CHAPTER II. CAPITALS, PUNCTUATION, ETC. 8. When speaking, we ought to vary our tones and the length of our pauses, so as to make our sentences as expressive as possible. So in writing, we should always make our meaning as clear as we can, by using capital letters in the proper places, and by dividing our sentences with marks of punctuation. I. RULES FOR THE USE OF CAPITALS, ETC. 9. A Capital Letter should be used to begin — 1. Every sentence. 2. Every line of poetry. 3. Every direct quotation. [See p. 7.] 4. All individual or special names of persons, places. months, and days; as, William Shakespeare, Spain, September, Saturday. (a) All words made from them; as, Shakespearean; Spanish. (b) And all abbreviations of them; as, Wm., Sept. 5. All names applied to God. 6. The principal words in titles. Thus: The President of the United States. "The Land of the Midnight Sun." 7. The words I and O. 10. Italics [Italic letters] are used in printing, for -(a) A word that is very emphatic. (b) Short titles of books; names of ships; etc. II. RULES FOR PUNCTUATION. 11. The Period [.] must be used after I. Every complete sentence that is not a question nor an exclamation. II. All abbreviations or initial letters. III. A heading, title, or signature, when used alone. 12. The Question-mark [?] must be used after — IV. Every complete question. 13. The Exclamation-point [] must be used afterV. Every expression that is very exclamatory. 14. The Comma [,] must be used to separate from the rest of the sentence VI. The name of the person spoken to. Thus: John, come forward. VII. A direct quotation, or each of the parts of one if it is divided. [See p. 8.] The Comma must also be used to separate IX. The parts of a sentence that is m We have come, and you must g 15. The Apostrophe [] must be used 16. Quotation-marks [""] must be u XII. Every direct quotation, or each which it is divided. [See Rule VII. and XIII. The title of a book or periodical, i 17. The Hyphen [-] must be used to XIV. The parts of some compound wo XV. The syllables of a word written o EXERCISE 1. Tell why each punctuation-mark is used in th [The numbers at the end refer to the rules on pa 1. How many days are there in a leap year? 2. Can Honor's voice provoke the silent dust? 3. Boys, have you ever read "Tom Brown at R 4. Now abideth faith, hope, charity. (viii) 5. The houses were low, narrow, and dingy. ( 6. Julius Cæsar wrote, "I came, I saw, I conqu 7. "Experience keeps a dear school, but foo other.” (ix; xii) 8. Which sounds better, "No, sir, I can't"; try"? (vii; vi; xi; xii) EXERCISE 2. Write the following as six lines of poetry. Indent every other line, beginning with the second. There should be nine capitals. "I would not hurt a living thing, however weak or small; the beasts that graze, the birds that sing, our father made them all; without his notice, I have read, a sparrow cannot fall.” EXERCISE 3. Write answers to the following, making complete sentences, and applying the rules for punctuation: 1. What three manufacturing cities are on the Merrimac? (viii) 2. What fruits grow within the tropics? (viii) 3. What is the title of the last book that you read? (xiii) 4. Into what do the St. Lawrence and Mississippi rivers flow? (ix) 5. Whose dictionary do you use? (x) 6. Write the following with three contractions: Do you not think he will say it is too much? (xi) 7. Name the natural divisions of time. (viii) 8. What materials are used in building houses? (viii) 9. Ask your teacher a question, using her name and title. (vi; iv) 10. Give the exact date and time of writing this exercise, and add your signature. (ii; iii) EXERCISE 4. 1. Answer these questions orally in complete sentences. 2. Answer them in writing, applying the rules for capitals and punctuation. 1. What is your full name? 2. In what town, county, and state were you born? 3. What is your birthday? 4. What is your favorite book? 6. To what foreign lands would 7. What rivers have you seen? 9. Why are they celebrated? III. SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS. 18. The letters that make a word are written close together, but we leave a little space between the words that make a sentence. Between two sentences we should leave twice as much space as between two words. 19. A Paragraph is a group of sentences more closely connected in meaning with one another than with what precedes or follows. A single sentence may make a paragraph. It should begin on a separate line, and a little farther from the margin than the other lines begin. EXERCISE 5. 1. Answer the following questions in sentences, arranging your replies in two paragraphs. Where will the second paragraph begin? What is a farmer? What does he do in the spring? In the summer? In the autumn? What tools does he use? What does he raise? What kinds of animals does he keep? Would you like to be a farmer? Give your reason. What is a blacksmith? What is the place in which he works called? Tell the use of his bellows. His anvil. What other tools does he use? Why is his business a useful one? 2. Write two paragraphs comparing the life of a soldier with that of a sailor. IV. QUOTATIONS. 20. When we introduce the exact language of another person into what we are writing, we make what is called a Direct Quotation. Thus : Prince Edward and his division were so hard pressed that a message was sent to the King asking for aid. "Is my son killed?" said |