LESSON L.

PUNCTUATION.-COLON, SEMICOLON.

The larger portions of a compound or complex sentence are separated either by a Colon (:), or Semicolon (;).

1. The first of these is used when a portion of the sentence makes complete sense, and might be closed with a period, but something is added for the purpose of illustration; as,

"A brute arrives at a point of perfection that he can never pass: in a few years he has all the endowments he is capable of."

2. The clauses separated by a Colon are without connectives, as they are not related in construction. The connectives may be understood, but are not expressed.

3. When the connectives are expressed, and thus a closer connection exists, the Semicolon is to be employed. Like the Colon, it separates the portions of a sentence making complete sense.

Examples.-A happy change has come over society since that day; and Voltaire has sunk into merited contempt.

4. The Semicolon is placed before a dependent clause which explains what has been said in the preceding division of the sentence, or assigns a reason, or draws an inference, or presents a

contrast.

Examples." It is more easy to take away superfluities than to supply defects; and therefore he that is culpable, because he has passed the middle point of virtue, is always accounted a fairer object of hope, than he who fails by falling short."

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Economy is no disgrace; for it is better to live on a little, than to outlive a good deal."

"A friend cannot be known in prosperity; an enemy cannot be hid in adversity."

5. Short sentences which have but a slight dependence on each other as to sense, are separated by the semicolon; as,

"My friend rose at six o'clock; he breakfasted; sat down to write; continued writing till twelve; and walked to his brother's."

6. A general term, followed by several particulars in apposition, is separated from them by a colon or semicolon, while the particulars are separated from each other by a comma; as,

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'Astronomy may be considered under three heads: descriptive, physical, and practical."

7. After several successive clauses followed by a semicolon, where a longer pause seems necessary before coming to the period, a colon is used; as,

"A divine legislator, uttering his voice from heaven; an almighty governor, stretching forth his arm to punish or reward; informing us of perpetual rest prepared hereafter for the righteous, and of indignation and wrath awaiting the wicked: these are the considerations which overawe the world, which support integrity, and check guilt."

The Colon, by some writers, and the Semicolon by others, is employed to introduce a quotation, an example, or a speech; as, Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world." Sometimes the colon and dash are used; as, And God said:-"Let there be light."

EXERCISES.

Supply the comma, the colon, or semicolon, as they may be needed in the following sentences:

Speak well of your friend of your enemy neither well nor ill.-There are three bad neighbors great rivers great lords and great roads.-Three things kill a man a scorching sun suppers and cares.—All right say nothing.—Let us start ahead business first and play afterward.-If I be wicked woe unto me and if I be righteous yet will I not lift up my head.-I am full of confusion therefore see thou mine affliction.-Great men are not always wise neither do the aged understand judgment.-He whom you speak of is eminently a happy man happy for he has had and has used the best opportunities to improve his mind happy for his friends are few and faithful happy for his wife is affectionate happy for his children are good happy for his worldly affairs are prosperous happy for his religious hopes are bright and ardent.

LESSON LI.

PUNCTUATION.—PERIOD; INTERROGATION AND EXCLAMATION POINTS; DASH.

Written or printed language requires certain points or marks to aid in determining the sense and the pronuncia

tion. Their office is to separate sentences, and the different parts of sentences.

The Period (.), the Interrogation point (?), and the Exclamation (!), and sometimes the Dash (—), are used to indicate the close of a sentence.

1. The Period is used at the end of complete and independent Declarative Sentences; the Interrogation Point at the end of Interrogative, and the Exclamation Point at the end of Exclamatory sentences, phrases, or words.

2. The Dash is generally used to indicate that a sentence is unfinished; or to denote an abrupt and unexpected transition; or a pause in delivery.

Examples.-If thou art he-but oh! how fallen! This world was made for Cæsar-but for Titus, too. Nathan said unto David-Thou art the Give me liberty, or give me-death!

man.

3. The Dash is placed between the remarks of successive speakers in a dialogue.

4. The Dash is sometimes used instead of a parenthesis. 5. It is improperly used after a complete sentence.

Ex.

6. The Period is used after abbreviations; as, B. D., A. M., It is also used after a signature, a date, and at the end of a book, chapter, section, &c.

7. Where a question is not asked, but it is only said that a question had been asked, the Interrogation point is not to be employed; as, "Pilate asked whether Christ was a king." In such cases the period is proper. But if the sentence were, "Pilate asked, Art thou a king?" then the Interrogation point is necessary.

EXERCISES.

Supply the points that are requisite:

Therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways-What is the Almighty that we should serve himHow excellent is thy loving kindness O God-Men will wrangle for religion write for it fight for it die for it any thing but live for it-Three hours said she and not send for me-I was only in the village-Did nc one tell youYes but you know it is not my way to make a fuss and to put people out-How could I tell-Mighty fine

LESSON LII.

PUNCTUATION.-REMAINING MARKS.

The Parenthesis (), includes a clause or remark not essential to the sentence in construction, but explanatory, and introducing some important idea. It may be altogether omitted, without impairing the grammatical structure of the sentence.

By modern writers, the comma or the dash is used instead of the parenthesis.

"Know then this truth (enough for man to know),
Virtue, alone, is happiness below."

POPE.

"To gain a posthumous reputation, is to save four or five letters (for what is a name besides?) from oblivion."

If the parenthetical or incidental clause is short, or perfectly coincides with the rest of the sentence, the comma is to be preferred to the parenthetical marks. Thus:

"Speak you, who saw, his wonders in the deep ;" not, "Speak you (who saw) his wonders in the deep." "He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, neither knew they what to answer him;" not (for their eyes were heavy).

When the words in the parenthesis are interrogative or exclamatory, the marks of parenthesis should be used, rather than the comma or dash.

"It was represented by an analogy (Oh, how inadequate!) which was borrowed from Paganism."

Marks of Quotation are used at the beginning and end of a phrase, clause, or sentence containing the exact words of an author or speaker. They consist of two inverted and of two direct commas; e. g., Jesus said, "I am the Resurrection and the Life."

Sometimes a quoted passage contains a quotation, in which case the latter is distinguished by a single inverted and direct

comma.

The Apostrophe (') is used to shorten a word; as, tho' for though; 'tis, for it is; e'en for even. The same character expresses the possessive case of nouns. The man's horse.

The Hyphen (-) connects the parts of compound words; as, steam-whistle. It is also used at the end of a line to connect the preceding syllable with the first on the following line, where a word is divided.

The Caret (A) indicates that the word or words placed over it have been omitted, and must be understood as filling the place from city

which it occupies; as, He went to city.

Λ

Brackets [] inclose some explanatory remark or phrase, some word or sentence to supply a deficiency or to guard against mistake.

The Ellipsis ( -), or (. .), (***), shows that some letters of a name, or the name itself, or portion of a sentence, is omitted, or is wanting.

The Brace (}) is used to connect certain lines of poetry, or certain words as falling under a common term.

The Asterisk (*), and the characters († ‡ I), refer to notes in the margin. Sometimes figures or small letters are used for the same purpose.

DIVISION INTO PARAGRAPHS.

It adds much to the pleasure of reading what is written, when, by a proper arrangement of sentences into groups, or paragraphs, the transition to a new branch of the subject is made clearly to appear by commencing on a new line. In letter-writing, a proper division into paragraphs is a great beauty and utility.

Different subjects require different divisions of the page, or paragraphs, unless they occupy but a very small space, and follow each other in rapid succession.

When a single subject occupies much space, the larger divisions of it should form separate paragraphs, each of these closing with sentiments of peculiar importance.

In argumentative writing, the several premises and conclusions of a subject will properly form separate paragraphs. If the statement of these, however, should extend over much ground, it may be convenient to subdivide them into more numerous paragraphs.