- Wrong: He denied the accusation. As every one expected him to do.
- Right: He denied the accusation, as every one expected him to do.
- Wrong: Anderson wrote good editorials. The best that appeared in any paper in the city.
- Right: Anderson wrote good editorials, the best that appeared in any paper in the city. [Or] Anderson wrote good editorials—the best that appeared in any paper in the city.
Exception.—Condensed or elliptical phrases established by long and frequent use may be written as separate sentences. They should be followed by appropriate punctuation—usually by a period.
- Examples: Yes. Of course. Really? By all means!
[Note.]—The student should distinguish clearly between a subordinate clause and a main clause. A subordinate clause is introduced by a subordinate conjunction (when, while, if, as, since, although, that, lest, because, in order that, etc.), or by a relative pronoun (who, which, that, etc.). Since a subordinate clause does not express a complete thought, it cannot stand alone, but must be joined to a main clause to form a sentence.
[c.] Place a period after an abbreviation.
- Bros. Mr. e. g. Ph.D. LL.D. etc.
If an abbreviation falls at the end of a sentence, one period may serve two functions.
Exercise:
- The hen clucks to her chickens. When she scratches up a worm.
- Before my brother could forewarn me. I had touched my tongue against the cold iron. On which it stuck.
- The commission had the services of two men of international reputation. Charles Newman, Esq. and Gifford Bailey, Ph D.
- Since Hugh had fished only in creeks. He was surprised that the lines were let down a hundred feet or more. The right distance for codfish.
- Between 1775 and 1825 Virginia furnished the nation its leaders. Such as the author of the Declaration of Independence. The orator of the Revolution. The leader of the Revolutionary army. The chief maker of the Constitution. Four of our first five Presidents. And our greatest Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.