On the other hand, written language should be so constructed and so arranged that its meaning depends on the order of the words, not on the marks of punctuation; for although marks of punctuation play an important part as a device for saving the time of the reader, they should not be used to encourage or to cloak slovenliness on the part of the writer by bolstering up his ill-constructed and ill-arranged English. Marks of punctuation are often not a matter of grammar, but of rhetoric; that is, they are often used to slacken the reader's pace, and to produce other rhetorical effects. To learn the uses of comma, semicolon, and colon, we need to study sentences of different types; for these marks of punctuation have changing values, according to the length and complexity of the sentence. NOTE. This chapter is based on the following books: Webster's Collegiate Dictionary; Rules for Compositors and Readers at the University Press, Oxford; The King's English (Oxford University Press), by H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler, compilers of The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English; and Spelling and Punctuation, by Henry Beadnell (examples followed by '— B.' are taken from Beadnell's manual). THE PERIOD 461. Period. The period (.) is used at the end of declarative sentences (whether complete or elliptical, § 347); after abbreviations (§§ 458, 529); and before decimals. The Roman numerals (I, II, etc.) are not abbreviations, and should not be followed by the period except at the end of a sentence; per cent is now written without the period (§ 289): 1. The ship will sail before daybreak. 2. Tell me an interesting experience. Impossible. 3. Heaven be with you. Would that I could go. 4. Mr., Mrs., MSS., LL.D., a. m., C.O.D., 10.6 ft., $1.25. 5. Edward VII; Volume XXIV; It was Philip II. NOTE I. Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc., must be printed with a full point, but lot Mme, Mlle." - Oxford University Press. NOTE 2. Such forms as 1st, 2d (or 2nd), 3d (or 3rd), 4th, used in designating the days of the month, are not abbreviations, and do not take the period; similarly, 4to, 8vo, 12mo, and so on. NOTE 3. Do not use a period at the end of an interrogative sentence. See § 463, N. 462. Period omitted. The period is usually omitted at the end of words or lines in display work, a style of printing in which words or groups of words are usually centered in a given space, after the manner of inscriptions. Display work includes the lines on the title-pages of books and pamphlets, headings (of pages, chapters, and other divisions), lists of words, and the like, and a great variety of work in advertising. For the period at the end of the address in letters, see § 528. THE INTERROGATION MARK 463. Interrogation mark. The interrogation mark (?) is used at the end of an interrogative sentence, whether the sentence is complete or elliptical (§ 347); it is no longer used at the end of an indirect question (§ 77): 1. When did he go? You met him? Where? 2. "Why don't you go?" he inquired. 3. She asked, "Where does he live?" 4. She asked where he lived. (Indirect question.) NOTE. Do not put a period at the end of an interrogative sentence. Say either 'In case of delay will you please notify us?' or 'In case of delay please notify us.' THE EXCLAMATION MARK 464. Exclamation mark. The exclamation mark (!) is much abused. Properly, it is used only after real exclamations, and to express the writer's surprise, incredulity, disgust, ridicule, or other emotion at what somebody else has said. Real exclamations include interjections (§§ 316,318); words or expressions which are not complete sentences (§ 317); and sentences containing an exclamatory word (how, what): 1. But ah! so pale, he knew her not. 2. Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour. WORDSWORTH. 3. Alas! the happy day! the foolish day! 4. Ne'er to behold thee again! 5. That it should come to this! - SHAKESPEARE. 6. What a piece of work is a man! SHAKESPEARE. THE BIBLE. As a means of expressing the writer's surprise, incredulity, and the like (§ 323, N.), the exclamation mark is particularly effective: 1. He expressed the wish that the whole race might be purified by fire and fagot! 2. Entomb'd within this vault a lawyer lies, Who, fame assureth us, was just and wise! — B. 465. Improper use. The exclamation mark is often used, improperly, after simple declarative sentences, or after sentences that are interrogations; this confuses statement, question, and exclamation: 1. "We have won ", he shouted. (Not 'won!'.) 2. I would have died rather than surrender. (Not '!'.) 3. Who would not envy you? (Not '!'.) 4. What had she not sacrificed? (Not '!'.) NOTE. This use of the exclamation mark is frequent in the less careful writers, and sometimes makes its way into the works of the better class, including historians. If Walter Savage Landor were living today in the United States, he would doubtless include most of us in his observation on the misuse of the exclamation mark: "I read warily; and whenever I find the writings of a lady, the first thing I do is to cast my eye along her pages, to see whether I am likely to be annoyed by the traps and spring-guns of interjections; and if I happen to espy them, I do not leap the paling." THE COMMA 466. Coördinate words, etc. The comma is used to separate coördinate words, phrases, and clauses (see §§ 467, 476. Exercise XLI, d, § 586): A. In series. 1. A cold, gray, cheerless afternoon; a cold, gray, and cheerless afternoon. (The comma before and prevents obscurity.) 2. I followed him down the stairs, out of the door, and across the street. 3. The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew. 4. Scott, Brown, and Company. (But the Oxford University Press does not use a comma before ampersand in the name of a firm: Longmans, Green & Co.') B. In compound sentence. 1. One vessel was driven upon the rocks, and twenty-six men were drowned.-PARKMAN. (The change of subject makes the comma before and necessary.) 2. Virtue is the highest proof of a superior understanding, and it is the only basis of greatness. (There is no change of subject, but the comma adds clearness and emphasis.) NOTE I. In sentences like 'Come and see' the thoughts are too closely associated to be separated by the comma. NOTE 2. In sentences like 'It was his first, and he hoped it would be his last attempt' it is better not to add a comma after last. (It is often best to recast the sentence: 'It was his first attempt, and he hoped it would be his last '.) In 'He was in communication with and under the guidance of the government' use no comma; but it is better English to say 'He was in communication with the government, and was under its guidance'. (The comma shows that and does not connect government with what follows; see § 466, D, 2.) C. In compound subject. 1. Industry, honesty, and temperance are essential to happi- 3. Love, desire, hope, rise in the pursuit. (The omission of Old and young, rich and poor, helped in the cause. 4. Mr. Jobling, Mr. Guppy, and Mr. Smallweed, all lean their elbows on the table. DICKENS. (The use of all to sum up the subject does not change the punctuation. Do not add a dash to the comma before all.) Love, desire, hope, all the pleasing motions of the soul, rise in the pursuit. ADDISON. D. In compound predicate. 1. She suddenly bowed her head, and wept. (The comma is necessary; for suddenly modifies bowed only.) They found the town well fortified, and defended by two hundred soldiers. 2. Hope makes pain easy, and labor pleasant. - ADDISON. (The comma adds clearness and emphasis.) The good man admired her prudence, and followed her advice. ADDISON. be 467. And, or, nor. When words are connected throughout by and, or, or nor, the comma is not necessary; but it may used for the sake of clearness (§ 466) or rhetorical emphasis (§ 460): 1. A cold and gray and cheerless afternoon; a cold, and gray and cheerless afternoon. |