Punctuation

We condense from Murray’s Grammar the following rules connected with this subject, as they will he found more concise than any other. Those who wish to pursue the subject would do well to possess themselves of Beadnell’s “Guide to Typography,” or Wilson’s “Treatise on Punctuation,” which are the fullest and most comprehensive handbooks on punctuation which has yet appeared.

Punctuation is the art of dividing a written composition into sentences by points or stops, for the purpose of marking the different pauses which the sense and an accurate pronunciation require.

The comma represents the shortest pause; the semicolon a pause double that of the comma; the colon double that of the semicolon; and the period double that of the colon.

The Comma.—The comma usually separates those parts of a sentence which, though very closely connected in sense and construction, require a pause between them.

Rule 1st.—With respect to a simple sentence, the several words of which it consists have so near a relation to each other that in general no points are requisite, except a full stop at the end of it, as, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Rule 2nd.—When the connection of the different parts of a simple sentence is interrupted by an imperfect phrase, a comma is usually introduced before the beginning and at the end of the phrase, as, “I remember, with gratitude, his goodness to me.” “His work is, in man; respects, very imperfect.”

Rule 3rd.—When two or more nouns occur in the same construction, they are parted by the comma, as, “Reason, virtue, answer one great aim.” From this rule there is mostly an exception, with regard to two nouns closely connected by a conjunction, as, “Virtue and vice form a strong contrast to each other.”

Rule 4th.—Two or more adjectives belonging to the same substantive are likewise separated by a comma, as, “Plain, honest truth, wants no artificial covering.” But two adjectives, immediately connected by a conjunction, are not separated by a comma, as, “True worth is modest and retired.”

Rule 5th.—Two or more verbs having the same nominative case, and immediately following one another, are also separated by commas, as, “Virtue supports in adversity, moderates in prosperity.” Two verbs immediately connected by a conjunction, are an exception to the above rule, as, “The study of natural history expands and elevates the mind.” Two or more participles are subject to a similar rule and exception, as, “A man, fearing, serving, and loving his Creator.”

Rule 6th.—Two or more adverbs immediately succeeding one another must be separated by commas, as, “We are fearfully, wonderfully framed.” But when two adverbs are joined by a conjunction, they are not parted by a comma, as, “Some men sin deliberately and presumptuously.”

Rule 7th.—When participles are followed by something that depends on them, they are generally separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, as, “The king approving of the plan, put it in execution.”

Rule 8th.—When a conjunction is divided by a phrase or sentence from the verb to which it belongs, such intervening phrase has usually a comma at each extremity, as, “They set out early, and before the close of the day, arrived at the destined place.”

Rule 9th.—Expressions in a direct address are separated from the rest of the sentence, as, “My son, give me thy heart.”

Rule 10th.—The case absolute, and the infinitive mood absolute, are separated by commas from the body of the sentence, as, “His father dying, he succeeded to the estate.”

Rule 11th.—Nouns in apposition, that is, nouns added to other nouns in the same case by way of explication or illustration when accompanied with adjuncts, are set of by commas, as, “Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, was eminent for his zeal and knowledge.” But if such nouns are single, or only form a proper name, they are not divided, as, “Paul the Apostle.”

Rule 12th.—Simple members of sentences connected by comparatives, are for the most distinguished by a comma, as, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so doth my soul pant after thee.” If the members in comparative sentences are short, the comma is in general better omitted, as, “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold.”

Rule 13th.—When words are placed in opposition to each other, or with some marked variety, they require to be distinguished by a comma, as, “Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull.” Sometimes when the word with which the last preposition agrees is single, it is better to omit the comma before it, as, “Many states were in alliance with, and under the protection of, Rome.” The same rule and restriction must be applied when two or more nouns refer to the same proposition, as, “He was composed both under the threatening and at the approach of a cruel and lingering death.”

Rule 14th.—A remarkable expression, or a short observation somewhat in the manner of a quotation, may be properly marked with a comma, as, “It hurts a man’s pride to say I do not know.”

Rule 15th.—Relative pronouns are connective words, and generally admit a comma before them, as, “He preaches sublimely, who lives a sober, righteous, and pious life.” But when two members, or phrases, are closely connected by a relative, restraining the general notion of the antecedent to a particular sense, the comma should be omitted, as, “Self denial is the sacrifice which virtue must make.” The fifteenth rule applies equally to cases in which the relative is not expressed but understood, as, “It was from piety, warm and unaffected, that his morals derived strength.”

Rule 16th.—A simple member of a sentence contained within another, or following another, must be distinguished by the comma, as, “To improve time whilst we have health, will smooth the bed of sickness.” If, however, the members succeeding each are very closely connected, the comma is unnecessary, as, “Revelation tells us how we may attain happiness.” When a verb in the infinitive mood follows its governing verb with several words between them, those words should generally have a comma at the end of them, as, “It ill becomes good and wise men to oppose and degrade one another.” Several verbs in the infinitive mood having a common dependence and succeeding one another, are also divided by commas, as, “To relieve the indigent, to comfort the afflicted, to protect the innocent, to reward the deserving, is a humane and noble employment.”

Rule 17th.—When the verb, to be, is followed by a verb in the infinitive mood, which, by transposition might be made the nominative case to it, the former is generally separated from the latter verb by a comma, as, “The most obvious remedy is, to withdraw from all associations with bad men.”

Rule 18th.—When adjuncts or circumstances are of importance, and often when the natural order of them is inverted, they may be set off by commas, as, “Virtue must be formed and supported not by unfrequent acts, but by daily and repeated exertions.”

Rule 19th.—When a verb is understood, a comma may properly be introduced. This is a general rule, which, besides comprising some of the preceding rules, will apply to many cases not determined by any of them, as, “From law arises security; from security, curiosity; from security, knowledge.”

Rule 20th.—The words, nay, so, hence, again, first, secondly, formerly, now, lastly, once more, above all, on the contrary, in the next place, in short, and all other words and phrases of the same kind, must generally be separated from the context by a comma, as, “Remember thy best and first friend; formerly, the supporter of thy infancy and the guide of thy childhood; now the guardian of thy youth, and the hope of thy coming years.”

The Semicolon is used for dividing a compound sentence into two or more parts, not so closely connected as those which are separated by a comma, nor yet so little dependent on each other as those which are distinguished by a colon.

The Colon is used to divide a sentence into two or more parts, less connected than those which are I by a semicolon; but not so independent as separate distinct sentences.

The Period.—When tho sentence is complete and independent, and not connected in construction with the following sentence, it is marked with a period.

The Dash.—Though often used improperly by hasty and incoherent writers, may be introduced with propriety, where the sentence breaks off abruptly, where a significant pause is required, or where there is an unexpected turn in the sentiment, as, “If thou art he, so much respected once—but, oh! how fallen! how degraded!”

The Interrogation.—A note of interrogation is used at the end of an interrogative sentence, that is, when a question is asked, as, “Who will accompany me?”

The Exclamation.—The note of exclamation is applied to expressions of sudden emotion, surprise, joy, grief, &c., and also to invocations or addresses, as, “My friend! this conduct amazes me!”

The Parenthesis.—A parenthesis is a clause containing some necessary information or useful remark introduced into the body of a sentence; obliquely, and which may be omitted without injuring the construction, as, “Know then this truth (enough for man to know); virtue alone is happiness below.”