H

when to be simple."-Jamieson's Rhet., p. 151. "To confess the truth, I was much in fault."-Murray's Gram., p. 271.

"The Governor of all-has interposed,

Not seldom, his avenging arm, to smite

The injurious trampler upon nature's law."-Cowper.

RULE XI-PARTICIPLES.

Participles, when something depends on them, when they have the import of a dependent clause, or when they relate to something understood, should, with their adjuncts, be set off by the comma; as, 1. "Law is a rule of civil conduct, prescribed by the supreme power in a state, commanding what is right, and prohibiting what is wrong." "-BLACKSTONE: Beattie's Moral Science, p. 346.

2. "Young Edwin, lighted by the evening star,

Ling'ring and list'ning wander'd down the vale."—Beattie.

3. "United, we stand; divided, we fall."-Motto.

4. "Properly speaking, there is no such thing as chance."

EXCEPTION.-PARTICIPLES RESTRICTIVE.

When a participle immediately follows its noun, and is taken in a restrictive sense, the comms should not be used before it; as,

"A man renown'd for repartee,

Will seldom scruple to make free

With friendship's finest feeling."-Cowper.

RULE XII.-ADVERBS.

Adverbs, when they break the connexion of a simple sentence, or when they have not a close dependence on some particular word in the context, should, with their adjuncts, be set off by the comma; as, "We must not, however, confound this gentleness with the artificial courtesy of the world."- "Besides, the mind must be employed."-Gilpin. "Most unquestionably, no fraud was equal to all this."Lyttelton. "But, unfortunately for us, the tide was ebbing already."

"When buttress and buttress, alternately,

Seem framed of ebon and ivory."-Scott's Lay, p. 33.

RULE XIII-CONJUNCTIONS.

Conjunctions, when they are separated from the principal clauses that depend on them, or when they introduce examples, are generally set off by the comma; as, "But, by a timely call upon Religion, the force of Habit was eluded."-Johnson. "They know the neck that joins the shore and sea,

Or, ah! how chang'd that fearless laugh would be."--Crabbe.

RULE XIV. PREPOSITIONS.

Prepositions and their objects, when they break the connexion of a simple sentence, or when they do not closely follow the words on which they depend, are generally set off by the comma; as, "Fashion is, for the most part, nothing but the ostentation of riches."—" By reading, we add the experience of others to our own." "In vain the sage, with retrospective eye,

Would from th' apparent What conclude the Why.”—Pope.

RULE XV.-INTERJECTIONS.

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Interjections that require a pause, though more commonly emphatic and followed by the ecphoneme, are sometimes set off by the comma; as, "For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north."--Jeremiah, i, 15. "O, 'twas about something you would not understand."--Columbian Orator, p. 221. Ha, ha! you were finely taken in, then!"— Aikin. "Ha, ha, ha! A facetious gentleman, truly!"—Id.

"Oh, when shall Britain, conscious of her claim,
Stand emulous of Greek and Roman fame ?"-Pope.

RULE XVI.-WORDS REPEATED.

A word emphatically repeated, is generally set off by the comma; as, "Happy, happy, happy pair!"--Dryden. "Ay, ay, there is some comfort in that." -Shak. "Ah! no, no, no."-Dryden.

"The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,

The moss-covered bucket, which hung in the well!"- Woodworth.

RULE XVII.-DEPENDENT QUOTATIONS.

A quotation, observation, or description, when it is introduced in close dependence on a verb, (as, say, reply, cry, or the like,) is generally separated from the rest of the sentence by the comma; as, "The book of nature,' said he, 'is before thee.'"Hawkesworth. "I say unto all, Watch."-Mark. "The boy has become a man,' means, he has grown to be a man.' 'Such conduct becomes a man,' means, 'such conduct befits him."—Hart's Gram., p. 116.

"While man exclaims, 'See all things for my use!'
'See man for mine! replies a pamper'd goose."-Pope.

IMPROPRIETIES FOR CORRECTION.

FALSE PUNCTUATION.-ERRORS CONCERNING THE COMMA.

UNDER RULE I.-OF SIMPLE SENTENCES.

"Short, simple sentences should not be separated by a comma."-Felton's Gram., 1st Ed., p. 135; 3d Ed., Stereotyped, p. 137.

[FORMULE-Not proper, because a needless comma is put after short, the sentence being simple. But, according to Rule 1st for the Comma, "A simple sentence does not, in general, admit the comma." Therefore, this comma should be omitted; thus, "Short simple sentences should not be separated by a comma.' Or, much better: "A short simple sentence should rarely be divided by the comma." For such sentences, combined to form a period, should generally be separated; and even a single one may have some phrase that must be set off.]

“A regular and virtuous education, is an inestimable blessing."--Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 174. "Such equivocal expressions, mark an intention to deceive."-lb., p. 256. "They are, This and that, with their plurals these and those."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 26; Practical Lessons, p. 33. "A nominative case and a verb, sometimes make a complete sentence; as, He sleeps."-Felton's Gram., p. 78. "Tense, expresses the action connected with certain relations of time; mood, represents it as farther modified by circumstances of contingency, conditionality, &c."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 37. "The word Noun, means name."-Ingersoll's Gram., p. 14. "The present, or active participle, I explained then."-Ib., p. 97. "Are some verbs used, both transitively and intransitively?"-Cooper's Pl. and Pract. Gram., p. 54. "Blank verse, is verse without rhyme." -Hallock's Gram., p. 242. "A distributive adjective, denotes each one of a number considered separately."-Ib., p. 51.

"And may at last my weary age,

Find out the peaceful hermitage.”—Murray's Gr., 12mo, p. 205; 8vo, 255.

UNDER THE EXCEPTION CONCERNING SIMPLE SENTENCES.

"A noun without an Article to limit it is taken in its widest sense."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 8; Practical Lessons, p. 10.

[FORMULE-Not proper, because no comma is here set before the verb is taken. But, according to the Exception to Rule 1st for the Comma, When the nominative in a long simple sentence is accompanied by inseparable adjuncts, or when several words together are used in stead of a nominative, a comma should be placed immediately before the verb." Therefore, a comma should be here inserted; thus, "A noun without an article to limit it, is taken in its widest sense."—Lennie's Gram., p. 6.]

"To maintain a steady course amid all the adversities of life marks a great mind.”—Day's District School Gram., p. 84. "To love our Maker supremely and our neighbor as ourselves comprehends the whole moral law."-Ibid. "To be afraid to do wrong is true courage."-lb., p. 85. A great fortune in the hands of a fool is a great misfortune."-Bullions, Practical Lessons, p. 89. "That he should make such a remark is indeed strange."-Farnum, Practical Gram., p. 30. "To walk in the fields and groves is delightful."—Id., ib. "That he committed the fault is most certain."—Id., ib. "Names common to all things of the same sort or class are called Common nouns; as, man, woman, day."-Bullions, Pract. Les., p. 12. "That it is our duty to be pious admits not of any doubt."-Id., E. Gram., p. 118. "To endure misfortune with resignation is the characteristic of a great mind."-Id., ib., p. 81. "The assisting of a friend in such circumstances was certainly a duty."-Id., ib., 81. "That a life of virtue is the safest is certain."-Hallock's Gram., p. 169. "A collective noun denoting the idea of unity should be represented by a pronoun of the singular number."—I., p. 167.

UNDER RULE II.-OF SIMPLE MEMBERS.

"When the sun had arisen the enemy retreated."-Day's District School Gram., p. 85. [FORMULE.-Not proper, because no comma here separates the two simple members which compose the sen But, according to Rule 2d, "The simple members of a compound sentence, whether successive of involved, elliptical or complete, are generally divided by the comma.' Therefore, a comma should be inserted after arisen; thus, When the sun had arisen, the enemy retreated."]

tence.

"The more I

"If he become rich he may be less industrious."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 118. study grammar the better I like it."-Id., ib., p. 127. "There is much truth in the old adage that fire is a better servant than master."-Id., ib., p. 128. "The verb do, when used as an auxiliary gives force or emphasis to the expression."-Day's Gram., p. 39. "Whatsoever it is incumbent upon a man to do it is surely expedient to do well."-J. Q. Adams's Rhetoric, Vol. i, p. 46. "The soul which our philosophy divides into various capacities, is still one essence."— "— Channing, on Self-Culture, p. 15. "Put the following words in the plural and give the rule for forming it." -Bullions, Practical Lessons, p. 19. "We will do it if you wish."-Id., ib., p. 29. "He who does well will be rewarded."-Id., ib., 29. "That which is always true is expressed in the present tense."-Id., ib., p. 119. "An observation which is always true must be expressed in the present tense."-Id., Prin. of E. Gram., p. 123. "That part of orthography which treats of combining letters to form syllables and words is called SPELLING."-Day's Gram., p. 8. “A noun can never be of the first person except it is in apposition with a pronoun of that person.”—Ib., p. 14. "When two or more singular nouns or pronouns refer to the same object they require a singular verb and pronoun."-Ib., p. 80. James has gone but he will return in a few days."-1b., 89. "A pronoun should have the same person, number, and gender as the noun for which it stands." -Ib., 89 and 80. "Though he is out of danger he is still afraid."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 80. "She is his inferior in sense but his equal in prudence."—Ib., p. 81. "The man who has no sense of religion is little to be trusted."—Ib., 81. "He who does the most good has the most pleasure."-Ib., 81. "They were not in the most prosperous circumstances when we last saw them."-Ib., 81. "If the day continue pleasant I shall return."-Felton's Gram., 1st Ed., p. 22; Ster. Ed., 24. "The days that are past are gone for ever."-Ib., pp. 89 and 92. As many as are friendly to the cause will sustain it."-Ib., 89 and 92. "Such as desire aid will receive it." -1b., 89 and 92. "Who gave you that book which you prize so much?"-Bullions, Pract. Lessons, p. 32. "He who made it now preserves and governs it.”—Bullions, E. Gram., p. 83. "Shall he alone, whom rational we call,

Be pleased with nothing if not blessed with all ?"-Felton's Gram., p. 126.

UNDER THE EXCEPTIONS CONCERNING SIMPLE MEMBERS.

"Newcastle is the town, in which Akenside was born."-Bucke's Classical Gram., p. 54. [FORMULE.-Not proper, because a needless comma here separates the restrictive relative which from its antecedent town. But, according to Exception 1st to Rule 2d, "When a relative immediately follows its antecedent, and is taken in a restrictive sense, the comma should not be introduced before it." Therefore, this comma should be omitted; thus, "Newcastle is the town in which Akenside was born."]

The remorse, which issues in reformation, is true repentance."—Campbell's Philos. of Rhet., p. 255. "Men, who are intemperate, are destructive members of community."-Alexander's Gramp. 93. "An active-transitive verb expresses an action, which extends to an object."-Felton's Gram., pp. 16 and 22. "They, to whom much is given, will have much to answer for.”—Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 188. "The prospect, which we have, is charming."-Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram, p. 143. "He is the person, who informed me of the matter."-Ib., p. 134; Cooper's Murray, 120. "These are the trees, that produce no fruit."-Ib., 134; and 120. "This is the book, which treats of the subject."-Ib., 134; and 120. "The proposal was such, as pleased me."Cooper, Pl. and Pr. Gram., p. 134. Those, that sow in tears, shall reap in joy."—Id., ib., pp. 118 and 124; and Cooper's Murray, p. 141. "The pen, with which I write, makes too large a mark."-Ingersoll's Gram., p. 71. Modesty makes large amends for the pain, it gives the persons, who labour under it, by the prejudice, it affords every worthy person in their favour."-[6, p. 80. "Irony is a figure, whereby we plainly intend something very different from what our words express."-Bucke's Gram., p. 108. "Catachresis is a figure, whereby an improper word is used instead of a proper one."-Ib., p. 109. "The man, whom you met at the party, is a Frenchman."-Frost's Practical Gram., p. 155.

66

UNDER RULE III.-OF MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

"John, James and Thomas are here: that is, John and James, &c."—Cooper's Plain and Prac tical Grammar, p. 153.

[FORMULE-Not proper, because no comma is here used after James, or after Thomas, or again after John, in the latter clause; the three nouns being supposed to be in the same construction, and all of them nominatives to the verb are. But, according to Rule 3d for the Comma, "When more than two words or terms are connected in the same construction, or in a joint dependence on some other term, by conjunctions expressed or understood, the comma should be inserted after every one of them but the last; and, if they are nominatives before a verb, the comma should follow the last also.' Therefore, the comma should be inserted after each; thus, John, James, and Thomas, are here: that is, John, and James, and Thomas, are here."']*

"Adverbs modify verbs adjectives and other adverbs."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 97. "To Nouns Some printers, and likewise some authors, suppose a series of words to require the comma, only where the conjunction is suppressed. This is certainly a great error. It gives us such punctuation as comports neither with the sense of three or more words in the same construction, nor with the pauses which they require in read

"Wheat, corn, rye,

belong Person, Gender, Number and Case."-Id., Practical Lessons, p. 12. and oats are extensively cultivated."-Id., ib., p. 13. "In many, the definitions, rules and leading facts are prolix, inaccurate and confused."-Finch's Report on Gram., p. 3. "Most people consider it mysterious, difficult and useless."-Ib., p. 3. "His father and mother, and uncle reside at Rome."-Farnum's Gram., p. 11. "The relative pronouns are who, which and that.”Bullions, Practical Lessons, p. 29. "That is sometimes a demonstrative, sometimes a relative and sometimes a conjunction."-Id., ib., p. 33. Our reputation, virtue, and happiness greatly depend on the choice of our companions."-Day's Gram., p. 92. The spirit of true religion is social, kind and cheerful."-Felton's Gram., p. 81. Do, be, have and will are sometimes principal verbs."-Ib., p. 26. "John and Thomas and Peter reside at Oxford."- Webster, Philos. Gram., p. 142; Improved Gram., p. 96. "The most innocent pleasures are the most rational, the most delightful and the most durable."-Id., ib., pp. 215 and 151. "Love, joy, peace and blessedness are reserved for the good."-Id., ib., 215 and 151. "The husband, wife and children, suffered extremely."-Murray's Gram., 4th Am. Ed., 8vo, p. 269. The husband, wife, and children suffer extremely."-Sanborn's Analytical Gram., p. 268. He, you, and I have our parts assigned us."-Ibid.

66

"He moaned, lamented, tugged and tried,

Repented, promised, wept and sighed.”—Felton's Gr., p. 108.

UNDER RULE IV.-OF ONLY TWO WORDS.

Disappointments derange, and overcome, vulgar minds."-Murray's Exercises, p. 15. [FORMULE-Not proper, because the two verbs here connected by and, are needlessly separated from each other, and from their object following. But, according to Rule 4th, "When only two words or terms are connected by a conjunction, they should not be separated by the comma.' Therefore, these two commas should be omitted; thus, "Disappointments derange and overcome vulgar minds."]

"The hive of a city, or kingdom, is in the best condition, when there is the least noise or buzz in it."-Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 171. "When a direct address is made, the noun, or pronoun, is in the nominative case independent."—Ingersoll's Gram., p. 88. "The verbs love and teach, make loved, and taught, in the imperfect and participle."-Ib., p. 97. "Neither poverty, nor riches were injurious to him."-Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram., p. 133. "Thou, or I am in fault."-Wright's Gram., p. 136. "A verb is a word that expresses action, or being."-Day's District School Gram., pp. 11 and 61. "The Objective Case denotes the object of a verb, or a preposition."Ib., pp. 17 and 19. "Verbs of the second conjugation may be either transitive, or intransitive."Ib., p. 41. "Verbs of the fourth conjugation may be either transitive, or intransitive."-Ib., 41. "If a verb does not form its past indicative by adding d, or ed to the indicative present, it is said to be irregular."—Ib., 41. "The young lady is studying rhetoric, and logic."-Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram., p. 143. "He writes, and speaks the language very correctly."-Ib., p. 148. "Man's happiness, or misery, is, in a great measure, put into his own hands."-Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 183. "This accident, or characteristic of nouns, is called their Gender."-Bullions, E. Gram., 1843, p. 195.

"Grant that the powerful still the weak controul;

Be Man the Wit, and Tyrant of the whole."-POPE: Brit. Poets, vi, 375.

UNDER EXCEPTION I.-TWO WORDS WITH ADJUNCTS.

"Franklin is justly considered the ornament of the new world and the pride of modern philosophy."-Day's District School Gram., p. 88.

[FORMULE-Not proper, because the words ornament and pride, each of which has adjuncts, are here connected by and without a comma before it. But, according to Exception 1st to Rule 4th, "When the two words connected have several adjuncts, or when one of them has an adjunct that relates not to both, the comma is inserted." Therefore, a comma should be set before and; thus, "Franklin is justly considered the ornament of the New World, and the pride of modern philosophy."]

"Levity and attachment to worldly pleasures, destroy the sense of gratitude to him."-Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 183. "In the following Exercise, point out the adjectives and the substantives which they qualify."-Bullions, Practical Lessons, p. 100. "When a noun or pronoun is used to explain or give emphasis to a preceding noun or pronoun."-Day's Gram., p. 87. Superior talents and briliancy of intellect do not always constitute a great man.”—Ib., p. 92. A word that makes sense after an article or the phrase speak of, is a noun."—Bullions, Practical Lessons, p. 12. "All feet used in poetry, are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables and four of three."-Hiley's Gram., p. 123. "He would not do it himself nor let me do it."- Bullions, E. Gram., p. 113.* "The old writers give examples of the subjunctive mode and give other

ing. "John, James and Thomas are here," is a sentence which plainly tells John that James and Thomas are here; and which, if read according to this pointing, cannot possibly have any other meaning. Yet this is the way in which the rules of Cooper, Felton, Frost, Webster, and perhaps others, teach us to point it, when we mean to tell somebody else that all three are here! In his pretended "Abridgment of Murray's English Grammar," (a work abounding in small thefts from Brown's Institutes,) Cooper has the following example: "John, James or Joseph intends to accompany me."-Page 120, Here, John being addressed, the punctuation is right; but, to make this noun a nominative to the verb, a comma must be put after each of the others. Cooper's "Plain and Practical Grammar," the passage is found in this form: "John, James, or Joseph intends to accompany us."-Page 132. This pointing is doubly wrong; because it is adapted to neither sense. If the three nouns have the same construction, the principal pause will be immediately before the verb; and surely a comma is as much required by that pause, as by the second. See the Note on Rule 3d, above.

In

* In punctuation, the grammar here cited is unaccountably defective. This is the more strange, because many of its errors are mere perversions of what was accurately pointed by an other hand. On the page above referred

modes to explain what is meant by the words in the subjunctive."—0. B. Peirce's Gram, p. 352.

UNDER EXCEPTION II.-TWO TERMS CONTRASTED.

"We often commend as well as censure imprudently."-Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 214. “It is a truly a violation of the right of property, to take little as to take much; to purloin a book, or a penknife, as to steal money; to steal fruit as to steal a horse; to defraud the revenue as to rob my neighbour; to overcharge the public as to overcharge my brother; to cheat the postoffice as to cheat my friend."- Wayland's Moral Science, 1st Edition, p. 254. "The classification of verbs has been and still is a vexed question."-Bullions, E. Grammar, Revised Edition, p. 200. "Names applied only to individuals of a sort or class and not common to all, are called Proper Nouns."-Id., Practical Lessons, p. 12. "A hero would desire to be loved as well as to be reverenced."-Day's Gram., p. 108. "Death or some worse misfortune now divides them."-Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram., p. 133. "Alexander replied, 'The world will not permit two suns nor two sovereigns.'"-Goldsmith's Greece, Vol. ii, p. 113.

"From nature's chain, whatever link you strike,

Tenth or ten thousandth, breaks the chain alike."-Felton's Gram., p. 131.

UNDER EXCEPTION III.-ALTERNATIVE OF WORDS.

"Metre or Measure is the number of poetical feet which a verse contains."-Hiley's Gram., p. 123. "The Caesura or division, is the pause which takes place in a verse, and which divides it into two parts."—Ib., 123. "It is six feet or one fathom deep."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 113. "A BRACE is used in poetry at the end of a triplet or three lines which rhyme together."-Felton's Gram., p. 142. "There are four principal kinds of English verse or poetical feet.”—Ib., p. 143. "The period or full stop denotes the end of a complete sentence.”- -Sanborn's Analytical Gram, p. 271. "The scholar is to receive as many jetons or counters as there are words in the sentence." -St. Quentin's Gram., p. 16. "That [thing] or the thing which purifies, fortifies also the heart." -Peirce's Gram., p. 74. "That thing or the thing which would induce a laxity in public or private morals, or indifference to guilt and wretchedness, should be regarded as the deadly Sirocco.”—Ib., 74. "What is elliptically what thing or that thing which."—Sanborn's Gram., p. 99. "Demonstrate means show or point out precisely."—Ib., p. 139. "The man or that man, who endures to the end, shall be saved."-Hiley's Gram., p. 73.

UNDER EXCEPTION IV.A SECOND COMMA.

Reason, passion answer one great end."-Bullions's E. Gram., p. 152; Hiley's, p. 112. Reason, virtue answer one great aim."-Cooper's Pl. and Pract. Gram., p. 194; Butler's, 204. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above."-Felton's Gram., p. 90. "Every plant, and every tree produces others after its kind."-Day's Gram., p. 91. James, and not John was paid for his services."-Ib., 91. "The single dagger, or obelisk + is the second."—Ib., p. 113. "It was I, not he that did it."-St. Quentin's Gram., p. 152. "Each aunt, (and) each cousin hath her speculation."-Sanborn's Gram., p. 139. "I shall see you when you come,' is equivalent to 'I shall see you then, or at that time when you come.' "-Butler's Pract. Gram., p. 121.

"Let wealth, let honour wait the wedded dame,

August her deed, and sacred be her fame."-Pope, p. 334.

UNDER RULE V.-OF WORDS IN PAIRS.

"My hopes and fears, joys and sorrows centre in you."-B. GREENLEAF: Sanborn's Gram, p. 268.

[FORMULE.-Not proper, because no comma here separates the second pair of nominatives from the verb. But, according to Rule 5th, "When successive words are joined in pairs by conjunctions, they should be sepsrated in pairs by the comma." Therefore, an other comma should be inserted after sorrows; thus, "My hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, centre in you."]

"This mood implies possibility, or liberty, will, or obligation."-Ingersoll's Gram., p. 113. "Substance is divided into Body, and Spirit into Extended and Thinking.”—Brightland's Gram p. 253. "These consonants, [d and t,] like p, and b, ƒ, and v, k, and hard 9, and s, and 2, are letters of the same organ."- Walker's Dict., p. 41; Principles, No. 358. "Neither fig nor twist pigtail nor cavendish have passed my lips since, nor ever shall they again."-Boston Cultivator, Vol. vii, p. 36. "The words WHOEVER, or WHOSOEVER, WHICHEVER, or WHICHSOEVER, and WHATEVER, OF WHATSOEVER are called COMPOUND RELATIVE PRONOUNS."-Day's Gram., p. 23. Adjectives signifying profit or disprofit, likeness or unlikeness govern the dative."—Bullions, Lat Gram., 12th Ed., 215.

UNDER RULE VI.-OF WORDS ABSOLUTE.

"Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."-Bullions, E. Gram., p. 135.

[FORMULE-Not proper, because no comma is here set after staff, which, with the noun rod, is put absolute by pleonasm. But, according to Rule 6th, "Nouns or pronouns put absolute, should, with their adjuncts, be set off by the comma." Therefore, a comma should be here inserted; thus, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort

me."-Psalm xxiii, 4.]

'Depart ye wicked."— Wright's Gram., p. 70. "He saith to his mother, Woman behold thy to, Dr. Bullions, in copying from Lennie's syntactical exercises a dozen consecutive lines, has omitted nine needful commas, which Lennie had been careful to insert!