66 A noun is a name; as, boy, Henry." A semicolon is sometimes used before viz., to wit, i. e., or that is, when it precedes an example or an enumeration of particulars. 7. Yes and No.-"Yes" or "no," when forming part of an answer and followed by a proposition, is usually set off by a semicolon. Thus, "Yes; I think it will rain." When yes or no precedes a vocative expression, the semicolon follows the expression, and a comma follows yes or no. Thus, "No, my friends; I cannot endorse this platform." THE COLON. The Colon is used to separate parts of sentences less closely connected than those separated by the semicolon. The following are the most important rules for the use of the Colon:. 1. Parts of Sentences.-A colon should be placed between the parts of sentences whose subdivisions are separated by semicolons. Thus, "The article contained two chief thoughts: the first, that the argument was not sound; the second, that it was not convincing." 2. Additional Clauses.-An additional clause not formally connected with the preceding clause is set off from the latter by a colon. Thus, "Let others hail the rising sun: I bow to him whose course is run." This rule differs from Rule 5 with reference to the See "Errows the straws". 162.1. semicolon, chiefly in the omission of the conjunction which formally connects the clauses. 3. Quotations.-When a quotation is introduced, but not as the object of a transitive verb, it should be preceded by a colon. Thus, "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been."" When a quotation follows such transitive verbs as say, exclaim, reply, shout, cry, and similar verbs, as the direct object, it should be preceded by a comma instead of a colon. Thus, "The speaker said, 'Gentlemen, I am glad to meet you on this occasion.'" 4. Formal Introduction.-A colon is placed after such expressions as "this," "these," " as follows," "the following," and similar terms, when they promise or introduce something, whether a quotation or not. Thus, "His words were as follows: 'Poor work, poor pay.' 5. Title-Pages. In a title-page, when an explanatory expression is put in apposition with the main title, without the use of a conjunction, the two are separated by a colon. Thus, "Helps in the Use of Good English: a Manual for All who Desire to Speak or Write Correct English." THE INTERROGATION POINT. The Interrogation Point is used to show that a question is asked. The following are the chief rules for the use of the Interrogation Point: 1. Questions. An interrogation point should be placed after every direct question. A direct question is one that admits of an answer; as, “Why do you not go?" An indirect question is one that is merely spoken of; as, "He asked why you did not go." When several questions are thrown together to form one sentence, the sentence begins with a capital letter, but an interrogation point should follow each question. Thus, "What is the meaning of all this noise? of all this confusion ?" When, in a series of consecutive questions, each is distinct in itself, each should begin with a capital letter and each be followed by an interrogation point. Thus, "Does the applicant use profane language?” “Does he smoke?" "Does he idle away his time?" When the question is not complete till the end of the sentence is reached, only one interrogation point should be used. Thus, "Which season do you prefer, summer or winter?" 2. Doubt.—The interrogation point is sometimes inserted in curves to throw doubt on a statement. Thus, "His sound (?) logic was not convincing." THE EXCLAMATION POINT. The Exclamation Point is used chiefly to indicate some emotion. The following are the chief rules for the use of the Exclamation Point: 1. Interjections.-The exclamation point is placed after an interjection when it shows strong emotion. Thus, "Hurrah! we have won the game." When the emotion expressed belongs to the whole phrase or sentence, the exclamation point is usually placed after the entire expression, rather than after the interjection; as, "Shame upon your actions!" When an interjection is repeated several times in succession, the repeated words are separated by commas, and the exclamation point is placed after the last only; as, "Well, well! I am sorry for this." O is not immediately followed by an exclamation point, but oh is so followed unless the emotion runs through the whole expression. In that case oh is followed by a comma, and an exclamation point is placed after the complete emotional expression. Thus, "Oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!" When the interjections eh and hey are used at the end of questions, they should be followed by interrogation points. 2. Exclamations. An exclamation point should be placed after every exclamatory expression. Thus, "How very hot it is!" ""Glorious! Bravo!' shouted the captain." More than one exclamation point may be used to express wonder, irony, contempt, or great surprise. Thus, "Trust to his honesty!! A thief is honest in comparison." The exclamation point is sometimes used in the same manner as the interrogation point, to imply doubt. Thus, "Cæsar was an honorable (!) man." THE DASH. The Dash is used chiefly to indicate a sudden change in the sense or the construction of a sentence. The use of the dash for other punctuation marks is permissible only where none of the others can be correctly used. The dash should not be used, as it is by many writers, as a substitute for other marks. The following are the chief rules for the use of the Dash: 1. Sudden Changes.-A dash is used to mark some sudden change in the construction or in the sense of a sentence. Thus, "He had no malice in his mind No ruffles on his shirt." 2. Parenthesis.-The dash is sometimes used to set off parenthetical expressions when the connection is not so close as to require a comma. Thus, "Those who hated him most heartily—and no man was hated more heartily-admitted that his mind was exceedingly brilliant." 3. A Pause.-The dash is sometimes used to indicate a pause made for rhetorical effect. Thus, "It was admitted by all that the boy was quiet and wellbehaved-when he was asleep." The dash is used also to denote an expressive pause. Thus, "The stream fell over a precipice-paused-fell-paused again-then darted down the valley." 4. An Omission.-The dash is sometimes used to denote an omission. Thus, "Late in the summer of 18-, the residents of were |