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    Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically
    Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically
    Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically
    Ebook103 pages56 minutes

    Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically

    By Frederick W. (Frederick William) Hamilton

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateNov 27, 2013
    Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically

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      Book preview

      Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically - Frederick W. (Frederick William) Hamilton

      The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punctuation, by Frederick W. Hamilton

      This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

      almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or

      re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

      with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

      Title: Punctuation

      A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and

      their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically

      Author: Frederick W. Hamilton

      Release Date: March 9, 2007 [EBook #20787]

      Language: English

      *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCTUATION ***

      Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Sigal Alon and

      the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at

      http://www.pgdp.net

      TYPOGRAPHIC TECHNICAL SERIES FOR APPRENTICES—PART VI, NO. 33

      PUNCTUATION

      A PRIMER of INFORMATION ABOUT

      THE MARKS OF PUNCTUATION AND

      THEIR USE BOTH GRAMMATICALLY

      AND TYPOGRAPHICALLY

      BY

      FREDERICK W. HAMILTON, LL.D.

      EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR

      UNITED TYPOTHETÆ OF AMERICA

      PUBLISHED BY THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

      UNITED TYPOTHETAE OF AMERICA

      1920

      Copyright, 1920

      United Typothetae of America

      Chicago, Ill.

      PREFACE

      This book, like the others in this Part, makes no pretense at originality. The author has studied and compared a considerable number of works by the best authorities on the subject and has endeavored to adapt the best of their contents to the use of printers’ apprentices.Every author has his own set of rules. At first sight, each set appears inconsistent with those given by other writers. This inconsistency, however, is generally more apparent than real. It arises from differences in point of view, method of approach, and system of classification.

      An attempt has been made to compile from these sources a set of rules which would bring before the pupil a correct and comprehensive view of the best current usage, well illustrated by examples and accompanied by practical typographical hints. The fact has been kept steadily in mind that this book is intended for a certain definite class of pupils and no pains have been spared to fit it to their needs.

      Any treatise consisting, as this one necessarily does, mainly of rules is practically useful only as a basis for constant and persistent drill. It is, of course, valuable for reference, but the emergencies of the day’s work leave no time for consultation. These rules must be learned, and not only learned but assimilated so that their correct application becomes instinctive and instantaneous. This result can be secured only by practice. Hence the emphasis laid on the exercises indicated in the paragraphs introductory to the review questions.

      CONTENTS

      PAGE

      Introduction1

      The Comma7

      The Semicolon14

      The Colon16

      The Period18

      The Dash20

      The Parenthesis23

      The Bracket25

      The Interrogation26

      The Exclamation27

      The Apostrophe28

      The Hyphen30

      Quotation Marks31

      General Remarks34

      Summary35

      Supplementary Reading36

      Review Questions37

      Glossary of Terms40

      INTRODUCTION

      Punctuation is a device by which we aid words to tell their story. Words have done this at times without such aid, and may now do so, but at constant risk of serious misunderstanding. This can be easily seen by reading the following lines printed as they would have been written in an ancient manuscript.

      WETHEPEOPLEOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

      INORDERTOFORMAMOREPERFECT

      UNIONESTABLISHJUSTICEINSUREDO

      MESTICTRANQUILITYPROVIDEFOR

      THECOMMONDEFENCEPROMOTETHE

      GENERALWELFAREANDSECURETHE

      BLESSINGSOFLIBERTYTOOURSELVES

      ANDOURPOSTERITYDOORDAINAND

      ESTABLISHTHISCONSTITUTIONFOR

      THEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA

      Probably this particular passage could be read without danger of serious misunderstanding. The two well-known passages which follow, however, are cases where either a simple statement may become a ridiculous travesty or a serious arraignment may become a eulogy by punctuation.

      Punctuate the following so as to express two very different meanings:

      Lord Palmerston then entered on his head a white hat upon his feet large but well polished boots upon his brow a dark cloud in his hand a faithful walking stick in his eye a menacing glare saying nothing.

      Punctuate the following in two ways: one to represent a very bad man, and the other a very good man:

      He is an old man and experienced in vice and wickedness he is never found in opposing the works of iniquity he takes delight in the downfall of his neighbors he never rejoices in the prosperity of his fellow-creatures he is always ready to assist in destroying the peace of society he takes no pleasure in serving the Lord he is uncommonly diligent in sowing discord among his friends and acquaintances he takes no pride in laboring to promote the cause of Christianity he has not been negligent in endeavoring to stigmatize all public teachers he makes no effort to subdue his evil passions he strives hard to build up satans kingdom he lends no aid to the support of the gospel among the heathen he contributes largely to the devil he will never go to heaven he must go where he will receive the just recompense of reward.

      Punctuation being intended for the

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