PERIOD, QUESTION MARK, AND EXCLAMATION POINT

10. Period. A period should be placed after the following:

1. Declarative sentences.

2. Abbreviations.

3. Numerals, or letters used as numerals introducing topics, sentences, paragraphs, etc.

II. Question Mark.- An interrogation point should follow:

1. Every interrogative sentence, except strongly exclamatory questions.

2. A direct question within a sentence.

3. Each member of a series of short direct questions. 12. Exclamation Point. The exclamation point is used after interjections and expressions of strong emotion.

EXERCISE

13. Give reasons for the use of periods, question marks, and exclamation points in the following

sentences:

I. The Post-Master General is the head of the P. O. Dept.

2. See first paragraph of Chap. VI, p. 52.

3. The Rev. John Osgood, D.D., LL.D., has just been appointed president of the State Univ.

4. How long do you expect to stay?

5. Why, oh, why, my heart, this sadness!

6. The man stopped at my question, "Who are you?" and turned a startled face toward me.

7. What is the capital of Ohio? of Maine? of Ill.? of Ind.?

8.

O hark, O hear! how thin and clear,

And thinner, clearer, farther going!

O sweet and far from cliff and scar

The horns of Elfand faintly blowing!

9. Now glory to the Lord of Hosts, from whom all glories are!

IO.

And glory to our Sovereign Liege, King Henry of Navarre!

When can their glory fade?

Oh, the wild charge they made!

All the world wonder'd.

EXERCISE

14. Supply periods, question marks, or exclamation points in the following sentences :—

1. Who loves not Knowledge Who shall rail Against her beauty May she mix

With men and prosper Who shall fix

Her pillars Let her work prevail

2. O what a fall was there, my countrymen

3. I sent my MS to H C Brown and Co in Aug

4. What a piece of work is man how noble in reason how infinite in faculties in form and moving how express and admirable in action how like an angel in apprehension how like a god

5. "Forward, the Light Brigade "

Was there a man dismayed

6. How now, Ophelia what's the matter

7. O all you host of heaven O earth what else

8. What was the fate of Napoleon of Alexander of Caesar 9. Send me I bbl flour and 50 lbs sugar this P M

IO. Come one, come all this rock shall fly
From its firm base as soon as I

THE COMMA

15. Expressions Cut Off by Commas.- Use the comma to cut off from the rest of the sentence:

1. Adverbs and adverbial phrases that have introductory or connective force.

2. Intermediate expressions.

3. Words, phrases, or clauses in apposition.

4. Nouns independent by address.

5. Absolute expressions.

6. Dependent and conditional clauses, not closely connected with the main clause.

7. Participial phrases.

8. Additional or non-restrictive relative clauses.

EXERCISE

16. Give the reasons for the use of the commas in

the following sentences:

I. Now then, everything is ready at last.

2. That, also, is a very common error.

3.

66

"Come," said he, we have been waiting an hour." Such a measure, on the contrary, was then sufficient to remove all suspicion and to give perfect content.

4.

5. I, John, saw these things.

6. That plan suggested by one of the newspapers, to supply the park lakes with salt water, would certainly reduce the number of mosquitoes in that neighborhood.

7. His assertion, that he would not accept the nomination, was not taken seriously.

8. Address J. C. Munroe, City Supt. of Schools.

9.

IO.

I expected you earlier, James.

When we reached the station, the train being ready to start, we found we had no time to get our tickets.

II. To-morrow, if it does not rain, we are going to the country.

12. The wind, changing suddenly, blew our boat away from the dangerous rocks.

13. The stranger, who proved to be a most entertaining person, was made welcome at the farm house.

14. When we reached the park, being tired with our long walk, we rested for an hour.

15. I believe, since I have had time to think it over carefully, that we are entirely wrong.

17. Expressions Followed by Commas.- Use the comma after:

1. Dependent clauses that come at the beginning of the sentence by inversion.

2. Long or loosely connected phrases at the beginning of sentences.

3. Long or involved phrase or clause subjects. 4. Each pair of words or phrases in a series.

EXERCISE

18. Give the reasons for the use of the commas in the following sentences:

I. When we had finished our dinner, we set out on a long tramp over the hills.

2.

To be wise and prudent in all situations, is not possible. 3. That he was no longer able to fulfill the duties of his position, was a great grief to him.

4. Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote.

5. Since the "Ramblers" had ceased to appear, the town had been entertained by a journal called "The World."

6. He had neither brother nor sister, neither son nor daughter.

19. Expressions Preceded by Commas.- Place commas before:

1. Short direct quotations.

2. Expressions resembling quotations.

20. Expressions Separated by Commas.- Use the comma to separate:

I. Words in a series not connected by conjunctions.

Note. When the final words are connected by a conjunction, a comma usually precedes the conjunction.

2. Contrasted words or phrases.

3. Closely connected co-ordinate clauses.

21. Other Uses of the Comma.- The comma is used:

1. To mark the omission of words.

2. To mark special pauses.

3. In dates, addresses, and figures.

EXERCISE

22. Give the reasons for the use of the commas in the following sentences:

I. Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

2. The thing for us to discover first is, When was the man last seen?

3. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears. 4. Look upward, not downward; forward, not back.

5. John built the fire, Fred started off to find some fresh