CHAPTER IV. PUNCTUATION. IN the arrangement of words and sentences, it is of great importance to make a right application of the several points or marks, commonly designated stops. Their chief use is to render the construction of a sentence clear, by showing which words relate to each other, and which are to be taken separately. They afford also considerable assistance in regard to pronunciation; for by showing how the several parts of a sentence, and how entire sentences, stand related to each other, they direct us to the pauses which it is requisite to introduce. Among the various stops, we may first notice the Period, (.) used to mark the termination of a sentence. Thus "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King." The Colon (:) is employed to divide a sentence into different members or branches, when these members are not closely related in meaning. Thus "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” The Semicolon (;) is used to distribute a sentence into two or more members, which yet have some connexion in meaning. "And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shall hiss, because of all the plagues thereof." The Comma (,) is used to distinguish parts of a sentence, which belong to one general branch or member, and to show which words are the most intimately connected, and which are not so dependent on each other. "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious." In deciding as to the use of the semicolon or colon, in any particular instance, we must be regulated by the near or remote connexion of the members which we propose to distribute. It is proper to write, "Straws swim on the surface pearls lie at the bottom; the use of the colon in this instance, marking the two parts of the sentence as almost entirely separate, and requiring therefore a very long pause after the term "surface." But if a conjunction were introduced to join the two clauses, as "Straws swim on the surface; but pearls lie at the bottom," the semicolon must be given; because the conjunction serves to bring the members of the sentence into a closer connexion, and causes us to pass with a degree of rapidity from the former to the latter. There are some instances, in which either the colon or the semicolon can be employed without impropriety. Thus in the sentence already quoted from Isaiah, "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his mater's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider," the semicolon may be introduced after "crib," although the colon appears to be on the whole preferable. The Comma is a stop of very frequent occurrence; and so different are the cases in which it is employed, that it is impossible to lay down particular rules respecting it, unless they are so accumulated as to perplex and burden the mind. In examining its uses, regard should be had, in every instance, to the reason of its introduction and the subject may be best elucidated, by bringing forward various sentences in which it occurs, and explaining the design of its insertion.-" To act on right and holy principles, is the interest of every human being." Here a comma is put after "principles," to show that the whole clause, "to act on right and holy principles," forms the subject of the verb "is," and because the mind requires a slight relief after so lengthened an expression.-" Benevolence, like the sun, diffuses a cheering and invigorating influence." In this sentence, a comma is inserted after "benevolence," to show that it does not stand immediately connected in grammatical construction with the following words, but that it is reserved to form the nominative to the verb "diffuses; and the intermediate words, "like the sun," are enclosed between two commas, to show that they have no close grammatical connexion with the pre ceding or following terms.-"Youth, vigour, beauty, are attractive and engaging." In this sentence a comma is introduced after each of the first three words, to fix the mind on it pointedly and distinctly, and to show that each forms a separate nominative to the verb which follows. A similar reason exists for writing "A just, virtuous, benevolent man; for the comma inserted after each of the adjectives, "just," "virtuous," serves to fix the mind on them distinctly, and to reserve them for some substantive to be afterwards introduced. But it would be improper to write "A just, virtuous, benevolent, man," because the grammatical connexion of the terms "benevolent" and "man," is too intimate to allow a stop between them. "The King, approving of the scheme, commanded its immediate adoption.' In this sentence, a comma is put after "the King," to keep these words by themselves; as belonging equally to the verb "commanded," and the participle "approving."-"Hope, the balm of life, soothes us under every misfortune." In this sentence, a comma is introduced after "hope," and another after the expression, "the balm of life," to show us that the simple nominative "hope," and this illustrative phrase, relate equally to the verb "soothes." By the insertion of a comma after the first word "hope," this term is reserved, as it were, to become the nominative to a verb to be afterwards introduced." To secure present emolument, he compromised his principles." A comma is inserted between the two clauses of this sentence, because they are distinct in idea.—“I will endeavour, secondly, to trace the causes of this state of things." The word secondly" is here enclosed between two commas, because it is not intimately connected in meaning or grammatical construction, with the preceding or the following word; and the use of a comma after endeavour," keeps the mind expecting some verb of the infinitive mood to be afterwards given, to which this shall relate. These examples appear sufficient to illustrate the use of the comma in writing English, and to show the reasons of its insertion in most of the cases in which it occurs. 66 In addition to the points that have now been considered, there are a few others, that require a brief explanation. The Note of Interrogation (?) is used, as the name itself implies, when a question is proposed. Thus "What is the cause of this procedure?" "Which course shall we choose?" The Note of Exclamation (!) is employed to express surprise or astonishment. Thus we write "What a project has he undertaken!" The Parenthesis () is used to mark a clause introduced obliquely, if we may so speak, between the regular parts of a sentence. In the very sentence just given, the words, "if we may so speak," could have been enclosed within a parenthesis. The grammatical construction is complete without them, nor are they essential to the general import of the sentence. On the subject of clauses introduced in a parenthesis, see Chapter VI. The Dash (-) is used in different cases, though its frequent introduction should be avoided. It is requisite, when there is an abrupt transition, in the middle of a sentence; as in the passage often cited, "Here lies the great-False marble, where? 66 Sometimes this mark is employed after a period, when the subject of the second sentence differs considerably from that of the preceding one. Occasionally it is introduced before a quotation, as I fully embrace that Scriptural maxim ;- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.' In this position however, it appears to be unnecessary and objectionable. are some other cases in which this mark is introduced, to keep the mind from passing too hastily from a word or phrase to a succeeding one. 66 999 There The Hyphen is seen in such compound words as "lap-dog,' tea-pot," "son-in-law." It serves to unite two or more terms, so that they shall be regarded as a single word. Brackets [] are employed to enclose a sentence, or a part of a sentence, which for some special reason, the writer wishes to mark as separate from the others. The usual signs of a Quotation are " But when a double quotation occurs, the second is enclosed between single commas. Thus we may suppose the sentence,— He writes, "I have lately contended for that Scriptural truth, that God hath made of one blood all nations of men.'" CHAPTER V. THE CHOICE OF WORDS. In every composition, the choice of words and phrases deserves particular regard. A judicious selection of terms is essential to the clear and elegant expression of our ideas; and if unsuitable words are introduced, no excellence of arrangement can compensate for their impropriety. There are four general directions, in respect to the choice of words, the importance of which will be readily perceived, and which will suffice to guide the student in his decisions. I. Those words only should be used, which have been sanctioned, by good authority, as belonging to the English language. Thus the words "hauteur" and "politesse" should be discarded, and the proper English terms, "haughtiness," "politeness," invariably substituted for them. Many other examples could be adduced; but it would be impracticable to bring forward every word on which this regulation bears, and in deciding the case of particular terms, the student will find it requisite to have some standard lexicon, to which he may appeal. The rule before us may be extended, so as to censure the unnecessary insertion of phrases belonging to other languages, in the middle of sentences. Some writers evince a fondness for the occasional use of Latin or French expressions; but in almost every instance, the ideas which they design to convey, could have been C |