The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Century Handbook of Writing, by Garland Greever and Easley S. Jones

There are five principal uses of the comma:

to separate clauses (a-d)
to set off a parenthetical element (e)
to mark a series (f-g)
to introduce a quotation (h)
to compel a pause for the sake of clearness (i)

91a. A comma is used between clauses joined by but, for, and, or any other coördinating conjunction.

Right: The hour arrived, but Forbes did not appear. [The comma emphasizes the contrast.]
Right: She was glad she had looked, for a man was approaching the house. [The comma prevents the combination looked for a man.]
Right: He gave the money to Burke, and Reynolds received nothing. [The comma prevents confusion.]

Exception.—If the clauses are short and closely linked in thought, the comma may be omitted (She came and she was gone in a moment. McCoy talked and the rest of us listened.) If the clauses are long and complicated, a semicolon may be used (See 92b).

Note.—No comma should follow the conjunction. Wrong: He was enthusiastic but, inexperienced. Wrong: They went before the committee but, not one of them would answer a question.

b. Do not use a comma between independent clauses which are not joined by a conjunction. Use a period or a semicolon. (This error, the "comma splice," betrays ignorance of what constitutes a unified sentence. See 18.)

Wrong: The circus had just come to town, every one wanted to see it.
Right: The circus had just come to town. Every one wanted to see it.
Wrong: The story deals with the life of a youth, Don Juan, his mother desired to make an angel of him.
Right: The story deals with the life of a youth, Don Juan. His mother desired to make an angel of him.
Wrong: My courses required very hard study, did yours?
Right: My courses required very hard study. Did yours? [Or] My courses required very hard study; did yours?
Wrong: He will assist you without the slightest hesitation, indeed he will do so with alacrity.
Right: He will assist you without the slightest hesitation. Indeed he will do so with alacrity. [Or] He will assist you without the slightest hesitation; indeed he will do so with alacrity.

Exception.—Short coördinate clauses which are not joined by conjunctions, but which are parallel in structure and leave a unified impression, may be joined by commas.

Right: He sowed, he reaped, he repented.

c. An adverbial clause which precedes a main clause is usually set off by a comma.

When long:

Right: While I have much confidence in his sincerity, I cannot approve his decision. [The comma marks the meeting point of clauses too long to be easily read together. Brief clauses do not require the comma. Right: Where thou goest I will go.]

When ending in words that link themselves with words in the main clause:

Right: If Jacob finds time to plow, the garden can be planted tomorrow. [The comma prevents plow the garden from being read as verb and object.]

When not closely connected with the main clause in meaning:

Right: Although they were few, they were resolute. [Here the comma reveals the distinctness of the two stages of thought. In the sentence If it freezes the skating will be good the distinctness of the two thoughts is less emphatic, and the comma may be omitted.]

Note.—The comma is usually omitted when the adverbial clause follows the main clause.

Right: The score stood twelve to twelve when the first half ended. [The adverbial clause is linked closely with the element it modifies, the predicate; punctuation is unnecessary. If the when clause were placed before the element it does not modify, the subject, a comma should be inserted.]

d. Restrictive clauses should not be set off by commas; non-restrictive clauses should be set off by commas. (A restrictive clause is one inseparably connected with the noun or pronoun it modifies; to omit it would change the thought of the main clause. A non-restrictive clause is less vitally connected with the noun or pronoun; to omit it would not affect the thought of the main clause.)

Right: Men who are industrious will succeed. [The relative clause restricts the meaning; it is inseparably connected with the noun it modifies, and to omit it would change the thought of the main clause.]
Right: Thomas Carlyle, who wrote forty volumes, was of peasant origin. [The relative clause is non-restrictive; it is not inseparably connected with the noun it modifies, and to omit it would not change the thought of the main clause. Thus: Thomas Carlyle was of peasant origin.]
Right: Where is the house that Jack built? [Restrictive.]
Right: I went to Jack's house, which is across the street. [Non-restrictive.]
Wrong: Students, who are lazy, do not deserve to pass. [The sentence as it stands says that all students are lazy, and that none of them deserve to pass. Without the commas, the sentence would mean that such students as are lazy do not deserve to pass.]
Right: Students who are lazy do not deserve to pass.

The rule stated above for clauses applies also to phrases.

Right. She, hearing the voice, turned quickly. [Hearing the voice is non-restrictive. It does not identify she, and the thought of the main clause is complete without it.]
Right: Books pertaining to aeronautics are in demand. [Pertaining to aeronautics is restrictive. It explains what books are referred to, and without it the meaning of the main thought is changed.]
Right: Our country, made up as it is of democratic people, lacks the centralized power of a monarchy. [Non-restrictive.]
Right: A country made up of democratic people must be lacking in centralized power. [Restrictive. Made up of democratic people explains country and is essential to the thought of the sentence.]

e. Slightly parenthetical elements are set off by commas:

Direct address or explanation:

Write soon, Henry, and tell all the news.
They intend, as you know, to build a great dam across the river.
His father, they say, was frugal and industrious.
I, on my part, however, am unalterably opposed to the expenditure.
He was, according to such reports as have reached me, altogether in the right.

Mild interjections:

Well, we shall see.
Come now, let's talk it over.
But alas, the cupboard was bare.
The custom is, oh, very old.

Absolute phrases:

This being admitted, I shall proceed to my other evidence.

Geographical names which explain other names and dates which explain other dates:

The convention met at Madison, Wisconsin, on March 24, 1916.

Words in apposition:

We arrived at Austin, the capital of Texas.
It was Archie, my best friend in boyhood.
Exception.—The comma is omitted (1) When the appositive is part of a proper name. Right: William the Silent, Alexander the Great. (2) When there is unusually close connection between the appositive and the noun it modifies. Right: My one confidant was my brother Robert. (3) When the appositive is a word or phrase to which attention is called by italics or some other device which sets it apart. Right: The word sequent is derived from Latin. Right: The expression "That's fine" is one which I use indiscriminately.

Note.—When the parenthetical element occurs in the middle of a sentence, "set off by commas" means punctuate before and after.

Wrong: I was, madam at home yesterday.
Right: I was, madam, at home yesterday.
Wrong: I am to say the least, provoked.
Right: I am, to say the least, provoked.

f. Consecutive adjectives that modify the same noun are separated from each other by commas. If, however, the last adjective is closely linked in meaning with the noun, no comma is used before it.

Right: A short, slight, pitiable figure.
Right: A shrewd professional man. [Shrewd modifies, not man alone, but professional man.]
Right: A bedraggled old rooster. [Old rooster has almost the force of a compound word. Bedraggled modifies the general idea old rooster.]

Note.—The commas in a series of adjectives are used to separate the adjectives from each other. No comma should intervene between the final adjective and the noun. Wrong: He was only a frail, unarmed, frightened, youngster. Right: He was only a frail, unarmed, frightened youngster.

g. Words or phrases in series are separated by commas.

When the series takes the form a, b, and c, a comma precedes the and.

Confusing: The railroads in question are the New York Central, Pennsylvania and Chesapeake and Ohio. [The reader might surmise that the words Pennsylvania and Chesapeake and Ohio represent a single line or even three different lines.]
Right: The railroads in question are the New York Central, Pennsylvania, and Chesapeake and Ohio.
Confusing: For breakfast we had oatmeal, bacon, eggs and honey. [Omission of the comma after eggs suggests a mixture.]
Right: For breakfast we had oatmeal, bacon, eggs, and honey.

h. A comma should follow an expression like he said which introduces a short quotation. (For longer or more formal quotations use a colon.)

Right: He shouted, "Come on! I dare you!"
Right: Our captain replied, "We're ready."

But for indirect quotations, a caution is necessary. Do not place a comma between a verb and a that or how clause which the verb introduces.

Wrong: He explained, how the accident occurred.
Right: He explained how the accident occurred.
Wrong: The chauffeur told us, that the gasoline tank was empty.
Right: The chauffeur told us that the gasoline tank was empty.

i. A comma is used to separate parts of a sentence which might erroneously be read together.

Confusing: Long before she had received a letter.
Better: Long before, she had received a letter.
Confusing: We turned the corner and the horse stopped throwing us off.
Better: We turned the corner and the horse stopped, throwing us off.
Confusing: Through the alumni gathered there went a thrill of dismay.
Better: Through the alumni gathered there, went a thrill of dismay.
Wrong: For a dime you can buy two pieces of pie or cake and ice cream.
Right: For a dime you can buy two pieces of pie, or cake and ice cream.
Right: The man whom everybody had for years regarded as a crank and a weakling, is now praised for his sagacity and his strength.
Right: In a situation so critical as to require the utmost coolness of mind, he lost his wits completely. [Here the confusion might not be serious if the comma were omitted, but separation of the long introduction from the main clause is desirable.]

j. Do not use superfluous commas:

1. To mark a trivial pause:

Needless use of comma: In the road, stood a wagon.
Needless use of commas: The taking of notes, is a guarantee, against inattention, in class.

Slight pauses in a sentence are taken care of by the good sense of the reader. Do not sprinkle commas when the sentence is moving along freely with no complication in the thought.

Right: In the road stood a wagon.
Right: The taking of notes is a guarantee against inattention in class.

2. To separate an adjective from its noun:

Wrong: A tall, solemn, antique, clock stood in the hallway. [The first two commas separate the adjectives from each other. There is no reason why antique should be separated from the noun.]
Right: A tall, solemn, antique clock stood in the hallway.

3. Before the first word or phrase in a series unless the comma would be employed if the word or phrase stood alone:

Wrong: He made a study of, gymnastics, medicine, and surgery.
Right: He made a study of gymnastics, medicine, and surgery.
Wrong: He had learned, to be prompt, to think clearly, and to write correctly.
Right: He had learned to be prompt, to think clearly, and to write correctly.

Exercise:

Before the workmen finished eating the tunnel caved in. Three Italian laborers were crushed, the others with the foreman escaped.
Sneed the new chairman proposed that the convention should meet at Cheyenne Wyoming. The suggestion however was according to reports not adopted.
He had a pen and an ink bottle was in the cupboard. By washing poor widows can earn but scant living.
Saunders asked, how I liked the Overland car as compared with the Chalmers, the Hudson and the Buick. I started to reply but at that moment we were interrupted.
People, who steal watermelons, say the stolen melons are sweetest. Farragut who was born in Tennessee was the North's ablest naval commander. The developer is a chemical, which reduces the silver salt.

The Semicolon

The semicolon represents a division in thought somewhat greater than that represented by a comma, and somewhat smaller than that represented by a period. It may represent grammatical separation and logical connection at the same time; that is, it may indicate that two statements are separate units in grammar, and are yet to be taken together to form a larger unit of logic or thought.

92a. The semicolon is used between coördinate clauses which are not joined by a conjunction. (For a possible exception see 91b.).

Wrong: He was alarmed in fact he was terrified.
Right: He was alarmed; in fact he was terrified.
Right: He drew up at the curb; he leaped from the car.

Note.—Very often the writer may choose freely between the semicolon and the period; in such instances the use of the semicolon implies greater logical unity between the clauses than the use of the period would show. Unless this logical unity is distinct, the period is to be preferred.

b. The semicolon is sometimes used between coördinate clauses which are joined by a conjunction if the clauses are long, or if the clauses have commas within themselves, or if obscurity would result were the semicolon not used. (Otherwise, see 91a.)

Right: Very slowly the glow in the heavens deepened and extended itself along the eastern horizon; but at last the bright-red rim of the sun showed above the crest of the hill.
Right: He arrived, so they tell me, after nightfall; and immediately going to a hotel, called for a room.
Confusing: She enjoyed the dinners, and the dancing, and the music, and the whole gay round of fashionable life was a delight to her.
Better: She enjoyed the dinners, and the dancing, and the music; and the whole gay round of fashionable life was a delight to her.

c. The semicolon is used between coördinate clauses which are joined by a formal conjunctive adverb (hence, thus, then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, besides, still, nevertheless, or the like).

Wrong: We have failed in this therefore let us try something else.
Right: We have failed in this; therefore let us try something else.
Wrong: He was tattered and muddy, besides he ate like a cormorant.
Right: He was tattered and muddy; besides he ate like a cormorant.

Note 1.—If a simple conjunction like and is used in the sentences above, a comma will suffice. But a comma is not sufficient before a conjunctive adverb like therefore. Conjunctive adverbs may be clearly distinguished from simple conjunctions (See 91a). They cannot always be easily distinguished from subordinating conjunctions (see 90b, Note), but the distinction, when it can be made with certainty, is an aid to clear thinking.

Note 2.—Good usage sometimes permits a comma to be used before a conjunctive adverb in short sentences where the break in the thought is not formal or emphatic. For instance, when the conjunctive adverb so is used as a formal or emphatic connective, a semicolon is desirable (I won't go; so that's settled). But in the sentence, "I was excited, so I missed the target", a comma is sufficient. For the use of so is here informal, and probably expresses degree as well as result. (Compare "I was so excited that I missed the target").

d. The semicolon is not used before quotations, or after the "Dear Sir" in letters. Use a comma or a colon. (See 91h, 93a, and 87b.)

Wrong: Mother said; "Let me get my needle."
Right: Mother said, "Let me get my needle."

Exercise:

The eggs tasted musty, they were cold storage eggs.
You should have seen that old, formally kept house, you should have sat in that stuffy and immaculate parlor.
I objected to the plan however since he insisted upon it I yielded.
I suppose I must go if I don't he will be anxious.
Although the note is due on March 19, you have three days of grace, consequently you may pay it on March 22.

The Colon

93a. The colon is used to introduce formally a word, a list, a statement or question, a series of statements or questions, or a long quotation.

Right: Only one man stood between Burr and the presidency: Jefferson.
Right: My favorite novels are the following: Ivanhoe, Henry Esmond, and The Mill on the Floss.
Right: The difficulty is this: Where is the money to come from?
Right: The measure must be considered from several standpoints: Is it timely? Is it expedient? Is it just? Is it superior to the other measures proposed?
Right: I shall do three things next year: study hard, take care of my health, and enter into various student activities.
Right: Webster concluded with the following peroration: "When my eyes shall be turned for the last time to behold the sun in heaven," etc., etc.

b. The colon may be used before concrete illustrations of a general statement.

Right: The colors were various: blue, purple, emerald, and orange.
Right: The day was propitious: the sun shone, the birds sang, the flowers sent forth their fragrance.

Exercise:

The city must have these improvements paved streets more schools better sanitation and a park.
A guild comprised men of a single class tailors, fishmongers, or goldsmiths.
Everything was favorable, it was a wheat-raising district, there were no rival mills, the means of transportation were excellent.
The personal adornments of the eighteenth century "blood" were elaborate, wigs, cocked hat, colored breeches, red-heeled shoes, cane, and muff.
The chief of the engineers reported "The route, taken as a whole, is practicable enough, but near Clifton, where the yards must be placed, it leads through a rocky defile."

The Dash

94a. The dash may be used instead of the marks of parenthesis, especially where informality is desired.

Right: She fell asleep—would you believe it?—in the middle of the lecture.
Right: That fellow actually—of course this is between you and me—stole money from his father.

b. Insert a dash when a sentence is broken off abruptly.

Right: The next morning—let's see, what happened the next morning?

c. The dash may be used near the end of a sentence, before a summarizing statement or an afterthought.

Right: When you have carried in the wood and the water, and milked the cows, and fed all the stock and the poultry, and mended the harness—when you have done these things, you may consider the rest of the evening your own.
Right: Barnes played a mischievous trick one day—in fact, Barnes was always into mischief.

d. The use of the dash to end sentences is childish.

Childish: At dawn I went on deck—far off to the left was a cloud, I thought, on the edge of the water—it grew more distinct as we angled toward it—it was land—before noon we had sailed into harbor.
Right: At dawn I went on deck. Far off to the left was a cloud, I thought, on the edge of the water. It grew more distinct as we angled toward it. It was land. Before noon we had sailed into harbor.

e. A dash should be made about three times as long as a hyphen; otherwise it may be mistaken as the sign of a compound word.

Exercise:

The boy left the package on the where did that boy leave the package?
She was haughty independent as a queen in fact and she told him no.
The clatter of the other typewriters, the relentless movement of the hands of the clock, the calls from the press room for more copy, these made Sears write like mad.
He made her acquaintance what do you think of this by scribbling his name and address on some eggs he sold to a grocer.
He obtained a position in a big department store—his good taste was quickly recognized—within a month he was dressing the windows.

Parenthesis Marks and Brackets

95a. Parenthesis marks may be used to enclose matter foreign to the main thought of the sentence. (But see also 94a and 91e.)

Right: His testimony is conclusive (unless, to be sure, we find that he has perjured himself).

b. A comma or a semicolon used at the end of a parenthesis should as a rule follow the mark of parenthesis rather than precede it.

Right: If there is snow on the ground (and I am sure there will be), we shall have plenty of sleighing.

c. When confirmatory symbols or figures are enclosed within parenthesis marks, they should follow rather than precede the words they confirm.

Wrong: They earn (3) dollars a day.
Right: They earn three (3) dollars a day. [Or] They earn three dollars ($3) a day.

d. Do not use parenthesis marks to cancel a word or passage. Draw a horizontal line through whatever is to be omitted.

e. Brackets are used to insert explanatory matter in a quotation which one gives from another writer. Explanatory matter inserted by the original writer is enclosed within parenthesis marks.

Right: "Bunyan's masterpiece (The Pilgrim's Progress)," declared the lecturer, "is out of harmony with the spirit of the age that produced it [the age of the Restoration]." (Here the explanatory words the age of the Restoration are inserted by the person who is quoting the lecturer.)

Exercise:

The supremacy of the horse-drawn vehicle is unless a miracle happens now gone forever.
My count shows (41) forty-one bales of cotton in the mill yard.
[Insert the Marne as your explanation]: "It was this battle," said the lecturer, "that made the name of Joffre immortal."
[Insert Florida as the explanation of the person you are quoting]: "In that state oranges are plentiful."
It was the opinion of Bailey and events proved him right that the government must assume control of the railroads.

Quotation Marks

96a. Quotation marks should be used to enclose a direct, but not an indirect, quotation.

Right: "I am thirsty," he said.
Wrong: He said "that he was thirsty."
Right: He said that he was thirsty.

b. A quotation of several paragraphs should have quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph.

c. In narrative each separate speech, however short, should be enclosed within quotation marks; but a single speech of several sentences should have only one set of quotation marks.

Wrong:
"Will you come? she pleaded.

Certainly."
Right:
"Will you come," she pleaded.

"Certainly."
Wrong: He replied, "It was not for my own sake that I did this." "There were others whom I had to consider." "I can mention no names."
Right: He replied, "It was not for my own sake that I did this. There were others whom I had to consider. I can mention no names."

d. Quotation marks may be used with technical terms, with slang introduced into formal writing, or with nicknames; but not with merely elevated diction, with good English that resembles slang, with nicknames that have practically become proper names, or with fictitious names from literature.

Permissible: The rime is called a "feminine rime". He is really "a corker". Their name for my friend was "Sissy".
Better without the quotation marks: He was awed by "the grandeur of the mountains". "A humbug". "Fetch". "Stonewall" Jackson. He was a true "Rip Van Winkle".

e. Either quotation marks or italics may be used with words to which special attention is called. (See the examples under 91e, Exception, 3.) Quotation marks are used with the titles of articles, of chapters in books, of individual short poems, and the like. Italics are used with the titles of books or of periodicals, with the names of ships, and with foreign words which are still felt to be emphatically foreign.

f. A quotation within a quotation should be enclosed in single quotation marks; a quotation within that, in double marks.

Right: "It required courage," the speaker said, "for a man to affirm in those days: 'I endorse every word of Patrick Henry's sentiment, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"'"

g. When a word is followed by both a quotation mark and a question mark or an exclamation point, the question mark or the exclamation point should come first if it applies to the quotation; last, if it applies to the main sentence.

Wrong: He shouted but one command, "Give them the bayonet"!
Right: He shouted but one command, "Give them the bayonet!"
Wrong: Did Savonarola say, "I recant?"
Right: Did Savonarola say, "I recant"?

Note.—Regarding the position of a comma, semicolon, or period at the end of a quotation, usage differs. Printers ordinarily place commas and periods inside the quotation marks, and semicolons outside, from considerations of spacing. But logic, not spacing, should determine the order, and all three marks should be treated alike. They should be placed within the quotation marks if they were a part of the original quotation; otherwise outside. In quoting manuscript, the quotation marks should enclose exactly what is in the original. In quoting oral discourse, a certain liberty is necessarily allowed.

Correct: He said calmly, "It is I."
Also correct, but not commonly used: He said calmly, "It is I".
Correct, and in common use, but slightly illogical: He began, "Our Father which art in heaven." [The period should follow the quotation mark, since there is no period in the original quotation.]
Correct, and in common use, but slightly illogical: Can you tell me the difference between "apt," "likely," and "liable"; between "noted" and "notorious"?
Also correct: Can you tell me the difference between "apt", "likely", and "liable"; between "noted" and "notorious"?

h. When a quotation is interrupted by such an expression as he said,

1. An extra set of quotation marks is employed, and the interpolated words are normally set off by commas.

Wrong: "I rise said he to second the motion."
Right: "I rise," said he, "to second the motion."

2. A question mark or exclamation point should precede the interpolated expression if it would be used were the expression omitted.

Right: "'May I go?'" complained father, "is all that boy can ask."
Right: "Merciful heavens!" he cried, "we are lost."

3. The expression should be followed by a semicolon if the semicolon would follow the preceding words in case the expression were omitted.

Right: "I admit it", he said; "it is true."

4. Neither the expression nor the words following it should begin with a capital.

Wrong: "We must be quiet", Said the old man, "If we expect to catch sight of a squirrel."
Right: "We must be quiet", said the old man, "if we expect to catch sight of a squirrel."

i. An omission from a quotation is indicated by dots.

Right: "When a word is followed by both a quotation mark and ... an exclamation point, ... the exclamation point should come ... last, if it applies to the main sentence." [Abridged citation of g above.]

j. Do not use superfluous quotation marks:

1. Around the title at the head of a theme (unless it is a quoted title);

2. As a label for humor or irony.

Superfluous: The "abstemious" Mr. Crew ate an enormous dinner.
Better: The abstemious Mr. Crew ate an enormous dinner.

Exercise:

Carew says, "that the profit comes from selling knickknacks."
What's the matter with that horse? asked Williams. He's as frisky as if he had been shut up a week.
"Who's your favorite character in the play?, persisted Laura. Is it "Brutus"? No, answered Howard; I admire his wife "Portia".
"It's amazing, said Mrs. Phelps, how children love playthings. Helen Locke said yesterday, Hughie always tells me when I am putting him to bed, I want my Teddy bear".
"You see, said Daugherty, the two offices across the corridor from each ether." "One is the county clerk's." "The other is the county collector's."

The Apostrophe

97a. In contracted words place the apostrophe where letters are omitted, and do not place it elsewhere.

Wrong: does'nt, theyr'e, oclock.
Right: doesn't, they're, o'clock.

b. To form the possessive of a noun, singular or plural, that does not end in s, add 's.

Right: A hunter's gun, children's games, the cannon's mouth.

c. To form the possessive of a noun, singular or plural, that ends in s, place an apostrophe after (not before) the s if there is no new syllable in pronunciation. If there is a new syllable in pronunciation, add 's.

Wrong: Moses's mandates, Keat's poems, Dicken's novels, those hunter's guns.
Right: Moses' mandates, Keats's poems (or Keats' poems), Dickens' (or Dickens's) novels, those hunters' guns.

d. Do not use an apostrophe with the possessive adjectives its, his, hers, ours, yours, and theirs. But one's, other's, either's take the apostrophe.

e. Add 's to form the plural of letters of the alphabet, of words spoken of as words, and sometimes numbers. But do not form the regular plural of a word by adding 's (See 77).

Right: His B's, 8's (or 8s), and it's look much alike.
Wrong: The Jones's, the Smith's, and the Brown's.
Right: The Joneses, the Smiths, and the Browns.

Exercise:

We don't know theyr'e dishonest.
The soldier's heads showed above the trenches.
Five 8es, three 7es, and two 12es make 85.
Pierce told the Keslers that Jones hogs were fatter than their's.
Its three oclock by his watch; five minutes past three by her's.

The Question Mark and the Exclamation Point

98a. Place a question mark after a direct question, but not after an indirect question.

Wrong: What of it. What does it matter.
Right: What of it? What does it matter?
Wrong: He asked whether I belonged to the glee club?
Right: He asked whether I belonged to the glee club.

Note.—When the main sentence which introduces an indirect question is itself interrogatory, a question mark follows.

Right: Did she inquire whether you had met her aunt?

b. A question mark is often used within a sentence, but should not be followed by a comma, semicolon, or period.

Wrong: "What shall I do?," he asked.
Right: "What shall I do?" he asked.
Wrong: But where are the stocks?, the bonds?, the evidences of prosperity?
Right: But where are the stocks? the bonds? the evidences of prosperity?

c. A question mark within parentheses may be used to express uncertainty as to the correctness of an assertion.

Right: Shakespeare was born April 23 (?), 1564.
Right: In 1340 (?) was born Geoffrey Chaucer.

d. The use of a question mark as a label for humor or irony is childish.

Superfluous: Immediately the social lion (?) rose to his feet.
Better: Immediately the social lion rose to his feet.

e. The exclamation point is used after words, expressions, or sentences to show strong emotion.

Right: Hark! I hear horses. Give us a light there, ho!

Note.—The lavish use of the exclamation point is not in good taste. Unless the emotion to be conveyed is strong, a comma will suffice. See 91e.

Exercise:

What is my temperature, doctor.
"Shall we go by the old mill?", asked Newcomb?
Did Wu Ting Fang say, "The Chinese Republic will survive."
He inquired whether Lorado Taft is the greatest living American sculptor.
Farewell. Othello's occupation's gone.

99. EXERCISE IN PUNCTUATION

A.

Punctuate the following sentences:

Why its ten oclock
It was a rainy foggy morning
Arthurs cousin said Lets go
I begged her to stay but she refused
His parents you know were wealthy
Near by the children were playing house
Ever since John has driven carefully
I smell something burning Etta
Well Harry are you ready for a tramp
I well remember a trip which I once took
When the day has ended the twilight comes
She was a poor lonely defenseless old woman
Trout bass and pickerel are often caught there
Lees army was defeated at Gettysburg Pennsylvania on July 3 1863
Students who are poor appreciate the value of an education
Clem Rogers who is poor as Jobs turkey has bought a phonograph
He had no resentment against the man who had injured him
He spoke to his father who sat on the veranda
The rifle which he used on this trip was the best he had
His long beard sticking out at an angle from his chin and his tall silk hat looked ridiculous

B.

Punctuate the following sentences:

I found the work difficult did you find it so
If they had agreed to buy things would have been different but they didn't
I could satisfy myself if need be with dreams and imaginary delights she must have realities
Well Im not disappointed its just what I expected
Hard roads are not only an advantage they are almost indispensable
The man who hesitates is lost the woman who hesitates is won
The nihilists accept no principle or creed they reject government and religion and all institutions which cramp the individuals desires
No longer are women considered weaklings although not so strong as man physically they are now assumed to have will and courage of their own
The Pilgrims wished to thank God so they prepared a feast
Our country roads are full of chuck holes consequently one must drive with caution
The first player advances ten paces the second eight the third six and so on
I told her it was her own fault she was too reticent and held herself aloof
He had complained of weariness therefore we left him in camp
The Panama Canal consists of four sections the Atlantic Level the Lake the Cut and the Pacific Level
There are three reasons why I do not like Ford cars first they rattle second they bump and third they never wear out
Protoplasm has been found to contain four elements carbon hydrogen oxygen and nitrogen but by no artificial combination can these be made into the living substance
Phlox mignonette sweet peas cannas all these yield flowers until late in the fall.
He asked for hot water the mollycoddle as if this were a hotel
Is this seat occupied sir asked Brown who stood in the aisle
There are two types of democracy 1 a pure democracy and 2 a representative democracy

C.

Punctuate the following sentences:

And Harvey waiting all this time mind you sprang for the door
I want to go to Memphis Tennessee to the old house if it is still standing where I was born
My bill amounted to exactly counting the car fare nine dollars and ninety five cents
I do not believe it he cried then turning to the others in the group he asked nervously do you
Which is better to borrow money for ones school expenses or to work ones way
He swore swore like a pirate and lashed the horses
Dickens novel Martin Chuzzlewit is satirical
But what of the Dakotas of Minnesota of Wisconsin are they to give us no political support
The grain is then run into a bin called the weighing bin from this it is let down on to the scales
Lincoln showed very plainly what the phrase All men are created equal means and what its application was to the anti-slavery movement.
His name was lets see what was the fellows name.
He looks sharply for little points passed over by the average person are important to him
How uncomfortable I feel in a room whose windows are not covered by curtains I cannot describe
Some time ago he moved away I was sorry because he was a fine young man
I went to the lawyers office to hear the reading of my uncles will
Well well I havent seen you for years But youre the same stub nosed freckle faced good natured Tom
I did not stop long to consider the football togs were nearest at hand so in they went cleated shoes trousers sweater pads headgear and the rest
Today I shall outline explain and argue the subject which has already been announced to you namely The Distribution of Taxes in Illinois
His piping voice his long crooked nose his white hair falling over the shoulders of his faded blue coat his shuffling shambling gait as he hobbled up to Carletons Grocery with his basket all this I shall remember as long as I live
We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among these rights are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness