comma is dropped in the case of attributives and subordinate sentences. Exs.: Peter the Hermit. The man who did this is a villain.

3. Such adverbs or adverbial phrases, as nay, so, hence, again, first, secondly, in short, once more, &c.; and moveable conjunctions, such as moreover, also, further, however, &c., are stopped off by commas. Exs. In short, he would not do it. This, however, is not always the case. Secondly, I would observe,

&c.

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4. Co-ordinate sentences should be separated by a semicolon. Exs.: Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy." He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

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5. When a conjunction or finite verb is suppressed, a comma is generally required. Exs.: He was a plain, honest man. John has acquired much knowledge; his brother, little.

6. The colon is used:

(a) Between co-ordinate sentences, when there is no connecting particle. Ex.: "It may cost something to serve God: it will cost more not to serve Him."

(b) Just before the final clause, and after the last of several members of a compound sentence, each of which ends with a semicolon. Ex.: "Princes have courtiers, and merchants have partners; the voluptuous have companions, and the wicked have accomplices: none but the virtuous can have friends."

(c) To introduce a quotation without a con

necting particle. In this case many writers use a comma. Exs. The Scriptures give us an amiable representation of the Deity in these words: "God is love." Nathan said unto David, "Thou art the man."

(d) Before an enumeration of particulars. Ex.: Man doth seek a triple perfection: first, a sensual, consisting, &c.; then, an intellectual, consisting, &c.; lastly, a spiritual and divine, consisting, &c.

7. The period is used at the close of a complete sentence, and after abbreviations. Exs.: "Knowledge is power. Abhor that which is evil." Mr., A.D., F.R.S.

Exercises in punctuation may be best given in connexion with the ordinary dictation lessons. The selected passage having been read, with proper pauses but no mention of the stops, the slates must be interchanged. The teacher then reads over the piece, letter by letter, and point by point, while the boys mark with pencil the different mistakes and omissions. At the end, the slates being returned, each boy must correct all the mistakes and supply all the omissions he has made. Of course, with this, as with everything else, the teacher must proceed by careful gradations. At first, simple sentences with adjuncts must be given out, requiring only the use of commas; and next, in due order, complex and compound sentences of increasing difficulty; and, finally, a succession of such sentences involving the employment of all the points. When the pupil has thus been taught the use of the points, every dictation lesson

CHARACTERS USED IN COMPOSITION. 127

will also be an exercise in punctuation, if he is required to supply the proper stops, no less than to spell correctly. The best application of the skill thus acquired will be found in original compositions, in which, while due prominence is given to the knowledge, thought, and method displayed, carefulness in spelling and punctuation must always be insisted on.

OTHER CHARACTERS USED IN COMPOSITION.

Interrogation (?) is used when a question is asked. Admiration (1) or Exclamation is used to express any sudden emotion of the mind.

Parenthesis () is used to enclose some necessary remark in the body of another sentence:

used instead of Parentheses.

commas are now

Apostrophe (') is used in place of a letter left out; as, lov'd

for loved.

Caret (4) is used to show that some word is either omitted, or interlined.

Hyphen (-) is used at the end of a line, to show that the rest of the word is at the beginning of the next line. It also connects compound words; as Teapot.

Section (§) is used to divide a discourse or chapter into por

tions.

Paragraph (¶) is used to denote the beginning of a new subject.

Crotchets [] or Brackets are used to enclose a word or sentence which is to be explained in a note, or the explanation itself, or to correct a mistake, or supply some deficiency.

Quotation ("") is used to show that a passage is quoted in the author's words.

Index () is used to point out anything remarkable.

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Brace

USE OF CAPITALS.

is used to connect words which have one common term, or three lines in poetry, having the same rhyme, called a triplet.

Ellipsis () is used when some letters are omitted; as, K-g for King.

Acute accent () is used to denote a short syllable, the grave (') a long one.

Breve () marks a short vowel or syllable, and the Dash ( ̄) a long one.

Diaresis (") is used to divide a diphthong into two syllables; as, aërial.

Asterisk (*)-Obelisk (†)—Double dagger (‡)—and Parallels (1), with small letters and figures, refer to some note on the margin, or at the bottom of the page. (***) Two or three asterisks denote the omission of some letters in some bold or indelicate expression.

Dash (-) is used to denote abruptness-a significant pause -an unexpected turn in the sentiment-or that the first clause is common to all the rest, as in this definition of a dash.

USE OF CAPITALS.

The first word of every book, or any other piece of writing, must begin with a capital letter.

The first word after a period, and the answer to a question, must begin, &c.

Proper names, that is, names of persons, places, ships, &c.

The pronoun I, and the interjection O, are written in capitals.

The first word of every line in poetry.

The appellations of the Deity; as God, Most High, &c.

Adjectives derived from the proper names of laces; as, Grecian, Roman, English, &c,

The first word of a quotation, introduced after a colon: as, Always remember this ancient maxim: "Know thyself."

Common nouns when personified; as, Come, gentle Spring.

PROSODY.

PROSODY is that part of Grammar which treats of the accentuation and quantities of syllables and words, and of the general laws of versification and metrical composition.

Accent is the laying of a greater force on one syllable of a word than on another; as, surmount'.

The quantity of a syllable is that time which is occupied in pronouncing it. Quantity is either long or short; as, Consūme.

Prosody also teaches the principles of Emphusis, Pauses, and Tone.

Emphasis is a remarkable stress laid upon certain words in a sentence, to distinguish them from the rest, by making the meaning more apparent; as, Apply yourself more to acquire knowledge than to show it.

A pause is either a total cessation, or a short suspension of the voice, during a perceptible space of time; as, Reading-makes a fullman ;-conference-a ready-man;—and writing-an exact-man.

Tone is a particular modulation or inflection

K