APPENDIX B

I. RULES FOR PUNCTUATION

I. The Comma.

1. The comma is used to separate words, phrases, or clauses arranged in a series, when these are not connected by and, or, or nor. When When a conjunction is used between the last two members of the series only, the comma should be used before the conjunction.

It was a fine, green, fat landscape.

It has enervated their strength, multiplied their diseases, and superinduced upon their original barbarity the low vices of artificial life.

2. The comma is used to separate from the rest of the sentence, all words, phrases, or clauses used in apposition.

It was Frank Bracebridge, a sprightly good-humored young fellow, with whom I had once travelled on the continent.

3. The comma is used to separate words in direct address from the rest of the sentence.

Seyton, send out. Doctor, the thanes fly from me. Come, sir, dispatch.

4. The comma is used to distinguish an explanatory relative clause from a restrictive relative clause.

1. First-year pupils, who are not allowed to attend rhetorical exercises in the hall, have instead exercises in their own rooms. (Explanatory.)

2. First-year pupils who are deficient in their work must report at once to the Principal. (Restrictive.)

5. The comma is used to separate the parts of a compound sentence when there is a slight break in the thought.

1. The game was brief, but it was interesting.

2. Their wants were few, and the means of gratification were within reach.

6. The comma is used to separate from the rest of the sentence, expressions out of their natural order.

1. In manners and appearance, he is distasteful to me.

2. If I had had longer training, I should write better themes. 3. Whenever a man makes a statement, he must be sure of his facts.

7. The comma is used to separate from the rest of the sentence, expressions more or less parenthetical in their nature.

1. He was not, however, on the best of terms with me.

2. A man must be sure, whenever he makes a statement, that his facts are right.

3. There is a class of people, alas, who need watching.

8. The comma is used to indicate an ellipsis.

One of us goes to the grammar school; the other, to the primary school.

9. The comma is used to separate the items of a date or address at the head of a letter or elsewhere.

Charles Dudley Warner was born in Plainfield, Massachusetts, September 12, 1829.

II. The Semi-Colon.

1. The semi-colon is used when there is a strongly marked division in the sentence.

1. I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging. 2. The latter I gave the people of the boat for my passage, who at first refused it, on account of my rowing; but I insisted on their taking it.

2. The semi-colon is used to separate phrases or clauses in a series, when the phrases or clauses contain

commas.

The ships of war, that prowled like guardian giants along the coast; the headlands of Ireland, stretching out into the channel; the Welsh mountains, towering into the clouds; all were objects of intense interest.

3. The semi-colon is used to precede "e. g." (exempli gratia for example), "viz." (videlicet=namely), “i. e.” (id est = that is), "as", and "p." (page).

1. A period should be used after every abbreviation; as, "Dr.", "Mr.", "B. C.”, “viz.”

2. Tenement, a piece of property; p. 230, 1. 5.

3. There are three end-marks for sentences; viz., the period, the interrogation point, the exclamation point.

III. The Colon.

1. The colon is used before a long or formal quotation and before a list or statement.

His master says further as follows: "I think I can't charge my conscience with being much short of my duty to him. I shall now

desire you, if you have not done it already, to invite him to lay his complaints before you, that I may know how to remedy them." —Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography.

2. There are four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.

3. A good motto is: Follow the leading of your own conscience.

IV. The Period. The Interrogation Point. The Exclamation Point.

1. The period is used at the end of every declarative and imperative sentence.

The period is used to mark abbreviations.

2. The interrogation point is used at the end of an interrogative sentence and after a direct question in the middle of any sentence.

"Are you going so soon?" asked Mary.

3. The exclamation point is used after words or sentences uttered with strong feeling.

Mary! Mary! What are you doing!

Alas! What shall I do!

Oh! you hurt.

After the word O used in direct address, no punctustion is needed.

"O Thou that changest not, abide with me."

V. The Dash.

1. The dash is used to mark a break or excited pause in a sentence.

"I could be happy with her," cried he, convulsively, "in a hovel!I could go down with her into poverty and the dust!-I could-I

could-God bless her!-God bless her!" cried he, bursting into a transport of grief and tenderness.-Irving: The Sketch-Book.

VI. The Hyphen.

The hyphen is used to separate the parts of a compound word, and to mark a break in a word of more than one syllable when the whole of the word can not be got in at the end of the line.

Monosyllables MAY NOT be divided.

VII. The Parentheses.

The parentheses are used to inclose figures, words of explanation, or words thrown in that might be omitted without disturbing the sentence.

by good writers.

VIII. Quotation Marks.

They are little used

1. Quotation marks (" ") are used to enclose direct quotations.

1. Here a general shout burst from the bystanders-"A tory! a tory! a spy! a refugee! hustle him! away with him!"

2. Shakspere says, "All the world's a stage".

Note 1. Single marks ('') should be used to enclose a quotation within a quotation.

"Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep'.

Note 2. Sometimes a quotation is interrupted for the sake of explanations. The parts of the quotation thus interrupted should be noted by quotation marks.

1. "And what is so rare," says Lowell, "as a day in June.” 2. "My very dog," sighed poor Rip, "has forgotten me!"