An apostrophe is used to show the omission of one or more of the first or middle letters of a word; as: They don't want it. He sailed the deep o'er and o'er. Sometimes it is uncertain whether the apostrophe or the period should be used in a contraction; as,. Sup't or Supt. If the contraction is a familiar one, use the period. The apostrophe also shows possession. See page 211. V. THE HYPHEN. It will often happen that there is room at the end of a line to write part of a word, but not the whole of it. In this case a word of two or more syllables is divided, one or more of its syllables being written at the end of the line, and the remainder carried to the beginning of the next line. To show that the remainder of the word is to be found in the next line, a hyphen [-] is placed at the end of the first line. A syllable or a short word should not be divided at the end of a line of writing. Some words are made up of two or more words; as: brother-in-law, half-dollar, vice-president, carving-knife, four-sided, old-fashioned, time-keeper. Such words are called compound words. The hyphen should be placed between the parts of a compound word unless the parts have become so completely united by use as to be pronounced as one word; as: workman, upon, withstand, whitewash, bookseller, noble man. When two or more words are used as a single adjective they should be united by hyphens; as: a never-to-be-forgotten day, a well-known proverb. A good dictionary is the best authority on the use of the hyphen in compound words. VI. TERMINAL MARKS. A mark of punctuation is used to show where a sentence ends, and to indicate what kind of sentence it is. There are three such marks of punctuation; the period [.], the interrogation point [?], and the exclamation point [!]. 1. A declarative or an imperative sentence is followed by a period. 2. The title of a book, chapter, article, or other writing is followed by a period. 3. A period is also placed after a subhead, an address, and a signature. 4. Every figure, letter, word, or group of words which stands for a sentence should be followed by the mark of punctuation which would follow the sentence if written at length. The figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, used to number the rules above, stand for the sentences, "This is rule 1,” “This is rule 2," etc., and are therefore followed by periods. The figure that stands for the number of an example or exercise should be followed by a period. It is not the custom, however, to put the period after the number of a page or of a line. Explain the use of the marks of punctuation in the following exercise: THE TWO FRIENDS. George. Will you go? Charles. Yes. George. When? Charles. Now. George. Good! Charles. Can Thomas go? George. No. Charles. Not go? That's too bad. 5. An interrogative sentence is followed by an interrogation point. A sentence which, though interrogative in form, neither implies nor expects an answer, should be followed by an exclamation point; as: Who would dare do such a foolhardy deed! When a question introduces a remark or a quotation, the interrogation point should be used at the end of the question and the remark or question should follow; as: What do you think of this proverb of Franklin's? “An empty bag cannot stand upright." An interrogation point should be used within a sentence, if needed to mark the close of an interrogative clause; as: The question, "What shall I do with it?" has not entered his mind. 6. An exclamatory sentence is followed by an exclamation point. 7. An interjection, a phrase, or a clause that indicates strong feeling should be followed by an exclamation point. Whenever an interjection is used in close connection with the words that follow it, the exclamation point should be used only at the end of the phrase or clause; as :Alas that folly and falsehood should exist! VII. THE COMMA IN A SERIES. Punctuation marks within sentences are single or double. The single marks are the comma [,], the semicolon [;], the colon [:], and the dash [-]. The double marks are the quotation marks [""], the parentheses [O], and the brackets [[]]. 1. Mercury, lead, and tin are metals. 2. From Alaska we obtain furs, fish, and lumber. 3. The leading statesmen of the Revolutionary period were Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, and Adams. 4. Neither envy, jealousy, hatred, nor revenge finds a resting-place in a noble heart. What three words in the first sentence have the same use? What three words in the second sentence? What four words in the third sentence? What four words in the fourth sentence? Three or more words or phrases which follow one another, and are used alike in a sentence, are called a series of words or a series of phrases. The words or phrases of a series should be separated by commas. If all the terms of a series are connected by conjunctions, the commas should be omitted. Exercises. I. Complete the punctuation of the following sen tences: 1. He imagined that he saw the high church towers rising up into the morning sky the town starting into life once more the river glistening as it rolled and the country bright with dew. 2. To gild refined gold to paint the lily To throw a perfume on the violet To smooth the ice or add another hue To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, SHAKESPEARE. II. Explain the punctuation of the following sen tences: 1. Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, shrunk to this little measure? SHAKESPEARE. 2. All that mankind has done, thought, gained, or been, it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books. CARLYLE. 3. Despair is the offspring of fear, laziness, and impatience. 4. They (books) are cheering or soothing companions in solitude, illness, affliction. CHANNING. 5. See, O see! How every tree, Every bower, Every flower, A new life gives to others' joys. LORD BRISTOL. 6. Whether ingenious or dull, learned or ignorant, clownish or polite, every innocent man has as good a right to liberty as to life.- - BEATTIE. |