tion, more limited in its action, as in the case of the second and in Rule IV. above

Tell me, my man, if this is just and honest, and if you respect such leadership.

VI. Relative clauses that are not restrictive, that is, those that add an explanation or an additional thought instead of narrowing the meaning of the substantive, should be set off by commas. If the clause is restrictive, no comma is needed.

This book, which is a rare old volume, is highly prized by me.

The book which you refer to has long been out-ofprint.

VII. Dependent clauses may or may not be set off by commas according to the closeness of the relation.

If, indeed, there be anything in local associations fit to affect the mind of man, we need not strive to repress the emotions which agitate us here.

When it is remembered that alcohol contains no nitrogen it will be seen that it cannot serve the first function of food.

VIII. Short and closely connected independent clauses may be separated by the comma when the period or the semicolon would give a sense of too great division.

We took our seats in the car, the gong sounded, there was a hissing of steam, and we were off.

IX. Short quotations should be separated from the context by commas.

"The Moqui Indians are a remarkable people,” said Professor Beecher.

X. The omission of a word should be indicated by a comma, except when the meaning is clear without it.

Fame is the lode-star of some men; pleasure, of others. XI. Negative expressions, used by way of contrast, are set off by commas.

The politicians, not the people, will benefit by this law.

The Semicolon.

I. Independent clauses, when long, or detached sentences having close relation in thought, may be separated by semicolons.

In the arbitration courts the lawyers are not allowed to represent either party; only the parties themselves are heard.

II. When the clauses of a compound sentence contain commas they should be separated by the semicolon.

Artists of the first rank have usually seen small inducement to paint such things as bunches of flowers or fruits, bottles and glasses of wine, and other still-life subjects; but Vollon has justified still-life work for all time.

III. A clause giving a reason or an explanation, or stating a contrast, when introduced by a connective word, should be preceded by a semicolon.

Economy is no disgrace; for it is better to live on little than to outlive a great deal.

IV. A series of expressions having a common dependence on a preceding or a concluding portion of the sentence should be separated by semicolons when they are distinct propositions, or are of a compound nature.

That you were unwise in your choice of friends; that you permitted yourself to be influenced too much by them; that you did not rebuke them for open violation of -you cannot well deny.

trust,

The Colon.

I. Independent clauses which are too closely connected to require the period should be separated by a colon when any of these clauses contains a semicolon.

A man can scarce allege his own merits with modesty, much less extol them; a man cannot sometimes brook to supplicate or beg; and a number of the like: but all these things are graceful in a friend's mouth, which are blushing in a man's own.

II. A long or formal quotation should be preceded by the colon.

The report of the society convicted "the Priestess of Isis" of "a long continued combination with other persons to produce by ordinary means a series of apparent marvels for the support of the Theosophic movement; and concludes with these words: "For our own part, we regard her neither as the mouthpiece of hidden seers nor as a mere vulgar adventuress; we think that she has achieved a title to permanent remembrance as one of the most accomplished, ingenious, and interesting impostors in history."

III. The colon followed by the dash is used after the address in a letter.

The Period.

I. The period should be put at the end of every full sentence where the interrogation mark or the exclamation is not required.

II. Every abbreviated word should be followed by the period.

The Interrogation Mark.

The interrogation mark is used after direct questions.

The Exclamation Mark.

I. The exclamation mark follows interjections and exclamatory words and expressions.

II. Sometimes the distinctly exclamatory word is but part of the exclamation, in which case it is followed immediately by a comma, and the whole expression, by the exclamation mark.

Yet such was I! Oh, such was I!

The Hyphen.

The hyphen is used at the end of a line when a part of the word is carried over to the next line.

The hyphen is used to separate the parts of a compound word, as semi-circle, topic-sentence, and brother-inlaw; but in such cases the writer must be consistent in the use of the hyphen. If the two words do not form a distinct compound they should be written as separate words. If they are used as a compound word, the hyphen

should be employed, unless they have become so closely united as to form a single word, like semicolon. The tendency is to unite in this way many words which formerly required the hyphen.

Parenthetical Expressions.

Dashes, parentheses, and brackets are used to indicate that the matter inclosed within them is in some degree separate in thought from the context; dashes indicate the least degree of separation, and brackets, the greatest. The dash is also used to show an abrupt change in the thought.

But the congregation a fictitious and eternal person never divides or breaks up his property, which constitutes a dreadful economical danger.

I know — that is, I think - I believe I can recover it.

Slow thro' the churchway path we saw him borne, -
Approach and read,—

The Apostrophe.

The apostrophe is used to mark the possessive case, to indicate the elision of a letter or letters, to mark the end of a quotation within a quotation, and to separate the final s in the plural of letters and figures.

Italics.

Italics are used to show emphasis, to mark foreign words not yet received into the language, and to indicate words of special importance, such as titles and words used in a special sense.