"Shame being lost, all virtue "Better is a dinner of

took the child up with his trunk into his cage."
is lost." "Peace, O Virtue, peace is all thine own.”
herbs with love, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."

The following words and phrases, and others similar to them, are generally separated by commas from the rest of the sentence; namely, Nay, so, however, hence, besides, perhaps, finally, in short, at least, moreover, again, first, secondly, thirdly, lastly, once more, on the contrary, etc.

The words of another writer, not formally introduced as a quotation, and words and clauses expressing contrast or opposition, though closely connected in construction, are separated by a comma; as, "I pity the man, who can travel from Dan to Beersheba and cry, 'Tis all barren."

Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull;

Strong, without rage; without o'erflowing, full."

When the absence of a word is indicated in reading or speaking by a pause, its place may be supplied by a comma; as, "From law arises security; from security, inquiry; from inquiry, knowledge."

Nouns in apposition, accompanied by explanatory words or phrases, are separated by commas; but if such nouns are single, or only form a proper name, they are not divided; as, "Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles was eminent for his zeal and knowledge."

When a sentence consists of several members, each constituting a distinct proposition, and having a dependence upon each other, or upon some common clause, they are separated by semicolons; as, "Wisdom has builded her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars; she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table."

The colon is used to divide a sentence into two or more parts, which, although the sense be complete in each, are not wholly independent; as, "Nature felt her inability to extricate herself from the consequences of guilt: the Gospel reveals the plan of Divine interposition and aid."

The colon is used when an example, a quotation, or a speech is introduced; as, "The Scriptures give us an amiable representation of the Deity in these words: God is love."

The period is used at the end of a complete and independent sentence. It is also placed after initial letters when used alone; and, likewise, after all abbreviations; as, "One clear and direct path is pointed out to man." "Fear God." "Have charity towards all men." "G. W.," for "George Washing

ton.'

"Geo.," for "George." "Benj.," for "Benjamin." "O. S.," for "Old Style." "F. R. S.," for "Fellow of the Royal Society."

In a general view, the period separates the paragraph into sentences; the semicolon divides a compound sentence into simple ones; and the comma collects into clauses the scattered circumstances of manner, time, place, relation, etc., belonging to every verb and to every noun.

The note of interrogation, or the question, as it is sometimes called, is placed after every sentence which contains a question; as, "Who is this?" "What have you in your hand?" "The Cyprians said to me, Why do you weep?"

The exclamation point is used to express any sudden or violent emotion; such as surprise, joy, grief, love, hatred, anger, pity, anxiety, ardent wish, etc. It is also used to mark an exalted idea of the Deity; and is generally placed after the nominative case independent; and after the noun or pronoun which follows an interjection; as, "How mischievous are the effects of war!” “O blissful days! A me! how soon we pass !"

The exclamation point is also used after sentences containing a question when no answer is expected; as, "What is more amiable than virtue!"

Several exclamation points are sometimes used together, either in a parenthesis or by themselves, for the purpose of expressing ridicule or a great degree of surprise.

A parenthesis is a sentence, or a part of a sentence, inserted within another sentence, but which may be omitted without injuring the sense or construction, and is enclosed between two curved lines like these: ().

The curved lines between which a parenthesis is enclosed are called crotchets. Sometimes a sentence is enclosed between marks like these, [], which are called brackets.

The following difference is to be noticed in the use of crotchets and brackets: Crotchets are used to enclose a sentence, or part of a sentence, which is inserted between the parts of another sentence: Brackets are generally used to separate two subjects, or to enclose an explanatory note or observation standing by itself. When a parenthesis occurs within another parenthesis, brackets enclose the former, and crotchets the latter; as in the following sentence from Sterne: "I know the banker I deal with, or the physician I usually call in [there is no need, cried Dr. Slop (waking), to call in any physician in this case], to be neither of them men of much religion."

It may be here remarked that a parenthesis is frequently placed between commas, instead of crotchets, etc.; but the best writers avoid the use of parentheses as much as is possible.

The hyphen is a small mark placed between the parts of a compound word; 25, sea-water, semi-circle.

The hyphen is also used to denote the long sound of a vowel; as, Epicurē-an, deco-rum, balco-ny.

The hyphen must always be put at the end of the line when part of a word is in one line and part in another; but, in this case, the letters of a syllable must Dever be separated; as,

extraor

dinary, not ext-
raordinary.

The dash is a straight mark longer than a hyphen; thus, —

The proper use of the dash is to express a sudden stop or change of the sub

ject; but, by modern writers, it is employed as a substitute for almost all of the other marks: being used sometimes for a comma, semicolon, colon or period; sometimes for a question or an exclamation, and sometimes for crotchets and brackets to enclose a parenthesis.

An ellipsis or omission of words, syllables or letters, is indicated by various marks sometimes by a dash; as, the k-g, for the king; sometimes by asterisks or stars, like these, ****; sometimes by hyphens, thus, - - ; sometimes by small dots or periods, like these, . . .

The breve (thus ~) is placed over a vowel to indicate its short sound; as, St. Hělena.

The apostrophe is a comma placed above the line. It is used as the sign of the possessive case, and sometimes indicates the omission of a letter or several letters; as, "John's; "'"'tis" for "it is ;"" tho' " for "though; ""lov'd" for "loved;" "I'll" for "I will."

The quotation marks, or inverted commas, as they are sometimes called, consist of four commas; two inverted, or upside down, at the beginning of a word, phrase or sentence which is quoted or transcribed from some author in his own words; and two others, in their direct position, placed at the conclusion; as, an excellent poet says:

"The proper study of mankind is man."

Sometimes the quotation is marked by single, instead of double commas. The diæresis consists of two periods placed over the latter of two vowels to show that they are to be pronounced in separate syllables; as, Laocoön, Zoönomia, coöperate.

The brace is employed to unite several lines of poetry, or to connect a number of words with one common term; and it is also used to prevent a repetition in writing or printing; thus,

"Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join

The varying verse, the full-resounding line,
The long majestic march and energy divine."

The cedilla, or cerilla, is a curve line placed under the letter c, to show that it has the sound of s. It is used principally in words derived from the French language.

Thus, garçon, in which word the c is to be pronounced like s

The accents are marks used to signify the proper pronunciation of words.

The accents are three in number:

The grave accent, thus,

The acute accent, thus, '

The circumflex accent, thus,"