Chapter XIIPUNCTUATION
Marks of punctuation are used for the purpose of making the meaning of sentences unmistakable. It is not sufficient that sentences be grammatically correct, clear, and vigorous; they must also be perfectly punctuated if their meaning is to be unmistakable. A writer must, therefore, observe the rules of punctuation if his writing is to be intelligible.
800. Use a period (.) at the end of declarative and of imperative sentences.
801. Use a period after every abbreviation.
Right.Mr. C. S. McIntyre of the C. R. I. and P. Ry. Co. received a ten per cent increase.Right.The editors, reporters, feature writers, etc., and the printers, advertising solicitors, circulation men, etc., of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican are all able men.
Right.Mr. C. S. McIntyre of the C. R. I. and P. Ry. Co. received a ten per cent increase.
Right.The editors, reporters, feature writers, etc., and the printers, advertising solicitors, circulation men, etc., of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican are all able men.
802. Never use a period at the end of an incomplete sentence element.
Illiterate.After the sun had set. We went home.Correct.After the sun had set, we went home.
Illiterate.After the sun had set. We went home.
Correct.After the sun had set, we went home.
803. Use a question mark (?) at the end of a direct question.
804. Use a question mark, sparingly, to indicate doubt. In this instance the question mark should be enclosed within parentheses.
Right.In the year 1596 (?) he was sent to Italy.
Right.In the year 1596 (?) he was sent to Italy.
805. Never use a question mark at the end of an indirect question.
Wrong.I asked him what he intended to do?Right.I asked him what he intended to do.
Wrong.I asked him what he intended to do?
Right.I asked him what he intended to do.
806. Use an exclamation point (!) at the end of exclamatory expressions.
Right.What a terrible experience!
Right.What a terrible experience!
807. Use a comma (,) between co-ordinate clauses that are joined byandorbutonly if the subjects of the clauses are different.
Wrong.He began as office boy, but in no long time he became timekeeper.Right.He began as office boy but in no long time he became timekeeper.Wrong.He began as office boy but in no long time they made him timekeeper.Right.He began as office boy, but in no long time they made him timekeeper.
Wrong.He began as office boy, but in no long time he became timekeeper.
Right.He began as office boy but in no long time he became timekeeper.
Wrong.He began as office boy but in no long time they made him timekeeper.
Right.He began as office boy, but in no long time they made him timekeeper.
808. Use a comma between clauses joined by the conjunctionfor.
Wrong.He went into the house for his automobile needed water.Right.He went into the house, for his automobile needed water.
Wrong.He went into the house for his automobile needed water.
Right.He went into the house, for his automobile needed water.
809. Use a comma between short co-ordinate clauses not joined by conjunctions, if the clauses are parallel in structure.
The horse neighed, the pig grunted, the dog barked.
The horse neighed, the pig grunted, the dog barked.
810. Use a comma after a dependent clause that precedes a main clause.
When he speaks, we all listen.
When he speaks, we all listen.
811. Use commas to set off clauses or phrases that add merely a descriptive idea to the expression modified.
Abraham Lincoln, who was born in a log cabin, became one of the greatest presidents.They, reading the newspaper, did not hear me come in.
Abraham Lincoln, who was born in a log cabin, became one of the greatest presidents.
They, reading the newspaper, did not hear me come in.
812. Use commas between adjectives in a series if the position of the adjectives can be logically interchanged.
Each one carried a red, white, and blue flag.
Each one carried a red, white, and blue flag.
813. Use commas between words, phrases, or clauses in a series.
He sent me two books, a drum, and a small wagon.Seeing the dark sky, feeling the sharp wind, and knowing that my family would be worried, I hurried home.If he had not been ill, if the bank had not failed, and if my credit had not been exhausted, you would never have found me here.
He sent me two books, a drum, and a small wagon.
Seeing the dark sky, feeling the sharp wind, and knowing that my family would be worried, I hurried home.
If he had not been ill, if the bank had not failed, and if my credit had not been exhausted, you would never have found me here.
814. Use a comma before theandconnecting the last two members of a series.
Wrong.He ordered bread and butter, ham and eggs, cucumbers and milk.Right.He ordered bread and butter, ham and eggs, cucumbers, and milk.
Wrong.He ordered bread and butter, ham and eggs, cucumbers and milk.
Right.He ordered bread and butter, ham and eggs, cucumbers, and milk.
815. Use a comma to separate elements which might otherwise become confused.
Wrong.Not long before he had bought the horse.Right.Not long before, he had bought the horse.Wrong.We drove up to the house, and the motor stopped allowing us to complete the trip without disaster along the road.Right.We drove up to the house, and the motor stopped,allowing us to complete the trip without disaster along the road.Confusing.Which of the men to choose from among all those who applied would be a difficult matter to decide.Better.Which of the men to choose from among all those who applied, would be a difficult matter to decide.
Wrong.Not long before he had bought the horse.
Right.Not long before, he had bought the horse.
Wrong.We drove up to the house, and the motor stopped allowing us to complete the trip without disaster along the road.
Right.We drove up to the house, and the motor stopped,allowing us to complete the trip without disaster along the road.
Confusing.Which of the men to choose from among all those who applied would be a difficult matter to decide.
Better.Which of the men to choose from among all those who applied, would be a difficult matter to decide.
816. Use commas to set off names in direct address.
Here, Jim, let me do that.
Here, Jim, let me do that.
817. Use commas to set off appositives.
Hilda Kasper, the cateress, served the luncheon.
Hilda Kasper, the cateress, served the luncheon.
818. Use commas to set off geographical names which explain other geographical names.
He lived in Birmingham, Alabama, before he came here.
He lived in Birmingham, Alabama, before he came here.
819. Use commas to set off the year as a part of a date.
In April, 1923, he went home.The letter was dated February 2, 1910.
In April, 1923, he went home.
The letter was dated February 2, 1910.
820. Use commas to set off absolute phrases.
The soldiers having rested, Hannibal ordered the army to start.
The soldiers having rested, Hannibal ordered the army to start.
821. Use commas to set off mild interjections or slightly parenthetical expressions.
It was, alas, too late.Yes, I shall be glad to go.No, I am sure that is not correct.It was, therefore, his duty to accept.I never met him, you know.
It was, alas, too late.
Yes, I shall be glad to go.
No, I am sure that is not correct.
It was, therefore, his duty to accept.
I never met him, you know.
822. Use a comma to set off an informal quotation indirect discourse unless the quotation is short and is grammatically incorporated into the sentence.
He said, “I am going home.”He answered “yes” to my question.
He said, “I am going home.”
He answered “yes” to my question.
823. Never use a comma between an adjective and the noun it modifies.
Wrong.A blue, white, and red, flag hung from the window.Right.A blue, white, and red flag hung from the window.
Wrong.A blue, white, and red, flag hung from the window.
Right.A blue, white, and red flag hung from the window.
824. Never use commas to set off clauses or phrases that limit the meaning of the expressions they modify; no punctuation is necessary.
Wrong.All men, who do this, should be hanged.Right.All men who do this should be hanged.Wrong.Any woman, desiring to try for the team, should report immediately.Right.Any woman desiring to try for the team should report immediately.
Wrong.All men, who do this, should be hanged.
Right.All men who do this should be hanged.
Wrong.Any woman, desiring to try for the team, should report immediately.
Right.Any woman desiring to try for the team should report immediately.
825. Never use commas between adjectives in a series if the position of the adjectives cannot be logically interchanged.
Wrong.He wore an old, black, felt hat.Right.He wore an old black felt hat.
Wrong.He wore an old, black, felt hat.
Right.He wore an old black felt hat.
826. Never use a comma to indicate a slight pause.
Wrong.Through the window, jumped the cat.Right.Through the window jumped the cat.
Wrong.Through the window, jumped the cat.
Right.Through the window jumped the cat.
827. Never use a comma beforethat,what,how,why, etc., in indirect discourse.
He said that he would go tomorrow.He asked me what I was going to do.She inquired how they were to go.They asked why their salaries had been decreased.
He said that he would go tomorrow.
He asked me what I was going to do.
She inquired how they were to go.
They asked why their salaries had been decreased.
828. Never use a comma between main clauses not joined by a conjunction; use a period. (See 380.)
Wrong.Tomorrow is Tuesday, you must come then.Right.Tomorrow is Tuesday. You must come then.
Wrong.Tomorrow is Tuesday, you must come then.
Right.Tomorrow is Tuesday. You must come then.
829. Use a semicolon (;) between co-ordinate clauses that are not joined by a co-ordinating conjunction.
Wrong.He went to South America, I stayed at home.Right.He went to South America; I stayed at home.
Wrong.He went to South America, I stayed at home.
Right.He went to South America; I stayed at home.
830. Use a semicolon between clauses that are joined by conjunctive adverbs.
She could not come; so there was no meeting.I did not see him; nevertheless I knew he was there.The men were none too sure of their next move; their doubt, however, only tended to heighten their excitement.
She could not come; so there was no meeting.
I did not see him; nevertheless I knew he was there.
The men were none too sure of their next move; their doubt, however, only tended to heighten their excitement.
831. Use a semicolon between co-ordinate clauses that are joined byandorbutonly if the clauses have more than ten words each, or if there are commas within the clauses.
Slowly the huge grey transport that had been waiting at the dock since midnight got under way; and slowly the throng that had gathered for one last glimpse of relatives and friends made its way up the long street.If we can find no other way, you may be sure we shall follow your advice; but you must not expect us to relinquish any more of our profit than we can help, especially at this late date.
Slowly the huge grey transport that had been waiting at the dock since midnight got under way; and slowly the throng that had gathered for one last glimpse of relatives and friends made its way up the long street.
If we can find no other way, you may be sure we shall follow your advice; but you must not expect us to relinquish any more of our profit than we can help, especially at this late date.
832. Never use a semicolon between a subordinate clause and a main clause.
Wrong.Since they came; we have not had a moment’s peace.Right.Since they came, we have not had a moment’s peace.
Wrong.Since they came; we have not had a moment’s peace.
Right.Since they came, we have not had a moment’s peace.
833. Never use a semicolon after the salutation of a letter.
Wrong.Dear Sir;We are glad that you approve our action.Right.Dear Sir:We are glad that you approve our action.
Wrong.Dear Sir;
We are glad that you approve our action.
Right.Dear Sir:
We are glad that you approve our action.
834. Use a colon (:) to introduce formally a word, a catalogue, a list, questions, statements, or long quotations.
There was but one thing to do: retreat.I was advised to see these men: C. R. Wright, A. W. Henderson, and B. L. Noojin.The following will report in uniform tomorrow:ButlerDoolittleThomasWilliamsThe question then arose: What should we do with him?What troubled us was this: The ammunition was running low.This is the first sentence in Poe’sFall of the House of Usher: “During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher.”
There was but one thing to do: retreat.
I was advised to see these men: C. R. Wright, A. W. Henderson, and B. L. Noojin.
The following will report in uniform tomorrow:
The question then arose: What should we do with him?
What troubled us was this: The ammunition was running low.
This is the first sentence in Poe’sFall of the House of Usher: “During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher.”
835. Use a hyphen (-) in writing fractions, or numbers less than one hundred.
Three-fifths, twenty-one, thirty-seconds.Thirty-seven, ninety-nine.
Three-fifths, twenty-one, thirty-seconds.
Thirty-seven, ninety-nine.
836. Use a hyphen in titles composed of two words or more.
Lieutenant-colonel, alderman-at-large, editor-in-chief.
Lieutenant-colonel, alderman-at-large, editor-in-chief.
837. Use a hyphen after the first part of a word divided at the end of a line.
838. Use a hyphen in compound adjectives.
Light-blue, 70-horsepower, six-cylinder, seven-passenger, ill-advised.
Light-blue, 70-horsepower, six-cylinder, seven-passenger, ill-advised.
839. Use a hyphen after prefixes likeco-,re-,anti-,post-, etc., when prefixed to words beginning with the last letter of the prefix; when prefixed to proper nouns or proper adjectives; when the compound might become confused with a word of similar spelling.
Co-operation, anti-Christian, re-creation.
Co-operation, anti-Christian, re-creation.
840. Use a dash (—) when the thought is abruptly broken off.
Just then the telephone rang—I wish I could remember who was calling.
Just then the telephone rang—I wish I could remember who was calling.
841. Use dashes rather than parentheses to inclose informal parenthetical material.
He offered me—imagine it—twenty dollars a week.
He offered me—imagine it—twenty dollars a week.
842. Use a dash before a summarizing expression.
After the wheat is all in, after the horses are put up, and after the chores have been done—then you may use the car.
After the wheat is all in, after the horses are put up, and after the chores have been done—then you may use the car.
843. Never use a dash where a period should be used.
Wrong.Come tomorrow—everybody will be here then—Right.Come tomorrow. Everybody will be here then.
Wrong.Come tomorrow—everybody will be here then—
Right.Come tomorrow. Everybody will be here then.
844. Never use a dash where a comma should be used.
Wrong.Tom came in yesterday—and Jim was glad to see him.Right.Tom came in yesterday, and Jim was glad to see him.
Wrong.Tom came in yesterday—and Jim was glad to see him.
Right.Tom came in yesterday, and Jim was glad to see him.
845. Use quotation marks (“ ”) to inclose expressions in direct discourse.
He said, “Let me try.”
He said, “Let me try.”
846. Use quotation marks to inclose material borrowed from some other writer.
According to John Keats “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”
According to John Keats “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”
847. If the quoted passage contains more than one paragraph, the quotation marks must be placed at the beginning of each paragraph, but after only the last.
848. Use single quotation marks (‘ ’) to inclose a quotation within a quotation.
The man said, “John said to me, ‘You hold him; I’m busy.’”
The man said, “John said to me, ‘You hold him; I’m busy.’”
849. Use ordinary quotation marks to inclose material quoted within a passage enclosed by single quotation marks.
She said, “Jane replied, ‘Jim’s remark, “Iowa has a hard schedule next year,” does not mean what you think it means.’”
She said, “Jane replied, ‘Jim’s remark, “Iowa has a hard schedule next year,” does not mean what you think it means.’”
850. Include periods and commas at the end of quoted material within the quotation marks, but treat other marks of punctuation according to the context of the passage.
851. Underscore names of books, plays, musical compositions, paintings, and pieces of sculpture. Do not use quotation marks.
George Eliot’sSilas Marnerhas been read by thousands.
George Eliot’sSilas Marnerhas been read by thousands.
852. Use an apostrophe (’) to mark the omission of letters in contracted words.
Wrong.Dont, cant, its (forit is), Ive, doesnt.Right.Don’t, can’t, it’s, I’ve, doesn’t.
Wrong.Dont, cant, its (forit is), Ive, doesnt.
Right.Don’t, can’t, it’s, I’ve, doesn’t.
853. Use an apostrophe before thesto form the possessive of singular nouns.
Wrong.Fathers house has just been painted.Right.Father’s house has just been painted.
Wrong.Fathers house has just been painted.
Right.Father’s house has just been painted.
854. Use an apostrophe after thesto form the possessive of plural nouns.
Wrong.They sell boys clothing.Wrong.They sell boy’s clothing.Right.They sell boys’ clothing.
Wrong.They sell boys clothing.
Wrong.They sell boy’s clothing.
Right.They sell boys’ clothing.
855. Never use an apostrophe to form the possessive of personal pronouns.
Wrong.Their’s are black.Right.Theirs are black.
Wrong.Their’s are black.
Right.Theirs are black.
856. Use parentheses ( ) to inclose material that is foreign to the main thought of a sentence, paragraph, or whole composition.
Right.They will (I saw the order myself) withdraw the Second battalion tomorrow.
Right.They will (I saw the order myself) withdraw the Second battalion tomorrow.
857. Use parentheses to inclose figures that confirm numerical adjectives. Place the figures in parentheses after the numeral word.
Wrong.He offered to sell me (5) five mules.Right.He offered to sell me five (5) mules.
Wrong.He offered to sell me (5) five mules.
Right.He offered to sell me five (5) mules.
858. Never use parentheses to cancel a word which you want to omit; draw a line through it.
Wrong.Next week the (whether) weather will be warm.Right.Next week thewhetherweather will be warm.
Wrong.Next week the (whether) weather will be warm.
Right.Next week thewhetherweather will be warm.
859. Use brackets [ ] to inclose explanatory material introduced into a quotation.
The speaker said, “He [Washington] was above everything else an American gentleman.”
The speaker said, “He [Washington] was above everything else an American gentleman.”
860. Practice.
Paragraph and punctuate the following passages.
I
I had been going to St Lukes Hospital in Charleston S C every day for two weeks to visit my brother John who had to undergo a serious operation Dr R L Spitzenberg one of the best surgeons in the city was in charge of the case one day it was I think March 12 1919 I asked the doctor when John might be taken home he exclaimed my dear sir how can you expect to move a man who is as weak as your brother is naturally I was disappointed but John was more then disappointed for he had become very tired of the hospital routine he sighed deeply he turned his face to the wall and wept sobbingly when he had become somewhat quieted a nurse came in with his evening meal she was rather small not particularly pretty and unusually brusque I thought in manner the meal consisted of a small well-cooked steak hot baked potatoes and a combination salad I sat beside the bed as he tried to eat and wondered why they gave him such heavy food if he were so weak finally I said nurse are all patients given the same diet not two minutes before she had been staring out the window in a vacuous sort of way at my question however she turned and with no apparent change in her manner remarked how should I know Ive just been taken on.
II
The lecturer said in part let me begin by quoting the hounds of spring are on winters traces and the mother of months in meadow and plain fills the shadows and windyplaces with lisp of leaves and ripple of rain could anything more precisely convey the restless sensitive mood of spring I can think of nothing he Swinburne the author seems to have grasped the very essence of spring here and made it live forever in his lines let me pause here a moment to suggest that if anyone of you is looking for poetry that really sings try Swinburne he will always satisfy the ear but poetry is not all sound however it must if it is to appeal popularly have rhythm to be sure nevertheless this rhythm must never be allowed to become monotonous try reading Popes Rape of the Lock for instance aloud what was it Wordsworth said poetry was emotion recollected in tranquillity or something like that wasn’t it indeed nothing could be more easily demonstrable Bret Harte for example in Gabriel Conroy describes a snow storm to perfection one finds himself floundering through the drifts as truly as if he were actually in the midst of the storm yet Harte wrote the passage long after he had undergone the experience set forth and far from the scene itself in fact he wrote of a storm in the West in midwinter while sitting calmly at his desk in New York in midsummer.