Punctuation by Frederick W. Hamilton (free novels to read TXT) đź“–
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I. The comma is used to separate for the eye what is separate in thought.
The comma is not intended to break the matter up into lengths suited to the breath of one reading aloud.
The comma is not an æsthetic device to improve the appearance of the line.
II. The sole purpose of the comma is the unfolding of the sense of the words.
III. The comma cannot be correctly used without a thorough understanding of the sense of the words.
IV. In case of doubt, omit the comma.
THE SEMICOLONThe semicolon is used to denote a degree of separation greater than that indicated by the comma, but less than that indicated by the colon. It prevents the repetition of the comma and keeps apart the more important members of the sentence. The semicolon is generally used in long sentences, but may sometimes be properly used in short ones.
Rules for the Use of the Semicolon
1. When the members of a compound sentence are complex or contain commas.
Franklin, like many others, was a printer; but, unlike the others, he was student, statesman, and publicist as well.
With ten per cent of this flour the bread acquired a slight flavor of rye; fifteen per cent gave it a dark color; a further addition made the baked crumb very hard.
The meeting was composed of representatives from the following districts: Newton, 4 delegates, 2 substitutes; Dorchester, 6 delegates, 3 substitutes; Quincy, 8 delegates, 4 substitutes; Brookline, 10 delegates, 5 substitutes.
2. When the members of a compound sentence contain statements distinct, but not sufficiently distinct to be thrown into separate sentences.
Sit thou a patient looker-on;
Judge not the play before the play be done;
Her plot has many changes; every day
Speaks a new scene. The last act crowns the play.
3. When each of the members of a compound sentence makes a distinct statement and has some dependence on statements in the other member or members of the sentence.
Wisdom hath builded her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars; she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath furnished her table.
Each member of this sentence is nearly complete. It is not quite a full and definite statement, but it is much more than a mere amplification such as we might get by leaving out she hath every time after the first. In the former case we should use periods. In the latter we should use commas.
4. A comma is ordinarily used between the clauses of a compound sentence that are connected by a simple conjunction, but a semicolon may be used between clauses connected by conjunctive adverbs. Compare the following examples:
The play was neither edifying nor interesting to him, and he decided to change his plans.
The play was neither edifying nor interesting to him; therefore he decided to change his plans.
5. To indicate the chapter references in scriptural citations.
Matt. i: 5, 7, 9; v: 1-10; xiv: 3, 8, 27.
The semicolon should always be put outside quotation marks unless it forms a part of the quotation itself.
“Take care of the cents and the dollars will take care of themselves”; a very wise old saying.
THE COLONThe colon marks the place of transition in a long sentence consisting of many members and involving a logical turn of the thought. Both the colon and semicolon are much less used now than formerly. The present tendency is toward short, simple, clear sentences, with consequent little punctuation, and that of the open style. Such sentences need little or no aid to tell their story.
Rules for the Use of the Colon
1. Before as, viz., that is, namely, etc., when these words introduce a series of particular terms in apposition with a general term.
The American flag has three colors: namely, red, white, and blue.
2. Between two members of a sentence when one or both are made up of two or more clauses divided by semicolons.
The Englishman was calm and self-possessed; his antagonist impulsive and self-confident: the Englishman was the product of a volunteer army of professional soldiers; his antagonist was the product of a drafted army of unwilling conscripts.
3. Before particular elements in a definite statement.
Bad: He asked what caused the accident?
Right: He asked, “What caused the accident?”
Napoleon said to his army at the battle of the Pyramids: “Soldiers, forty centuries are looking down upon you.”
The duties of the superintendent are grouped under three heads: first, etc.
4. Before formal quotations.
Write a short essay on the following topic: “What is wrong with our industrial system?”
When the formal introduction is brief, a comma may be used.
St. Paul said, “Bear ye one another’s burdens.”
5. After the formal salutatory phrase at the opening of a letter.
My dear Sir:
When the letter is informal use a comma.
Dear John,
6. Between the chapter and verse in scriptural references.
John xix: 22.
7. Between the city of publication and the name of the publisher in literary references.
“The Practice of Typography.” New York: Oswald Publishing Company.
The colon has been similarly employed in the imprints on the title pages of books.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1880.
DeVinne remarks upon this use of the colon that it is traditional and can not be explained.
The colon is sometimes used between the hours and minutes in indicating time, like: 11:42 a.m.
DeVinne does not approve of this, though other authorities give it as the rule. It is probably better to use the period in spite of its use as a decimal point, which use was probably the motive for seeking something else to use in writing time indications. In railroad printing the hour is often separated from the minutes by a simple space without any punctuation.
THE PERIODThe period, or full stop, marks the end of a declarative sentence. As a sign it has several other uses which will appear in the paragraphs following.
Rules for the Use of the Period
1. At the end of every sentence unless interrogative or exclamatory.
2. After abbreviations.
Nicknames, Sam, Tom, etc., are not regarded as abbreviations.
The metric symbols are treated as abbreviations but the chemical symbols are not. M. (metre) and mg. (milligram) but H2 O and Na Cl.
Per cent is not regarded as an abbreviation.
The names of book sizes (12mo 16mo) are not regarded as abbreviations.
The period is now generally omitted in display matter after
Running heads,
Cut-in side-notes,
Central head-lines,
Box heads in tables,
Signatures at the end of letters.
The period is omitted
After Roman numerals, even though they have the value of ordinals.
After MS and similar symbols.
In technical matter, after the recognized abbreviations for linguistic epochs. IE (Indo-European), MHG (Middle High German)
and after titles of well-known publications indicated by initials such as AAAPS (Annals of the American Academy of Political Science).
When a parenthesis forms the end of a declarative sentence the period is placed outside the parenthesis, as in the preceding example. A period is placed inside a parenthesis only in two cases.
1. After an abbreviation.
This was 50 years ago (i.e. 1860 A.D.)
2. At the end of an independent sentence lying entirely within the parenthesis.
Lincoln was at the height of his powers in 1860 (He was elected to the presidency at this time.)
When a sentence ends with a quotation, the period always goes inside the quotation marks.
I have just read DeVinne’s “Practice of Typography.”
The same rule applies to the use of the other low marks, comma, semicolon, and colon, in connection with quotation marks. Unlike most rules of grammar and punctuation, this rule does not rest on a logical basis. It rests on purely typographic considerations, as the arrangement of points indicated by the rule gives a better looking line than can be secured by any other arrangement.
Other Uses of the Period
1. The period is used as a decimal point.
2. The period is used in groups, separated by spaces, to indicate an ellipsis.
He read as follows: “The gentleman said . . . .
he was there and saw . . . . the act in question.”
THE DASHThe dash is a very useful mark which has been greatly overworked by careless writers. It is very easy to make in manuscript and serves as a convenient cover for the writer’s ignorance of what point should properly be used.
The conspicuousness of the dash makes it a very useful mark for guiding the eye of the reader to the unity of the sentence. It is particularly useful in legal pleadings where there is much repetition of statement and great elaboration of detail. In such cases commas, semicolons, and even parentheses are so multiplied that the relation of the clauses is lost sight of. The confusion thus arising may often be cleared up by intelligent use of the dash.
The dash is sometimes used to connect a side heading with the text that follows, or to connect the end of that text with the name of the writer.
A Rule for Peace.—If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.—St. Paul.
The dash is sometimes used in catalogue work as a ditto mark.
De Vinne, Theodore Low. Historic Printing Types. New York, 1886.
——The Invention of Printing. Francis Hart & Co., New York, 1878.
——Plain Printing Types. Oswald Publishing Co., New York, 1914.
French printers use the dash in printing dialogue as a partial substitute for quotation marks. Quotation marks are placed at the beginning and end of the dialogue and a dash precedes each speech. This form is used even if the dialogue is extended over many pages.
Rules for the Use of the Dash
1. To mark abrupt changes in sentiment and in construction.
Have you ever heard—but how should you hear?
2. To mark pauses and repetitions used for dramatic or rhetorical effect.
They make a desert, and call it—peace.
Thou, great Anna, whom three states obey,
Who sometimes counsel takes—and sometimes tea.
3. To express in one sentence great contrariety of action or emotion or to increase the speed of the discourse by a succession of snappy phrases.
She starts—she moves—she seems to feel
The thrill of life along her keel.
In this connection DeVinne gives the following excellent example from Sterne:
Nature instantly ebbed again;—the film returned to its place;—the pulse fluttered,—stopped,— went on,—throbbed,—stopped again,—moved, —stopped,—Shall I go on?—No.
Attention may be called to Sterne’s use of the semicolon and the comma with the dash, a use now obsolete except in rare cases.
4. To separate the repetition or different amplifications of the same statement.
The infinite importance of what he has to do—the goading conviction that it must be done—the dreadful combination in his mind of both the necessity and the incapacity—the despair of crowding the concerns of an age into a moment—the impossibility of beginning a repentance which should have been completed—of setting about a peace which should have been concluded—of suing for a pardon which should have been obtained—all these complicated concerns intolerably augment the sufferings of the victims.
5. At the end of a series of phrases which depend upon a concluding clause.
Railroads and steamships, factories and warehouses, wealth and luxury—these are not civilization.
6. When a sentence is abruptly terminated.
If I thought he said it I would—
7. To precede expressions which are added to an apparently completed sentence, but which refer to some previous part of the sentence.
He wondered what the foreman would say—he had a way of saying the unexpected.
8. To connect extreme dates in time indication.
The war of 1861—1865. The war of 1861-1865.
9. To define verse references in the Bible or page references in books.
Matt. v: 1—11.Matt. v: 1-11.
See pp. 50—53.See
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