When the different parts of a sentence are somewhat disconnected, and not closely related to each other, a semicolon or colon should be used. Sentences are sometimes very long and complicated. It is then necessary to separate the main divisions by semicolons, and the smaller by commas. Sometimes the smaller parts of a sentence are separated by commas and semicolons, and the main divisions by colons.
The other marks in use are,—
| 1. | The Interrogation Point | ? |
| 2. | The Exclamation Point | ! |
| 3. | The Dash | — |
| 4. | Marks of Parenthesis | ( ) |
| 5. | Brackets | [ ] |
| 6. | Quotation Marks | “ ‘ ’ ” |
| 7. | The Apostrophe | ’ |
| 8. | The Hyphen | - |
| 9. | Miscellaneous marks. |
THE COMMA.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
In order to properly understand some of the rules that are given in the following pages, it is absolutely necessary to have a clear understanding of the difference between a sentence and a clause. A sentence is a combination of words expressing a complete thought, and usually followed by a period; a clause is a distinct part of a sentence. Some sentences are simple in form, and have but one subject and one finite verb; as, “Language is part of a man’s character.”—Coleridge. Other sentences are made up of clauses, each clause having a subject and a verb; in other words, several clauses are sometimes joined together to form one sentence; as, “New forms of beauty start at once into existence, and all the burial places of the memory give up their dead.”—Macaulay. It will be easily seen that clauses will be more readily recognized with the eye, and more easily comprehended, if they are separated from each other by punctuation marks. This will be especially so, if the clauses are long.
In preparing this hand-book, the aim has been to avoid, as much as possible, the use of technical terms. Whenever such terms are used, explanations will usually be found under the head of Remarks.
Rule I. Independent Clauses.—Independent clauses should be separated from each other by commas.