122 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF FACTS. 



1 1 . Letters standing for words are generally 

 written as capitals. 



Example.*. A. 1). for Atmo ]>oiuini, the year of our 

 Lord. 



12. The months of the year, and the days 

 of the week. The names of the seasons, 

 however, should not generally be capitalized, 

 although it is customary with some authors. 



13. The words North, South, East, and West, 

 and their compounds, as Northwest, when they 

 signify a section of country. Also adjectives 

 derived therefrom. This class of words should 

 not be capitalized, however, when merely de- 

 noting direction. 



Punctuation Points. The Punctua- 

 tion Points are as follows : 



Punctuation is the art of dividing com- 

 position by points or stops for the purpose of 

 showing more clearly the sense and relation 

 of the words, and of noting the different 

 pauses and inflections required in reading. 



The usage of to-day is not that of the past 

 and will not be that of he future. 



The following rules are the most important 

 and are compiled from the best modern au- 

 thorities : 



THE PERIOD must be placed after every 

 declarative and imperative sentence and every 

 abbreviated word. 



/'.rumples. Obey your parents. Virtue is the only 

 nobility. We write Jas. for James, X. V. for New York, 

 No. for number, George I. for George the First. 



After all abbreviations. 

 Example. Mdse. Amt. Ph. D. LL. D. 

 After numberswritten in the Roman notation. 

 Example. XIX. Psalm XC. 

 A nickname which is not really an abbrevi- 

 ation is not followed by a period. 

 E.nnnplfs. Dave Bidwell; Sam Slick. 



A COLON is placed after a sentence which 

 formally introduces a distinct quotation. 



l-'..i umplf. We are often reminded of this remark of 

 Marshal Lannes : " Know, Colonel, that none but a 

 poltroon would boast that he was never afraid." 



The colon may be used to separate the great 

 parts of a long complex sentence when the 

 minor sentences therein are separated by the 

 semicolon. 



The colon is passing out of use, its place 

 being taken by the dash, the semicolon, and 

 the period. 



A SEMICOLON is placed before a*, to wit, 

 viz., namely, and that is when they introduce 

 examples or illustrations. 



Example. Every solid has three dimensions; 

 namely, length, breadth, and thickness. 



Place a semicolon at the close of a sentence 

 which by its terms promises another sentence. 



Example. " Tic-tac, tic-tac, go the wheels of 

 thought ; our will cannot stop them ; they cannot stop 

 themselves; sleep cannot still them; madness only 

 makes them go faster; death alone can break into the 

 case." 



A semicolon may be used to separate short 

 sentences which have but a slight connection 

 with each other. 



Example. He was a poor boy ; he had no showy 

 accomplishments ; he had no influential friends ; but 

 he was rich in youth, courage, and honesty of purpose. 



COMMA. Set off by the comma an explana- 

 tory modifier when it does not restrict the 

 modified term. 



Example. The order, to tire, was given. 



Set off by the comma a word or phrase that 

 is independent. 



Example. To tell the truth, he was not at home. 



Set off by the comma a phrase that is out of 

 its natural order. 



Example. Shifting his burden, he hurried on. 



Set off by the comma a particle used as an 

 adjective. 



Example. The water, expanding, burst the pipe. 



Set off by the comma connected words and 

 phrases unless the conjunctions are all ex- 

 pressed. 



Example. "From the mountain, from the river, 

 from the hill, and from the plain, we are sweeping to 

 the rescue." 



A comma is used before a direct quotation 

 unless it is formally introduced. Greeley said, 

 " The way to resume is to resume." 



Set off by commas all parenthetical expres- 

 sions and the following words when used as 

 such; however, that is, indeed, of course, 

 finally, again, first, second, also, therefore, 

 yes, no, too, etc. 



I-'., in tuple. He is, indeed, worthy. 

 Use the comma after as, viz.,to-wit, namely, 

 and that is, when they introduce examples. 



Example. We will promote the man ; that is, if he is 

 worthy. 



The parts of a complex sentence should )>e 

 separated by a comma when the au.ri/inri/ pre- 

 cedes the principal sentence. 

 Example. If the messenger calls, give him the letter. 

 Separate by the comma a phrase or sentence 

 used as a subject and its verb. 



/.'.rumple. " That all men are created equal, is a self- 

 evident truth." 



Words used in direct address should be 

 separated by the comma. 

 Example. " Stranger, I am Roderick Dim." 



THE INTERROGATION POINT must be placed 

 after every interrogative sentence, member, 

 and clause ; also after the interjections eh and 

 hey implying a question. 



