consist of the following: a table, two chairs, a couch, and a few miscellaneous articles. Let us take, in illustration, three poets, in an as- cending scale of intellectual precedence: Keats, the representative of sensitiveness; Byron, of wilfulness: Shakespeare, of self-direction. Rule VI. — The part of a sentence introducing passages which are sub-divided by commas and semi-colons is followed by a colon. Examples: The scene before him was grand in the extreme: the hills, rock-ribbed, and ancient as the sun; the vales, stretching in pensive quietness be- tween; the venerable woods; rivers, moving in majesty; the complaining brooks, making the meadows green ; and around all, old ocean's grey and melancholy waste. To him who, in the love of Nature, holds commune with her visible forms, she speaks a various lan- guage: for his gayer hours, she has a voice of gladness, and a smile, and eloquence of beauty; and she glides into his darker musings with a 34 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. mild and gentle sympathy that steals away their sharpness ere he is aware. Rule VII. — When sentences comprising pas- sages which are sub-divided by commas and semi-colons are terminated by words which sum- marize or contrast the preceding portion, a colon is used before such terminating words. Ex- amples: — Everyone 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 infal- lible and being very firmly convinced of the truth of our creed. The poorest artisan in Rome, walking in Caesar's gardens, had the same pleasures which they min- istered 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 plaee as delightful. THE PERIOD, OR FULL POINT. The strictly legitimate use of a period or full point [.] is very limited, being confined to the termination of a complete and independent sen- tence which is not exclamative or interroga- tive. Rule I. — A sentence which is complete in itself is usually closed with a full point. Ex- amples: — Truth is the basis of every virtue. The right is the supreme good, and includes all other goods. This calamity is peculiar to man. The inferior tribes knew nothing of it. They obey the laws of their life. Rule II. — A full point is used after abbrevia- tions of words, initials, between shillings and ^pence, and after and between letters of the al- phabet when used instead of numerals. Be- fore decimals the full point is inverted, and no point is used between the two capital L's in LL.D. and LL.B. Examples: — Dr. H. Marsh, F.R.S., LL.D., Bishop of Peter- borough, b. 1757, d. 1839. W. H. Marshall, jun., Esq., M.D., F.R.S., F.A.S., succeeded his father on his retirement from practice. 35 36 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. The resolution was carried nem. con. (nemine con-' tradicente) . The average was 5 '3 in one case, 5*36 in another , and 14*152 in another. The price was raised from 13s. 4d. to 15s. 10d., and later to £1 2s. 6y 2 d. The learned divine referred to Gen. vi. 12, 13 ; Psalm lxv. 2, lxxviii. 39; Acts ii. 17, and 1 Cor. i. 29. Edward VII. succeeded to the throne January 22nd, 1901. James IV. fell at the battle of Flodden. Julius Caesar invaded Britain B.C. 55 and 54. The Roman period embraced 465 years, from B.C. 55 to A.D. 410. We left by the Grand Central through express from 42nd St., at 4.25 p.m. and arrived at Poughkeepsie at 6.23 p.m. The sun rose at 4.26 a.m. and set at 7.46 p.m. M.DCCC.LV. (1855). (Capital letters are some- times used for figures in this way in title-pages of books and in inscriptions.) Note. — It is permissible to use a full point between two parts of a short sentence, joined by but, and, etc., and between two parts of a long sentence when either of the parts can be sub-divided. Examples of the use of the full point between two parts of a short sentence are frequent in the Bible, and examples of its use between long sentences are to be met with in works of a literary and philosophic character; but for the purposes of this Manual a brief statement as to its use in these respects, since it THE PERIOD OR FULL POINT. 37 is not general and depends largely on the au- thor, is deemed sufficient. The use of the full point in title-pages, catalogues, head-lines, etc., is also not detailed here, since it varies in dif- ferent printing-houses. V THE INTERROGATION. The Note of Interrogation [?] indicates that a question is asked, though a reply may not be necessarily expected. Rule I. — The interrogation is placed at the end of a question, and usually terminates the sentence in the same way as the full point. Examples: — What time is it? Are you going 1 ? Do you think so? Who can look only at the muscles of the hand, and doubt that man was made to work? There is much in him that is commendable, is there not? Rule II. — When it is stated that a question has been asked, or an enquiry is made which is not in its construction a direct question, the note of interrogation should not be used. Examples: I was asked if I would stay. I shall be glad if you will inform me whether I am right in my surmise. The question is not what we might actually wish with our present views, but what with juster views we ought to wish. 39 40 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Rule III. — Sometimes a question is interroga- tive in sense though assertive in construction, but in such cases a note of interrogation is used. Examples: — "You will stop to dinner?" "You are an Irish- man ? " " There is nothing I can do for you ? 99 "You are not a teetotaller?" The Phoenicians invented letters, but what did they do with them? Apply them to the record, the diffusion, transmission and preservation of knowledge ? Rule IV. — When several successive questions, though connected in sense, are distinct in con- struction, a note of interrogation should be placed after each such distinct question. Exam- ples: — What glow is on thy face? what sudden light? " Are there not seasons of spring in the moral world? and is not the present age one of them?" " What is civilization ? Where is it ? What does it consist in? By what sign is it known? In short, what does it mean ? " Rule V. — When successive questions are de- pendent on each other for completion of what is really one sub-divided question, a note of inter- rogation is placed at the end only, and not also between the parts as in the previous rule. — Example : — THE INTERROGATION. 41 Whither now are fled those dreams of greatness; those busy, bustling days; those gay-spent, fes- tive nights; those veering thoughts, lost between good and ill, that shared thy life'? Rule VI. — When a question concludes with some words which are quoted, but which words are not in themselves interrogative, the note of interrogation must be placed outside the marks of quotation. Examples: — Even to the plain, ordinary denizens of this world, what can be more interesting than u the passing crowd 99 ? Greece, indeed, fell; but how did she fall? Did she fall like Babylon? Did she fall "like Lu- cifer, never to hope again 99 ? I ask the hon. member, does he mean to imply that our party is vanishing " like pale ghosts " ? If so, I ask him, in the words of Hamlet, " Whither wilt thou lead me?" [Note.— In this example the last question is embraced in the quotation, and therefore the note of interrogation goes within the quotation marks.] Rule VII. — When a long quotation is intro- duced by a question, the note of interrogation should be placed before the quotation; but where the quotation is so short that the fact of its being introduced by a question is not likely to be lost sight of, it is better to precede the quotation by a colon and place the note of in- terrogation at the end of, and outside, the marks of quotation. Examples: — 42 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Who will deny the force of this passage from Rus- kin ? u And seeing that, of all sin, there is, per- haps, no one more flatly opposite to the Al- mighty, no one more wanting the good of virtue and of being, than this of lying, it is surely a strange insolence to fall into the foulness of it on light or no temptation." (Example where the interrogation precedes the quotation.) Do you think this proverb is as applicable to-day as it was in J ob's time : " Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days 99 ? (Example where the interrogation fol- lows the quotation.) THE EXCLAMATION. The Exclamation [ !] denotes admiration, surprise, emotion, passion, etc. Its proper use is very effective in certain styles of composi- tion, but there is a general tendency to use it too freely. Rule I. — The note of exclamation is placed after the word or words constituting a form of address when preceded by O. Examples: — Tremble, 0 man! whoever thou art. 0 Freedom! thou art not, as poets dream, a fair young girl. 0 Shakespeare and Nature! which of you copied your pieces from the other's works'? 0 sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant, mother of science! now I feel thy power within me. The heavens and earth, 0 Lord! proclaim Thy boundless power. When, 0 my countrymen! will you begin to exert your vigor? Rule II. — The note of exclamation is used after oh, ah, alas, what, and similar emotional expressions. Examples : — Oh! you are wounded. Ah! that was something to remember. 43 44 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Alas! what can I say? Alas! those happy days are gone. What! is it only in dreams that such things oc- cur? Rule III. — But when oh, alas, ah, what, how form the commencement of a phrase which is exclamative as a whole, the note of exclamation is not placed after the word, but at the end of the phrase, the comma being placed after oh, ah, alas, or omitted, as the flow of the phrase sug- gests. Examples: — Oh the grave! the grave! Oh that men should put an enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains! Oh, bloodiest picture in the book of time! Oh, what a glorious part you may act on the the- atre of humanity! Ah the laborious indolence of him who has nothing • to do! Alas for the man who has not learned to work! Alas that folly and falsehood should be so hard to grapple with ! Alas, poor Yorick ! — Alas, my noble boy ! What a piece of work is man ! What noble institutions! what a comprehensive policy! what wise equalization of every political advantage ! How dear to this heart are the scenes of my child- hood ! How beautiful is all this visible world ! It is beau- tiful in its action and in itself. THE EXCLAMATION. 45 Rule IV. — Apart from exclamative phrases which are commenced by the words dealt with in Rules II. and III., a note of exclamation should be used at the conclusion of any phrase or sentence which is really exclamative in its nature. Examples : — Behold the daughter of Innocence! Would that we had maintained our humble state! Praise to the men for whose writings I am the better and wiser! Impelled by some innate principle, how natural it is for us to scan the face in search of those signs which so readily reveal the hidden depths of psychical life ! Rule V. — When impassioned words are used, or an impassioned speech is introduced by words of address, an exclamation should be used after such words. Examples: — Up, comrades, up! Out, out, Lucetta ! — Live, live, ye incomparable pair! All hail, ye patriots brave! Rouse, ye Romans! rouse, ye slaves! Charge, Chester, charge ! on, Stanley, on ! Friends, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear. Rule VI. — A note of exclamation is used after ejaculatory words. Examples: — Bah ! Ugh ! Ha, ha, ha ! Fie, fie, fie ! 46 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Rule VII.— When intense expressions or phrases follow each other, an exclamation is used after each. Examples: — Daughter of Faith, awake! arise! The secret I implore: out with it! speak! discover! utter ! Rule VIII. — The placing of the note of ex- clamation within or without quotation marks follows the same plan as that stated for the Note of Interrogation, Rule VI. (p. 41), which is, briefly, that when the exclamation belongs to the words quoted, and not to the words which introduce the quotation, the exclamation goes inside the last quotation mark; and when the exclamation belongs to the words which intro- duce the quotation, and not to the words which are quoted, the note of exclamation is placed outside the last quotation marks. Examples: And heart-stricken we cry, " Oh that those lips had language ! " At such a sight we involuntary exclaim, " How mysterious are the ways of Providence ! 99 Think of the ills " which flesh is heir to " ! " It is perfectly allowable," says Lord Suffolk, " to use all the means that God and nature have put into our hands " ! My Lords, we are called upon to protest against such horrible barbarity! " That God and nature have put into our hands" ! What ideas of God and nature that noble lord may entertain, I know not. MARKS OF PARENTHESIS. Marks of Parenthesis ( ) are used to enclose words which are placed in a sentence to explain or illustrate it, but which words can be omitted without impairing the completeness of the sen- tence otherwise. They should only be used when the words which they enclose are distinctly separate in sense or construction from the sen- tence, more closely connected interpolations be- ing sufficiently indicated by the use of commas. Rule I. — When a person is referred to by a description or title, and his name is given after such description or title, the name is placed be- tween marks of parenthesis. Examples: — The gentleman who has just addressed you (Mr. Jackson) has left me little to say. The words used by the late Archbishop of Canter- bury (Dr. Temple) have been often quoted. Rule II. — When in a simple sentence a state- ment is made which is an interpolation, the statement is enclosed within marks of paren- thesis. Examples : — "Are you still (I fear you are) far from being completely settled ? " If we exercise right principles (and we cannot 47 48 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. have them unless we exercise them), they must be perpetually on the increase. The finest images which Joseph Hall conjures up (and many of them are wonderfully fine) never displace the great truths for the sake of which they are admitted. Rule III. — When an incidental remark, en- quiry, or exclamation is thrown in, such remark, enquiry, or exclamation should be enclosed by marks of parenthesis. Examples: — Pleasure (whene'er she sings, at least) ? s a siren. Left now to himself (malice could not wish him a worse admirer), he resolves on a desperate pro- ject. Know, then, this truth (enough for man to know) : Virtue alone is happiness. While they wish to please (and why should they not wish it*?), they disdain dishonorable means. The rocks (hard-hearted varlets!) melted not into tears. Consider (and may the consideration sink deep into your hearts!) the fatal consequences of a wicked life. Not a few are the incitements of the working classes (would they were greater!) to the ac- cumulation of property. Rule IV. — When an explanatory reference is made in a statement it is enclosed in marks of parenthesis. Examples : — In the passage quoted (vol. i., p. 29) the author's meaning is quite clear to one of ordinary intel- ligence. MARKS OF PARENTHESIS. 49 When Saul was most energetic against the disci- ples (Acts ix. 1, 2), the turning-point in his life was at hand. The Egyptian style of architecture (see Dr. Po- cock; not his discourses, but his prints) was ap- parently the mother of the Greek. Rule V. — Sometimes, though rarely, a paren- thetical explanation or statement is made at the end of a sentence, when marks of parenthesis are used to close the sentence. Examples: — The air was mild as Summer, all corn 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). 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. Rule VI. — Sometimes a whole sentence, or more than one sentence, is parenthetical, and should be commenced with a capital letter and enclosed in parentheses, including a final point. Example: — A certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Beth- any, 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.) A further example of this Eule is given on p. 10, lines 8 to 14. THE DASH. The Dash [ — ] is chiefly used when the con- struction of a sentence indicates an abrupt breaking off from the original train of thought. Like the notes of interrogation and exclama- tion, the dash is very effective when used with discrimination, but its too free use is mislead- ing and unsightly. Rule I. — When there is an unexpected turn given to a sentence the dash is used. Exam- ples: — He sometimes counsel takes — and sometimes snuff. Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, but — not live for it. You have given the command to a person of il- lustrious birth, of ancient family, of innumerable statues, but — of no experience. The people lifted up their voices, and blessed the good St. Nicholas; and, from that time forth, the sage Van Kortland was held in more honor than ever, and was pronounced a most useful citizen and a right good man — when he was asleep. Rule II.— -When the first part of a sentence is followed by words which give an elocutionary character to the whole, a dash is used between 51 52 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. the introductory words and the others. The comma is also retained before the dash when, as in the first and third examples following, it would be used whether the dash were used also or not. Examples: — Greece, Carthage, Rome,— where are they? The pages of history — how is it that they are so dark and sad? Then the eye of a child — who can look unmoved into that u well undefiled " in which heaven it- self seems to be reflected? Leonidas, Cato, Phocion, Tell,— one peculiarity marks them all: they dared and suffered for their native land. Rule III. — "When a sentence is abruptly broken off, the dash is used at the part where the break occurs. Examples: — Was there ever a bolder captain of a more valiant band? Was there ever — but I scorn to boast. Hast thou — but how shall I ask a question which must bring tears into so many eyes? Thou dost not mean — no, no ; thou wouldst not have me make a trial of skill upon my child! Rule IV.— When a person speaking is inter- rupted by another person, a dash is placed where the interruption occurs, though the dash used in such cases is generally twice the length of the ordinary dash. Examples: — "I forgot my — * — " "Your umbrella?" hastily interrupted Janet. THE DASH. 53 " Please, your honor/' quoth Trim, " the Inquisi- tion is the vilest ■ " " Prithee, spare thy description, Trim; I hate the very name of it," said my father. Rule V. — A double length dash is used when a name or a word is omitted or suggested but not given. Examples: — The party consisted of Lord H — — , Captain C , and Mr. G . As the card was handed to Mrs. — ■ — , she said, " John, what did you say to the lady t 99 He used such 61 swear words " as d — • — , etc. Rule VI. — The double-length dash is used when two or more sentences or clauses lead up to a termination which is of a strongly expres- sive or pathetic character. Examples: — Frankness, suavity, tenderness, benevolence, breathed through their exercise. And his family But he is gone: that noble heart beats no more. In thirty years the western breeze had not fanned his blood: he had seen no sun, no moon, in all that time; nor had the voice of friend or kins- man breathed through his lattice. His children but here my breast began to bleed, and I was forced to go on with another part of the portrait. Rule VII. — When ejaculatory words are used a dash separates them from the other words. Examples: — 54 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. With one hand the monster grasps his knife, and with the other — ah, cousin ! — with the other he seized — a ham. I take — eh ! oh ! — as much exercise — eh ! — as I can, Madame Gout. Eule VIII. — The dash is used before a word or phrase repeated in such a manner as to form what is termed an echo. Examples: — You speak like a boy, — like a boy who thinks the old, gnarled oak can be twisted as easily as the young sapling. Never is virtue left without sympathy,— sympathy dearer and tenderer for the misfortune that has tried it and proved its fidelity. Shall I, who was born, I might almost say, but certainly brought up, in the tent of my father, that most excellent general,— shall I, the con- queror of Spain and Gaul, and not only of the Alpine nation, but of the Alps themselves, — shall I compare myself with this half-year cap- tain? Rule IX. — When a parenthetical remark is introduced between words which are repeated as in the last example, a dash is placed both before and after the marks of parenthesis. Exam- ples: — " When I am old — (and, oh, how soon Will life's sweet morning yield to noon!) — When I am old, this breezy earth Will lose for me its voice of mirth." THE DASH. 55 Then I told what a tall, upright, graceful person their great grand-mother Field once was, and how in her youth she was esteemed the best dan- cer — (here Alice's little right foot played an involuntary movement, till, upon my looking grave, it desisted) — the best dancer, I was say- ing, in the country. Rule X. — When a series of rhetorical (as dis- tinct from other styles of composition) phrases is used cumulatively to enforce a certain con- clusion, a dash is used at the end of the series and immediately before the conclusion arrived at. Examples: — That patriotism which, catching its inspirations from the immortal God, and leaving at an im- measurable distance below all lesser, grovelling, 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 public virtues. The affections 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. Rule XI. — If a dramatic effect is sought, or arises from the nature of the composition, a 56 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. dash is used immediately before the dramatic passage. Example : — Lord Cardinal! if thou think'st on heaven's bliss, Hold up thy hand; make signal of that hope.— He dies, and makes no sign. Rule XII. — When a remark which is explana- tory, or an intermediary expression, is intro- duced in a sentence, and it is not of a distinctly parenthetical nature, a dash is used before and after it. Examples: — In pure description,— such as is not warmed by passion, or deepened by philosophical reflection, — Shelley is a great master. There are times — they only can understand who have known them — when passion is dumb. It was under the influence of impulse — the im- pulse of nature on his own poetic spirit — that Burns went forth singing in glory and in joy on the mountain side. The finest displays of power, — such as those which delineate Prometheus blessing mankind and de- fying the thunder of Jove, even when fastened to the barren rock, with the vulture tugging at his heart,— what are they but the principles which have animated men who have struck for freedom ? Rule XIII. — When such words as namely, that is, etc., are understood, but not used, the dash may take their place. Examples: — THE DASH; 57 The four greatest names in English poetry are al- most the first we come to — Chaucer, Spencer, Shakespeare, and Milton. Kings and their subjects, masters and slaves, find a common level in two places — at the foot of the cross, and the grave. Rule XIV. — The dash is generally used after a comma when addressing a person in a business communication. Example : — Dear Sir,— I beg to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 5th inst. Note. — Printers use a dash after a title form- ing a note-head to a paragraph, before the name of the author when given at the end of a quo- tation or paragraph, between questions and short answers when printed in the same paragraphs, and in other instances; but as its use in these particulars depends largely upon what is known as "the style of the house," it is not thought necessary to go into further detail here. THE APOSTROPHE. The Apostrophe [ 7 ] is used before or after an s when the word indicates possession of any- thing. It is also used in place of letters omitted from a word, or when the word is shortened. Rule I. — When a word shows that something is possessed an apostrophe is used before the terminating letter s if the word does not indi- cate more than one, or is formed by altering a letter to indicate more than one, and after the terminating s if the word indicates more than one. It is also used at the end of a word where, in order to avoid the hissing sound, the s is omitted. Examples : — John's hat blew off.— The ox's hide. A friend should bear a friend's infirmities. Tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep. 0 majestic Night, Nature's great ancestor, Day's elder born ! On eagle's wings he seemed to soar. — Our ene- mies' resistance. The four poets' verses were excellent examples of their styles. The soldiers' chargers were well groomed. Men's, women's, and children's voices were all mingled together. The people's shouts were long and loud. 59 60 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. For quietness' sake the man would not enter into any dispute. For conscience' sake he made amends. It was counted unto him for righteousness' sake. Rule II. — Names of people which end in es sounded as a distinct syllable take only the apostrophe after them, but names of people of one or two syllables and ending in es which is not pronounced separately take both the apos- trophe after the es and a terminating s. Ex- amples: — Hodges' thoughts were deep. Apelles' portraits. Xerxes' fleet. Bridges' " Punctuation Simpli- fied." St. James's Church. Burns's poems. Jones's groceries. St. Thomas's Hospital. Rule III.— The apostrophe is used where let- ters are omitted from a word, or when a word is shortened. Examples: — 'Mid such a heavenly scene as this, death is an empty name. 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights un- holy. Go to, I'll no more of 't : it hath made me mad. And in the following words: I've (I have), 'em (them), i' the (in the), o'er (over), don't (do not), 'gainst (against), he's (he is), ne'er (never), thou'rt (thou art), 'tis (it is), who'd (who would), you'll (you will). THE APOSTROPHE. 61 Rule IV. — In cases like the following the apostrophe is used before the s. Examples: — Mark all the a's and o's in your exercise. In this sum there are four 2's and three 5's. Note. — Sometimes the word borough is con- tracted into bro', or boro' with the apostrophe at the end, but the contraction is undesirable. THE HYPHEN. The Hyphen [-] is used both to join and di- vide words. Rule I. — When a prefix ends, and the word to which it is attached begins, with a vowel, both vowels being separately pronounced, a hyphen is generally used to join them. Examples: — A man of pre-eminence in his profession. Man possesses the great privilege of co-operating with his beneficent Creator. Ben Jonson, the great dramatist, was co-eval with Shakespeare. To-day, to-night, to-morrow, are invariably printed with a hyphen. Example: — Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day. Rule II. — When two words are used in such a manner as to make them practically one, a hyphen joins them. Examples: — Better be trampled in the dust than trample on a fellow-creature. He spoke no warrior-word, he bade no trumpet blow. 63 64 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Imagination is the truth-seeing and the beauty- seeing power. Rule III. — On the use of the hyphen in com- pound words the author has obtained permis- sion to print the following extract from the ex- cellent " Rules for Compositors and Readers employed at the Clarendon Press, Oxford," compiled by Mr. Horace Hart, Printer to the University of Oxford : — Such compound nouns, and similar words in fa- miliar use having but one accent, as — Birdcage Hourglass Blackbird Mantelpiece Bricklayer Nowadays Byway Seaport Byword Teapot Dressmaker Watchcase Hairdresser Wheelbarrow Handkerchief have each become from familiar use one word, and require no hyphen. Compound words of more than one accent, as apple-tree, cherry-pie, gravel-walk, etc., require the hyphen; as well as those which follow: — By-and-by Never-ending By-law One-and-twenty By-the-by One-eighth Court-martial Serio-comic Cousin-german Starting-point THE HYPHEN. 65 Good-bye Step-father Half-crown Title-deeds, etc. Half-dozen But half an inch, half a dozen, etc., require no hyphen. The use of the hyphen in the above-quoted " Rules' ' is sufficient guide to its application to compound words. Rule IV. — Descriptive phrases should be joined by a hyphen. Examples: — Some out-of-the-world place; a matter-of-fact- looking person; long-looked-for news. Rule V. — When a descriptive word or phrase precedes the person or thing described, a hyphen should be used, but not when it follows the per- son or thing described. Examples: — A well-known statesman. The statesman was well known. It is a well-known fact. The fact is well known. A nineteenth-century invention. The invention was of the nineteenth century. But when the descriptive word ends in "ly" the hyphen is not generally used. Examples: — A newly built house. That lately formed engage- ment. Rule VI. — Preference is to be given to divid- ing words at such parts as indicate their origin, 66 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. particularly on the vowel, rather than at the parts indicating their pronunciation. Affixes should always be sharply separated from the root word in dividing. In printing offices it is a recognised rule that unless the lines are very narrow, words are not divided on a single-letter or two-letter syllable at the commencement or a two-letter syllable at the end. Examples: — Prophet, an-ti-po-des, ha-bit, tri-bute, re-ve-la- tion, sing-ing, con-fess-ing, com-bat-ing, de-part- ed, re-gard-ed, bi-o-gra-pher. MARKS OF QUOTATION. Marks of Quotation [" "] consist of two in- verted commas at the beginning, and two apos- trophes at the end, of the words of an author or speaker quoted, or titles of books. Rule I. — When actual words written by another person are introduced into one's own composition, such words are placed in marks of quotation; but if another author's words are adapted, quotation marks are unnecessary. Ex- amples: — Socrates said, " I believe that the soul is immor- tal."— Socrates said he believed in the immor- tality of the soul. After Cicero, the literary history of the Romans is written in one line of Tacitus : " As adulation increased, great minds were deterred."— Great minds were deterred as adulation increased, ac- cording to Tacitus. " We can see Nature through the spectacles of books," says Dry den.— He saw Nature, as Dry- den expresses it, through the spectacles of books. When Fenelon's library was on fire, " God be praised," said he, " that it is not the dwelling of a poor man." In newspaper reporting, however, it is not usual to quote speeches even when the actual words of the speaker are given. 67 68 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. Rule II. — When quotations are made without any introductory matter, but merely with the words 4 4 says St. Augustine/' 6 'he said/' etc., placed after the first appropriate clause in the quotation, marks of quotation are used where the words quoted begin and end, and again where the words quoted are recommenced and ended. Examples: — " There is but one object/' says St. Augustine, " greater than the soul ; and that one is the Cre- ator." u Let me make the ballads of a nation," said Fletcher of Saltoun, " and I care not who makes its laws." " I rise," he said, " to a point of order." Rule III. — When a speaker or writer repeats words which he has previously spoken or writ- ten, such words should be placed within marks of quotation. Examples: — I draw attention to what I said on a former oc- casion, that " no man can be happy who is des- titute of good feelings and generous principles." What I am now saying must be regarded in the light of my previous statement, that " it is al- ways better to be prepared for an emergency likely to arise." Rule IV. — Where the title of a book is re- ferred to in a sentence, such title is quoted. Examples: — MARKS OF QUOTATION. 69 You should read Carlyle's " The French Revolu- tion." Ruskin, in his " Seven Lamps of Architecture," says that there is a marked likeness between the virtue of man and the enlightenment of the globe he inhabits. Johnson's " Lives of the English Poets " may justly be considered as the noblest specimen of elegant and solid criticism which any age has produced. Rule V. — When a word or phrase is used in a manner which draws special attention to it, such word or phrase is quoted. Examples: — We find the word " pharisaical " very useful in our modern speech. I am not sure but that the " golden age " of man- ners is to begin among those who are now de- . spaired of for their want of refinement. Rule VI. — When a quotation occurs within a quotation, single marks of quotation are used for the inner quotations. Examples: — The speaker went on : " It is well for us always to remember that ■ all that glitters is not gold/ " Trench well says, " What a lesson the word 6 dili- gence ' contains. The only secret of true indus- try in our work is love of that work." Apart from the examples given above, when several complete paragraphs are quoted, marks of quotation commence each paragraph, and if 70 PUNCTUATION SIMPLIFIED. in the course of these quoted paragraphs an in- ner quotation occurs which is carried on to the next paragraph, such paragraph commences with both double and single marks of quotation. BRACKETS. Brackets [ ] are used to enclose words or phrases which are explanatory; but they must not be confused with parentheses, which have a wider and more literary purpose. When brack- ets are used in quotations it is not necessary to close and begin again the marks of quotation be- fore and after the brackets. Rule I. — When it is desired to show what a thing is, brackets are used to enclose the refer- ence. It will be noticed that in the definitions of the various points treated in this Manual, each point as it comes is enclosed in brackets. Examples: — "The Comma [,] is," etc.; "The Semicolon [ ;] is," etc.; "The Colon [ :] is," etc. See also their use in " Miscellaneous," below. Rule II. — When words or phrases are inserted in a quotation as a correction, or as indicating an accidental omission of a word, the words so inserted are enclosed within brackets. Exam- ples: — " The captain had several men died [who died] in the ship." " Crotchets [the writer means marks of paren- thesis] are used to enclose a sentence, or part of a sentence," etc. 71 MISCELLANEOUS. There are certain characters not really within the scope of this work, but which may be indi- cated by their enumeration as follows: — The Inverted Comma [ ' ] , in such words as M' Donald; Two Commas [„], indicating repe- tition of words in the line above them ; the Index or hand [^], directing special attention; Three Asterisks [ * * * ] , sometimes used the same way as the index ; the Caret [ a ] , used in manu- script and on proofs to show the omission of a letter or words ; the Brace [ > — A — * ] , to join words in different lines all applicable to one particular ending; marks of Ellipsis [ , . . * * # ] , indicating omission of letters or words ; Leaders [ ] , to lead the eye to the end of a line in indexes, contents, etc. ; Six Accents — the Acute [ ' ] , the Grave [ v ] , the Circumflex [ A ] , the Long [ ] , the Breve or Short [ w ] , and the Diaeresis [ " ] — to indicate pronunciation, inflection of the voice, and for other purposes in foreign languages ; the Cedilla [ q ] , when it has the sound of s before a or o in words taken from the French; the Tilde [ ~ ], placed over the n in Spanish ; and Marks of Ref- erence — the Asterisk, or Star [ * ] , the Dagger [ t ] , the Double Dagger [$], the Section [ § ] , Parallel Lines [ 1 1 ] , and the Paragraph [ f ] — used in the order here given, for references in the text and in foot-notes. 73 PRACTICAL ADVICE TO AMATEUR AUTHORS. The following advice to amateur authors is taken, by kind permission of the Editor, from a very practical article in that most interesting journal, T.P.'s Weekly: — In amateur writing, as in amateur farming, it is the market that ultimately counts. The bringing of pigs to market always was, and always will be, a matter of personal shrewdness and adaptability — qualities which cannot be imparted. What can be imparted is a correct idea of the position of the out- side contributor. This, I think, is widely misunder- stood. In the nature of the case he is at a great disadvantage. No editor can run a paper on the chances of his letter-box. (Nor without them.) He must have a staff, whether inside or outside the office. The ship must be worked by a crew. Thus, only certain portions or elements of a journal can be thrown open to unsolicited offerings. But be- cause they are thrown open they are not therefore closed to nearer and more practiced pens. Nor can an editor limit his initiative in procuring articles by direct commission. These facts, and others like them, make the barrier between the contributor and print. They cannot be helped. The outside contributor may devote hours to an article, ignorant of the fact that the editor has already commissioned one on the same subject. Many contributors appear to think that acceptance or rejection depends solely upon 75 76 ADVICE TO AMATEUR AUTHORS. literary merit. This is not the case. An editor is constantly returning a better-written article than the one he accepts. He is not in the position of a judge awarding a prize, but is in that of a merchant procuring certain wares which he proposes to sell to regular customers, whose tastes and limitations he knows. An article, therefore, may be rejected for many reasons which the contributor cannot easily dis- cover. Here are a few: 1. It is too good — that is to say, its thought and style would go over the heads of the readers. 2. Though excellent, it is not in harmony with the usual contents of the paper. Thousands of MSS. are returned for this reason. 3. Though suitable in subject and correct in style, it lacks readability. 4. It is too long, and not good enough to be worth cutting. A great many Contributors never ask them- selves what is the probable space which an editor can afford, though the paper itself provides easy indications. 5. The article is returned simply because one on the same subject is at hand. 6. The contributor has failed to notice that the sub- ject has been treated — very possibly in an inferior way. 7. The article, though excellent, would cause some special embarrassment. Such an array of obstacles may seem appalling, but it is precisely by realizing them that the con- tributor can hope to find that " way of acceptance n which he desires. The contributor should take him- self less seriously and his editor more seriously. Generally speaking, the attack on a paper should begin with very short contributions. The paragraph is the unit of journalism, and the beginner's best introduction. Thousands of disappointed writers ADVICE TO AMATEUR AUTHORS. 77 would have seen themselves in print long ago if they had written paragraphs about common things, in- stead of beating out long articles on hackneyed sub- jects, or soaring into self-expression. The character and architecture of a paper cannot be too carefully studied. When a good idea occurs, which will de- mand time and labor in the working out, it is well to write to the editor, shortly explaining the pro- posed article, and offering to send it on approval. A final word of consolation : hardly any journal can maintain its interest without the help of the chance contribution. This is a maxim. The way may be barred — it cannot be otherwise — to the unsolicited contribution which has no compelling merit. But the right contribution — come from whom it may —goes to the printer by special messenger. TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS EXEMPLIFIED* sance; very tioble ia ija simplicity, in its 73//.^ My proportions, and in its masonry/ jlote espe- 'oJ{l x . / ^ cially the grand way in which the oblique 6. ,f g J. « Arphatrvnpft rpst — - j — rt f f|, ft KriHr«* jd&f*/ / so as to give more lightness and grace to the 1 " t Pj arc ^ — the dove, flying towards the Madonna, ^**y forming the keystone , — and thus the whole #j» / action of the figures being par allel to the , Xd^ f3 curve of the arch, while all the masonry is " . a of at rigQit angles to it. Note, finally, one cir- *j I cumstance which gives peculiar nrmness to the 15 figure of the angel, andi associates itself with the genei|J§J expression if strength in the whole building; namelyf that the sole of the a/vanced foot is set perfectly levels as if placed on the ground; instead of being^aT" in most modern figures of this kind. ^hfi-. i^uofl sculptures themselves are not good; but these* % \ 1 p ieces of feeling i n them are very admirable .^ Aaw o**/ c The two ngures on the otner side, St. / Mark and St. Theodore, are inferior, though. %% j x if all by the same sculptor, G irolamo C ampagna. 4*** O g^OOOCOO HHMNK HHHHH MMMMMM M M X K K H CO CO CO CO lO lO CO CO t» 00 iO Tt< (M O O CO lO iO CO Names of Papers and their divisions for Book Printing Foolscap— Full sheet Quarto (4to) .... Octavo (8vo) .... Duodecimo (12mo). . Sixteenmo (16mo) . . Crown— Full sheet Quarto (4to) .... Octavo (8vo) .... Duodecimo (12mo). . Sixteenmo (16mo) . . Full sheet Quarto (4to) .... Octavo (8vo) .... Duodecimo (12mo). . Sixteenmo (16mo) . . Thirty-twomo (32mo) Royal — Full sheet Quarto (4to) .... Octavo (8vo) .... * Duodecimo (12moJ. . Sixteenmo (16mo). . Thirty-twomo (32mo) With the aid of the above table, and by bearing in mind that a pica em is one-sixth of an inch, any person, with an ordinary measuring rule, can fix the length and width of his page — which, notwithstanding the measure- ments given above, is within certain limits quite arbitrary, as is also, indeed, the size of type which may be used. 82