2. Parenthetical expressions may be set off by dashes (see [p. 308]).
3. A colon, or colon and dash, may precede an enumeration, a direct quotation, or a statement formally introduced,—especially with as follows, namely, and the like. Before an enumeration a comma and a dash may be used. Thus,—
- There are eight parts of speech:—nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Or—
- There are eight parts of speech,—nouns, pronouns, etc.
4. The dash is sometimes used to strengthen a comma (as in the last paragraph but one).
VII
1. The apostrophe is used—
- a. To mark the omission of a letter or letters in contractions.
- b. As a sign of the possessive or genitive.
- c. To indicate the plural of letters, signs, etc.
2. The hyphen is used—
- a. When the parts of a word are separated in writing.
- b. Between the parts of some compound words. (See the dictionary in each case.)