EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. Nouns have three cases Nominative Possessive and Objec tive.

2. To Greece we are indebted for the three principal orders of architecture the Doric the Ionic and the Corinthian.

3. We have three great bulwarks of liberty schools colleges and universities.

4. The divisions of mind are threefold intellect sensibilities and will.

RULE 3. Short Sentences.-Short sentences which have but a slight dependence on one another as to sense are usually separated by semicolons.

Ex.-"Be what thou seemest; live thy creed;

Hold up to earth the torch divine."

Note. On this rule usage differs somewhat. Some writers prefer to use the colon and others the period instead of the semicolon, but the preference is in favor of the semicolon.

EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. Inflexible in faith invincible in arms.

2. Honors come by diligence riches spring from economy. 3. Listen to good advice treasure up wise precepts and try to merit the approbation of all.

4. Stones grow vegetables grow and live animals grow live and feel.

5. There is good for the good there is virtue for the virtuous there is victory for the valiant there is spirituality for the spiritual.

RULE 4. Successive Clauses.-A semicolon is used to separate several successive clauses in a complex sentence when they have a common dependence on a principal clause. Ex.-"When my heart shall have ceased to throb; life shall have passed away; when my body shall have been

when my

consigned to the tomb,-then shall all these things be remembered in my favor."

Note. Some writers prefer to separate the principal clause from the others by a colon, and the others from one another by a comma and a dash.

EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. If we think of glory in the field of wisdom in the cabinet of the purest patriotism of the highest integrity, public and private of morals without a stain of religious feeling without intolerance and without extravagance, the august figure of Washington presents itself in the personation of all these.

2. If we search for the man who bears the heaviest burdens most cheerfully who is calmest in storm and most fearless in danger who chooses the right at all times with invincible resolution, we shall find him a man of the purest life and the most discriminating conscience.

RULE 5. Additional Clauses.—An additional clause which assigns a reason, draws an inference, or presents a contrast, may be cut off by a semicolon.

Ex.-"Honesty is the best policy; but he who acts on that principle is not an honest man.'

Note. When the additional clause follows without the use of a connecting word, some writers use a colon instead of a semicolon. Some of the connecting words most commonly used are namely, for, but, yet, etc.

EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. Right is more beautiful than private affection and love is compatible with universal wisdom.-Emerson.

2.

They that stand high have many blasts to shake them
And if they fall they dash themselves to pieces.

3. Straws float upon the surface but pearls lie at the bottom of the stream.

4. Everything grows old everything passes away everything disappears.

RULE 6. Before As.-A semicolon should precede "as" when it introduces an example.

For illustration see the application in the preceding rules wherever an example has been introduced by the use of as.

Note. A semicolon is sometimes used before viz., to wit, i. e., or that is, when it precedes an example or an enumeration of particulars.

EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. A noun is a name as John book bird.

2. The is used before nouns in either number as The boy the boys.

3. A fraction is an indicated division as .

RULE 7. Yes and No.-"Yes" or "no," when forming part of an answer and followed by a proposition, is usually cut off by a semicolon.

Ex.-"Yes; I think I can answer you."

Note. When yes or no precedes a vocative expression, the semicolon follows the expression; as, "No, my friends; the time has not yet come for action."

GENERAL EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary:

1. The study of mathematics cultivates the reason that of the languages at the same time the reason and the taste

2. He was courteous not cringing to superiors affable not familiar to equals and kind but not condescending or supercilious to inferiors.

3. The gem has lost its sparkle scarce a vestige of its former brilliancy remains.

4. After interjections pronouns of the first person are generally used in the objective case as ah me!

5. Mirth should be the embroidery of conversation not the web and wit the ornament of the mind not the furniture

6. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are his delight

THE COLON (:).

The Colon is used to separate parts of sentences less closely connected than those separated by the semicolon.

The following are the most important rules for the use of the colon:

RULE 1. Parts of Sentences.-A colon should be placed between the parts of sentences whose subdivisions are separated by semicolons.

Ex. "You have called yourself an atom in the universe; you have said that you were but an insect in the solar blaze: is your present pride consistent with these professions?"

EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. We are seldom tiresome to ourselves; and the act of composition fills and delights the mind with change of language and succession of images every couplet when produced is new and novelty is the great source of pleasure.

2. The article contained two chief thoughts the first that the argument was not sound the second that it was not convincing.

RULE 2. Additional Clauses.-An additional clause not formally connected with the preceding clause is set off from the latter by a colon.

Ex.-"Apply yourself diligently to study: it is the only sure way to success."

Note. This rule differs from Rule 5 under the Semicolon mainly in the omission of the conjunction which formally connects the clauses.

EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so to me it is a prison.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Let others hail the rising sun

I bow to those whose course is run.- -Garrick.
Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt
It's like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.
High stations tumults but not bliss create

None think the great unhappy but the great.
Learning by study must be won

'Twas ne'er entailed from son to son.

RULE 3. Quotations. When a quotation is introduced, but not as the object of a verb, it should be preceded by a colon.

Ex.-The speaker addressed the meeting as follows: “Fellow-citizens, I am glad," etc.

Note. When a quotation follows such transitive verbs as say, exclaim, reply, shout, cry, and similar verbs, as the direct object, it should be preceded by a comma instead of a colon; as, The speaker said, "Fellow-citizens, I am glad," etc.

EXERCISE.

Punctuate the following where necessary :

1. In his last moments he uttered these words "I fall a sacrifice to sloth and luxury."

2. The chairman then arose and addressed the audience as follows "My friends, I have an unpleasant duty to perform." 3. His words were these "If I am guilty punish me."

4. The sentence is as follows "The child ran crying to its mother"

5. The following is correct "Haste makes waste." For of all sad words of tongue or pen,

6.

The saddest are these “It might have been."

RULE 4. Formal Introduction.-A colon is placed after