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OF THE COLON.

The Colon is used to separate those parts of a compound sentence which require a longer pause than the semicolon.

RULE I.ADDITIONAL REMARKS.

When the preceding clause is complete in itself, but is followed by some additional remark or illustration, the colon is generally used: as, "Avoid the society of slanderers: it is better to dwell alone."—" See that moth fluttering incessantly round the candle: man of pleasure, behold thy image."

RULE II. GREATER PAUSES.

When the semicolon has been introduced, and a still greater pause is required within the period, the colon should be employed: as, "Princes have courtiers, and merchants have partners; the voluptuous have companions, and the wicked have accomplices: none but the virtuous can have friends."

RULE III. INDEPENDENT QUOTATIONS.

A quotation introduced without dependence on a verb or a conjunction is generally preceded by the colon: as, "In his last moments, he uttered these words: I fall a sacrifice to sloth and luxury."

OF THE PERIOD.

The Period, or Full Stop, is used to mark an entire and independent sentence, whether simple or compound.

RULE I. DISTINCT SENTENCES.

When a sentence is complete in sense, and independent in construction, it should be marked with the period: as, "Learn to do well. Avoid even the appearance of evil."

What is the general use of the colon? How many rules are there for the colon? and what are their heads? What says Rule 1st of additional remarks ?--- Rule 2d, of greater pauses?--- Rule 3d, of independent quotations? What is the general use of the period? How many rules are there for the period? and what are their What says Rule 1st of distinct sentences?

heads?

RULE II.-ALLIED SENTENCES.

The period is often employed between two sentences which have a general connexion, expressed by a personal pronoun, a conjunction, or a conjunctive adverb: as, "The selfish man languishes in his narrow circle of pleasures. They are confined to what affects his own interests. He is obliged to repeat the same gratifications till they become insipid. But the man of virtuous sensibility moves in a wider sphere of felicity."—Blair.

RULE III.-ABBREVIATIONS.

The period is generally used after abbreviations: as, A. D. for Anno Domini—Pro tem. for pro tempore— Ult. for ultimo—i. e. for id est, that is.

OF THE DASH.

The Dash is used to denote an unexpected or emphatic pause of variable length.

RULE I. ABRUPT PAUSES.

A sudden interruption or transition should be marked with the dash: as, "I must inquire into the affair, and if—.' 'And if interrupted the farmer."

"Here lies the great—false marble, where?
Nothing but sordid dust lies here."—Young.

RULE II. EMPHATIC PAUSES.

To mark a greater pause than the structure of the sentence or the points inserted would seem to require, the dash may be employed: as,

"And now they part—to meet no more."
"Revere thyself;—and yet thyself despise."

"Behold the picture!—Is it like?—Like whom?"

What says Rule 2d of allied sentences ? -- Rule 3d, of abbreviation!? What is the use of the dash? How many rules are there for the dash? and what are their heads? What says Rule 1st of abrupt pauses?---Rule 2d, of emphatic pauses?

OF THE NOTE OF INTERROGATION.

The Note of Interrogation is used to denote a question.

RULE I. QUESTIONS DIRECT.

Questions expressed directly as such should always be followed by the note of interrogation: as,

"Ah! what means the opening flower?
And the bud that decks the thorn?"—Gray.

RULE II. QUESTIONS UNITED.

When two or more questions are united in one compound sentence, the comma or semicolon is sometimes placed between them, and the note of interrogation after the last only: as,

"Must no dislike alarm, no wishes rise,

No cries invoke the mercies of the skies ?"

RULE III. -QUESTIONS INDIRECT.

Johnson.

When a question is mentioned, but not put directly as a question, it loses both the quality and the sign of interrogation: as, "The Cyprians asked me why I wept."

OF THE NOTE OF EXCLAMATION.

The Note of Exclamation is used to denote some strong or sudden emotion of the mind; and, as a sign of great wonder, it may be repeated!!!

RULE I.—INTERJECTIONS.

Interjections and other expressions of great emotion are generally followed by the note of exclamation: as,

"O! let me listen to the words of life!"—Thomson.

What is the use of the note of interrogation? How many rules are there for it? and what are their heads? What says Rule 1st of questions direct?---Rule 2d, of questions united ?--- Rule 3d, of questions indirect? What is the use of the note of exclamation? How many rules are there for it? and what are their heads? What says Rule 1st of interjections?

RULE II. INVOCATIONS.

After an earnest address or invocation, the note of exclamation is usually preferred to the comma: as, "Whereupon, O king Agrippa! I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision."—Acts xxvi. 19.

RULE III.—EXCLAMATORY QUESTIONS.

A question uttered with vehemence, and without reference to an answer, should be followed by the note of exclamation: as, "How madly have I talked!"—Young.

OF THE PARENTHESIS.

The Parenthesis is used to distinguish a clause that is hastily thrown in between the parts of a sentence to which it does not properly belong: as,

"To others do (the law is not severe)

What to thyself thou wishest to be done."—Beattie. OBS.--The incidental clause should be uttered in a lower tone and faster than the principal sentence. It always requires a pause as great as that of a comma, or greater.

RULE I.—INCIDENTAL CLAUSES.

A clause that breaks the unity of a sentence too much to be incorporated with it, and only such, should be enclosed in a parenthesis; as,

"Know then this truth, (enough for man to know,) Virtue alone is happiness below."—Pope.

RULE II. INCLUDED POINTS.

The parenthesis does not supersede the other stops; it terminates with a pause equal to that which precedes it; and it should include the same point, except when the sentences differ in form: as,

What says Rule 2d of invocations ?---Rule 3d, of exclamatory questions? What is the use of the parenthesis? How many rules are there for it? and what are their heads? What says Rule 1st of incidental clauses ?---Rule 2d, of included points?

"Man's thirst of happiness declares it is:
(For nature never gravitates to nought :)
That thirst unquench'd, declares it is not here."
Young.

66

Night visions may befriend (as sung above:)
Our waking dreams are fatal. How I dreamt
Of things impossible! (could sleep do more?)
Of joys perpetual in perpetual change!"—Id.

OF THE OTHER MARKS.

The following marks are also occasionally used for various purposes:

1. [] The Apostrophe denotes either the possessive case or the omission of one or more letters of a word: as, "The girl's regard to her parents' advice;"—'gan, mov'd, e'er, tho', for began, moved, ever, though.

2. [-] The Hyphen connects the parts of compound words; as, ever-moving. Placed at the end of a line, it shews that one or more syllables of a word are carried forIward to the next line.

3. [] The Diaresis, placed over the latter of two vowels, shews that they are not a diphthong: as, aerial.

4. ['] The Acute Accent marks the syllable which requires the principal stress in pronunciation: as, equal, equality. It is sometimes used in opposition to the grave accent, to distinguish a close vowel, or to denote the rising inflection of the voice.

5. [] The Grave Accent is used in opposition to the acute, to distinguish an open vowel, or to denote the falling inflection of the voice.

6. [^] The Circumflex generally denotes the broad sound of a vowel: as, eclât.

7. [] The Breve is used to denote either a close vowel or a syllable of short quantity: as, raven, to devour.

What is said about the other marks? What is the use of the apostrophe---of the hyphen---of the diæresis---of the acute accent---of the grave accent---of the circumflex---of the breve ?

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