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CAPITAL LETTERS, PUNCTUATION, AND

LETTER-WRITING.

CHAPTER I.

CAPITAL LETTERS.

CAPITAL LETTERS are used to distinguish certain words. for the purpose of making the sense more clear.

The following are the chief rules for the use of capital letters:

1. The First Word in a Book, etc.—The first word in every book, tract, essay, etc., and of every chapter or section, also of every note, letter, or other writing should. begin with a capital letter.

2. The First Word of a Sentence.-The first word of every sentence or its equivalent should begin with a capital letter.

Examples.-"When did you come?" "It is a pleasant

morning."

3. Numbered Clauses, etc.-The first word of each of a series of numbered clauses or phrases should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.-" He directed his efforts to these points: 1. To showing the necessity for a short route; 2. To showing that the route he advocated was the shortest; 3. To showing that a road could be built most cheaply by his route."

4. First Word of an Example.-The first word of a clause or a sentence, when used as an example, should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.-"A sentence should begin with a capital letter; as Procrastination is the thief of time."

5. After an Introductory Word.-The first word after an introductory word or clause should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.—“ Resolved, That the pen is mightier than the sword." “Be it enacted, etc., That a tax of three mills," etc.

6. In an Enumeration of Particulars.-The first word of each new line in an enumeration of particulars, when arranged in lines, should begin with a capital letter.

Ex. The expenses of the committee have been as follows:
For Postage
For Advertising

For Tickets

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$ 3.70

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10.20

4.50

Note. It will be noticed that the chief items in a statement of this kind or in a bill begin with capital letters. See the following:

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7. Direct Questions.-The first word of a direct

question should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.-"The question is, When shall we be stronger?"

Note. This rule is also taken by some to cover an important

statement.

Ex.-"My opinion is this: If we do not succeed now, we never shall succeed."

8. Direct Quotation.-The first word of every direct quotation should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.-Carlyle says, "Blessed is he who has found his work." 9. Poetry. The first word of every line of poetry should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.—“ Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;

He who would seek for pearls must dive below."

10. Proper Names.-Every proper name should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.-John, Mary, Monday, America, New Jersey, Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Note 1.-This rule applies also to the names of the months and the days of the week, but not to the names of the seasons, as these latter are not regarded as proper nouns.

Note 2.-The word devil when used to designate Satan is written with a capital letter; as, "The Devil and his cohorts."

11. Particular Objects or Events.-Words naming particular objects or events should begin with capital letters.

Ex.-Hudson's Bay, Gulf of Mexico, the Statue of Liberty, Jersey City, the Metropolitan Hotel, Niagara Falls, the Park, the Revolution, Fourth of July, the Teachers' Association.

Note 1.-In writing the names of places consisting of two words in some cases usage is not uniform. Thus, New-Castle, New Castle, and Newcastle are all authorized. When connected with a hyphen or when separated, each part begins with a capital letter; but when the two names constitute but one word, only one capital is used.

and some other word or affix, if the proper name follow the hyphen both parts begin with capitals; as, Pre-Adamite; but when the proper name precedes the other, the proper name alone begins with a capital letter; as, Sunday-school.

12. Proper Adjectives.—Adjectives derived from proper names should begin with capital letters.

Ex.-Scotch, American, African, Johnsonian.

Remark 1.-When words derived from proper names are used to express a common quality they are no longer written with capitals; as, godlike, damask, stentorian, etc.

Remark 2.—The names of religious sects, whether derived from proper names or not, should begin with capital letters; as, Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc. The names of political parties also, as Democrats, Republicans, Whigs, Conservatives, etc., should begin with capital letters; also the adjectives derived from these names.

Note. The words North, East, West, South, when they denote sections of country, should begin with capital letters, but when they denote simply direction, they should begin with small letters; as, "The South is rapidly developing her wealth." "Maryland is south of Pennsylvania."

13. Titles.-Titles of honor, office, or respect usually begin with capital letters.

Ex.-Colonel Johnson, President Cleveland, Queen Victoria, Prof. Smith, Superintendent Edwards, Gen. Grant, Sir Walter Scott, Miss Wells, Mr. Boone, Henry the Eighth.

Remark. When a title is used with a proper name for the purpose of explanation, it does not begin with a capital letter; as, the poet Byron, the apostle John.

14. Names of the Deity.-All appellations of the Deity should begin with capital letters.

Ex.-God, Almighty, the Divine Architect.

Remark 1.-When any name of the Deity is applied to created beings, no capitals are used; as, "Lord of lords, King of kings."

ment, the word should begin with a small letter. When it refers to the abode of the blest, it is written by some writers with a capital and by others without. Usage is not uniform.

Remark 3.—The adjectives universal, eternal, divine, omniscient, etc., when applied to God, need not begin with a capital letter, but usage requires capital letters in the following: Almighty God, Infinite One, First Cause, Supreme Being.

Remark 4.-In the expression "Son of God," as applied to Christ, each noun begins with a capital letter, but in the expression "Son of man" only the word Son begins with a capital letter.

Remark 5.-Usage is by no means uniform in writing the pronouns referring to the Deity, but the best writers of English seem to favor beginning these pronouns with small letters except when equivalent to the name of the Deity, when capitals are admissible; as, "To Him who guards and cares for us," etc.

15. I and O.-The words I and O should always be written as capitals.

16. Book Titles.-In the titles of books, or the subjects of essays, etc., every noun, adjective, verb, and adverb should begin with a capital letter.

Ex.-"How to Make Ten Acres Pay."

“The Household Cyclopedia of Science."

Note. When in the title of a book or an essay it is desirable to make the pronouns emphatic, they also may begin with capital letters.

17. Common Nouns.-Common nouns when strongly personified should begin with capital letters.

Ex.-"Come, gentle Spring; ethereal Mildness! come." "Sail on, O Union, strong and great."

18. The Bible.-When reference is had to the divine origin of the Bible, the name of the book itself or any particular part of the book should begin with a capital letter.

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