killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table." 8. The colon is used to divide a sentence into two or more parts, which, although the sense be complete in each, are not wholly indepen. dent; as, "Nature felt her inability to extricate herself from the conse quences of guilt: the gospel reveals the plan of Divine interposition and aid." 9. The colon is used when an example, a quotation, or a speech is introduced; as, "The Scriptures give us an amiable representation of the Deity in these words: God is love." 10. The period is used at the end of a complete and independent sentence. It is also placed after initial letters, when used alone; and, likewise, after all abbreviations; as, “One clear and direct path is pointed out to man." "Fear God." "Have charity towards all men." "G. W." for "George Washington." Geo." for "George." "Benj." for Benjamin." "U. S." for "Old Style." "F. R. S." for "Fellow of the Royal Society." " In a general view, the period separates the paragraph into sentences, the semicolon divides a compound sentence into simple ones; and the comma collects into clauses the scattered circumstances of manner time, place, relation, &c., belonging to every verb and to every noun. 66 The note of interrogation, or the question, as it is sometimes called, is placed after every sentence which contains a question; as, Who is this?" "What have you in your hand?" The Cyprians said to me, Why do you weep?" The exclamation point is used to express any sudden or violent emotion; such as surprise, joy, grief, love, hatred, anger, pity, anxiety, ardent wish, &c. It is also used to mark an exalted idea of the Deity; and is generally placed after the nominative case independent; and after the noun or pronoun which follows an interjection; as, "How mischievous are the effects of war!" "O blissful days! Ah me! how soon ye pass!" The exclamation point is also used after sentences containing a question when no answer is expected; as, "What is more amiable than virtue !" Several exclamation points are sometimes used together, either in a parenthesis or by themselves, for the purpose of expressing ridicule, or a great degree of surprise, &c. A parenthesis is a sentence, or a part of a sentence, inserted within * Some very respectable grammarians tell us, that the propriety of using & colon or semicolon is sometimes determined by the use or omission of a conjunction; as, "Do not flatter yourself with the hope of perfect happi ness: there is no such thing in the world: " "Do not flatter yourselves with the hope of perfect happiness; for there is no such thing in the world." But many respectable writers make no use of the colon; and it may well be questioned, whether the retention of this character among the marks of punctuation adds any thing to the clearness or precision of written ianguage. tion. The word interrogation is derived from the Latin, and means « ques The word parenthesis is derived from the Greek language, and meant in insertion. another sentence, but which may be omitted without injuring the sense or construction, and is enclosed between two curved lines like these; ( ). The curved lines between which a parenthesis is enclosed are called crotchets. Sometimes a sentence is enclosed between marks like these, [] which are called brackets The following difference is to be noticed in the use of crotchets and brackets Crotchets are used to enclose a sentence, or part of a sentence, which is inserted between the parts of another sentence: Brackets are generally used to separate two subjects, or to enclose an explanatory note or observation standing by itself. When a parenthesis occurs within another parenthesis, brackets enclose the former and crotchets the latter; as in the following sentence from Sterne: "I know the banker I deal with, or the physician I usually call in [there is no need, cried Dr. Slop (waking), to call in any ohvsician in this case] to be neither of them men of much religion." It may be here remarked, that a parenthesis is frequently placed be- · tween commas, instead of crotchets, &c.; but the best writers avoid the. ase of parentheses as much as is possible. The hyphen is a small mark placed between the parts of a compound word; as, sea-water, semi-circle. The hyphen is also used to denote the long sound of a vowel; as, Epi curean, decō-rum, balcō-ny. The hyphen must always be put at the end of the line when part of a word is in one line and part in another; but, in this case, the letters of a syllable must never be separated; as, extraor dinary, not ext- The dash is a straight mark longer than a hyphen; thus, The proper use of the dash is to express a sudden stop, or change of the subject; but, by modern writers, it is employed as a substitute for almost all of the other marks; being used sometimes for a comma, semi colon, colon, or period; sometimes for a question or an exclamation, and sometimes for crotchets and brackets to enclose a parenthesis. An ellipsis † or omission of words, syllables, or letters, is indicated by various marks; sometimes by a dash; as, the k-g, for the king: sometimes by asterisks or stars, like these, ****; sometimes by hy phens, thus, --; sometimes by small dots or periods, like these: The breve (thus) is placed over a vowel to indicate its short sound, as, St. Helena. The apostrophe is a comma placed above the line. It is used as the sign of the possessive case, and sometimes indicates the omission of a letter or several letters; as, John's; ""Tis" for "it is"; "tho"" for "though;" "lov'd" for "loved"; "I'll" for "I will.” The quotation marks, or inverted commas, as they are sometimes *The word hyphen is derived from the Greek language, and signifies under one, or together; and is used to imply that the words or syllables, between which it is placed, are to be taken together as one word. †The word ellipsis is derived from the Greek language, and means un omission. The word apostrophe is derived from the Greek language, and signifies the turning away, or omission, of one letter or more. called, consist of four commas; two inverted, or upside down, at the be ginning of a word, phrase, or sentence which is quoted or transcribed from some author in his own words; and two others, in their direct position, placed at the conclusion; as, An excellent poet says: "The proper study of mankind is man." Sometimes the quotation is marked by single, instead of double, commas. The diæresis consists of two periods placed over the latter of two vowels; to show that they are to be pronounced in separate svllables; as, Laocoön, Zoönomia, coöperate. The brace is employed to unite several lines of poetry, or to connect a number of words with one common term; and it is also used to prevent a repetition in writing on printing; thus, "Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full-resounding line, The long majestic march and energy divine." The cedilla, or cerilla, is a curve line placed under the letter c, to show that it has the sound of s. It is used principally in words derived from the French language. Thus, garçon, in which word the c is to be pronounced like s. The accents are marks used to signify the proper pronunciation of words. The accents are three in number,. The grave accent thus, 、 The acute accent; thus, The circumflex accent; thus, ▲ The grave accent is represented by a mark placed over a letter, or sy lable, to show that it must be pronounced with the falling inflection of the voice; as, Reuthàmir. The acute accent is represented by a similar mark, pointing in the opposite direction, to show that the letter or syllable must be pronounced with the rising inflection of the voice; thus, Epicuréan, European. The meaning of a sentence often depends on the kind of accent which is used; thus, the following sentence if the acute accent be used on the word alone, becomes a question. "Pleased thou shalt hear, and thou alóne shalt hear?" But, if the grave accent be placed on the word alone, it becomes a simple declaration; as, *The word diaresis is derived from the Greek language. and signifies taking away, or a division. †The word accent is derived from the Latin language, and signifies the one of the voice. "Pleased thou shalt hear, and thou alone shalt hear." The circumflex accent is the union of the grave and acute accents, and indicates that the syllable on which it is placed should have both the rising and the falling inflection of the voice. The caret is a mark resembling an inverted v, placed under the line It is never used in printed books, but, in manuscripts, it shows that something has been accidentally omitted; as, recited "George has his lesson." The following marks are references; and are generally used to call attention to notes on words or sentences, placed at the bottom of the page: The Asterisk, * The Obelisk, t The Double Obelisk, ‡ The Section, § The Parallels, || The Index, F When many notes occur on a page, and these marks are all exhausted, they are sometimes doubled. Figures and letters are also sometimes used instead of the above marks. It is proper to remark, that, in some books the section, §, and the para graph, T, are used to mark the parts of a composition, which in writing or printing should be separated. A paragraph† denotes the beginning of a new subject, or a sentence Dot connected with the foregoing. A section is used for subdividing a chapter into smaller parts. It is proper here to remark, that every composition should be divided into paragraphs, when the sense will allow the separation. Different subjects, unless they are very short, or very numerous in a small compass should be separated into paragraphs. EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION. Insert Commas in their proper places in the following sentences. Wife children servants all that could be found were savagely slaugh tered. He had been born bred and educated on a small moorland farm which he now cultivated. Doing to others as we wish them to do to us constitutes the fundamer tal principle of Christian charity. Julius Cæsar wrote in a clear natural correct flowing style. *The word caret is derived from the Latin language, and signifies it i wanting. †The word paragraph is derived from the Greek language, and signifies an ascription in the margin. The word section is derived from the Latin language, and signifies a aivision or cutting. The character which denotes a section seems to be made of ss, and to be an abbreviation of the words signum sectionis, the sign of the section Climate soil laws custom food and other accidental differences have produced an astonishing variety in the complexion features manners and faculties of the human race. In our epistolary correspondence we may advise dissuade exhort request recommend discuss comfort reconcile. Exercise ferments the humors casts them into the proper channels throws off redundancies and assists nature in her necessary operations. A wise man will examine every thing coolly impartially accurately and rationally. Homer the greatest poet of antiquity is reported to have been blind. The earth like a tender mother nourishes her children. Harold being slain the conqueror marched immediately to London To err is human; to forgive divine. The great Xerxes upon whom fortune had lavished all her favors not content with being master of powerful armies numerous fleets and inexhaustible treasures proposed a reward to any one who should invent a new pleasure. You should not desire says an ancient Greek author even the thread of another man's needle. She let concealment like a worm in the bud feed on her damask cheek. Nature has wisely determined that man shall want an appetite in the beginning of distempers as a defence against their increase. The whole circle of vices like shadows towards the evening of life appear enormous to a thinking person. You are not to suppose that the fate either of single persons of empires or of the whole earth depends on the influence of the stars. Insert the Comma, Colon, and Semicolon where they belong in the following sentences. Green is generally considered the most refreshing color to the eye therefore Providence has made it the common dress of nature. To err is human to forgive divine. The aim of orators is victory of historians truth of poets admiration. Saint Peter is painted with the keys Paul with a sword Andrew with a cross James the Greater with a pilgrim's staff and a gourd bottle James the Less with a fuller's pole John with a cup and a winged serpent Bartholomew with a knife Philip with a long staff or cross Thomas with a lance Matthew with a hatchet Matthias with a battle-axe Simon with a saw and Jude with a club. Some place their bliss in action some in ease Those call it pleasure and contentment these. Most of our pleasures may be regarded as imaginary but our disquietudes may be considered as real. Chaucer we are told by Dryden followed nature every where but that he never went beyond her. A clownish air is but a trifling defect yet it is enough to make a mar universally disagreeable. In the New Testament as in the dignified and sober liturgy of the Church we see deep humility but not loathsome abjectness sincere repent |