another's ear, without the pause of the comma, neither is it so intelligible to his eye, unless the comma is expressed.

It is needless to multiply examples, although many more might be given. For after all, a knowledge of the Syntax of words, and of their proper arrangements, are the only sure guides to a proper application of the comma. There are some other marks used in composition, which are noticed in the next chapter.

CHAPTER IX.

CHARACTERS USED IN WRITING.

The Parenthesis () includes a clause, which is explanatory of other language between which it is used, but which clause, is not necessarily demanded in the construction of the sentence. Or in other words, the language within a Parenthesis may be left out, without injuring the grammatical construction, or the sense of the other language with which it is used: although it often adds something usefully additional; as, in the following quotations.

Sir, I look on the Bill we are at present debating, not as a sacrifice made to popularity (for it sacrifices nothing) but as a prudent regard to some consequences, arising from the nature of the clamour raised against the late act for naturalizing the Jews, which seem to require a particular consideration. * * Sir, I trust and believe that by passing this Bill, we shall silence that obloquy, which has so unjustly been cast upon our reverend prelates (some of the most respectable that ever adorned our church) for the part they took in the act which it repeals."

LORD LYTTLETON, (1753.)

The Hyphen (-) is used to connect compounded words, as school-room. It is also used at the end of the first line, when a part of the word is written in the next line, as education. This mark placed over a vowel is called the long mark and denotes the long sound of the vowel: as, cape.

The Breve or short mark () placed over a vowel, denotes the short sound; as, căp.

The Diaëresis (·) placed over the latter of two vowels denotes that the diphthong is to be sounded as two syllables; as Boötes.

The Apostrophe (') is used to mark the Possessive case; as, John's book. And it is also used to denote the abreviation of a word; as bereav'd for bereaved.

The Caret () is used when an omission has been made of some words which are afterwards written over the line;

to

as, "I told him go."

A

The Section (§) is used to mark the divisions of a subject into portions.

The Paragraph (T) used only in the Scriptures, and in the Book of Common Prayer, denotes the beginning of a new subject.

The Index() points to any thing remarkable.

And some

The Asterisk (*) directs the reader to some note on the margin, or at the bottom of the page. times several of them, (* * * *) or the Ellipsis (denotes the omission of some letter, letters, or passage. The Asterism, or three stars (***), is something placed before a long note, without any particular reference.

The Quotation (""), or two inverted Commas placed at the beginning, and two direct Commas at the end of a phrase, denotes that the words between the Quotation marks, are taken from an author; as, "The great powers of nature are all invisible." (PALEY.) When a quotation is put within another quotation, it is denoted by single commas; thus ('').

Crotchets or Brackets [ ] are used to enclose a word or sentence, intended to supply a deficiency, or to correct some mistake.

The Brace ({) is used to brace words which have one common term, or three lines, in poetry, having the same rhyme, called a triplet.

Besides the Asterisk, there are several characters, whose chief use is to refer to some note on the margin, or at the bottom of the page. They are, the Obelisk, (†) the double dagger, (1) the parallels, () or any other mark that may be found convenient. Small letters, or figures, are sometimes used as marks, referring the reader to something on the margin, or at the bottom of the page.

THE USE OF CAPITALS.

1. Write a capital letter at the beginning of every book, chapter, letter, note, or other piece of writing; also at the beginning of every sentence. Consequently, capitals are always to be used after a period. But several sentences depending on the former one, and immediately following each other, separated by the Note of Interrogation, Note of Exclamation, or the Dash, may sometimes begin with a small letter; as,

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes ?"

-"Help, angels! make assay !

PROVERBS.

Bow, stubborn knees! and, heart, with strings of steel,
Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe;

All may be well."

SHAKESPEAR.

"But here lay the misfortune-he was led from his natural disposition by sycophants and flatterers."

SIR JOHN ST. AUBIN.

2. At the beginning of the appellations of the Deity;

as God, Jehovah, the Supreme Being, &c.

3. Proper nouns of every description; whether the names of persons, places, rivers, mountains, ships, festivals, months, or days of the week, &c., &c.

4. Titles of honour and respect, and any words beginning a direct address; as, “Your Highness," "Your Grace," My Lord," "My Lady," "Sir," "Madam," &c., &c.

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5. Adjectives derived from proper names; as, the "English people," "The French fashions."

6. The first word of every line of poetry.

7. The pronoun I, and the interjection O, should be written in capitals.

8. The first word of every quotation in a direct form. Capitals are also used on other occasions, in which particular rules cannot be given. The most important words in a discourse are sometimes begun with capitals, as the Reformation, the Revolution.

Inscriptions upon monuments, and the like, are sometimes written wholly in capitals, and sometimes some of the words only, are entirely in capitals. The title pages of books, the heads of chapters, and the beginning of chapters, sections, or paragraphs, have entire words in capitals.

REFERENCE NECESSARY FOR CORRECT PRONUNCIATION.

Persons fall into habits of incorrect pronunciation, from speaking in imitation of others, instead of looking up words for themselves in a pronouncing dictionary.

Many examples might be given of popular errors in this respect; but let one or two suffice to induce reference. For instance the word again, is often pronounced as spelled, agāin; giving the long sound of a in the second syllable, as in the word gain (profit) instead of pronouncing it agen, with the short sound of e. Also either, and neither, are often spoken thns, ither, nither; giving the long sound of i, instead of the long sound of e, as ether, nether.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.