476. The succeeding, from Shakspere's Henry V., is another instance: "For forth he goes, and visits all his host; Bids them good-morrow, with a modest smile; And calls them-brothers, friends, and countrymen." 477. There is likewise an office for the dash in what are called, by printers, sideheads, thus: "CORRECTION.-It has been stated in some of the papers, that the Bedouin Arabs, at New York, have Indiarubber back bones. This, upon examination, is found to be untrue, for there is no indication of any back bone at all.-New York Paper." 478. The dash after correction, and the one before New York Paper, save the room of two distinct lines. 479. Instances of abruptness have been adduced in which the dash claims admission. Rhapsodical writings also often demand the dash. There is before us a painter, supposed to be gazing upon some beautiful pictures with intense rapture and admiration. Thus situated, we may easily imagine we hear him breaking forth in the following strain: "To have painted it must have been the labour of a long life. Such a green stall—such a cabbage—a cauliflower a string of Spanish onions-a bunch of carrots-a lobster-a brass kettle-and a sunflower-never beheld before. So clear-transparent-vivid! It is forcible as Rembrandt-brilliant as Reubens-and for finishing, the most accurate work of Denner-the most delicate pencilling of the Chevalier Vanderweff-compared with this charming tableau, would appear hasty sketches!" 480. In addition to the dash we have already taken into consideration, we are provided with another, the same in form, but longer in its dimensions. It serves to displace anything that it might be advisable to withhold, or illegal to insert in the context, thus: "Did you see Mr. ?" "How could I, when""Don't say you were not there, I"-" I'm sure I was not." 481. The first sentence is complete, save that the speaker chose rather to substitute the name by the dash. In the second and third sentences, the speaker is interrupted. The short dash implies that the speaker would have continued, had it not been for the prattling of the person he was addressing, or that he was obliged to put in the dash, because, to use a common phrase, his mouth was stopped before he could finish the sentence. Now, the long dash signifies not that the speaker was compelled to halt, but that he preferred the dash to the insertion of the name which is understood. 482. The colon in the examples at No. 449, some punctuators would displace by the dash, and others by the period, and perhaps some valid reasons, on strict inquiry, might be advanced in favour of each or either, and especially for displacing the colon by the dash before hence in the last instance. 483. The following is a brief summary of the principal uses of the dash : 484. The dash is employed when there is a sudden or abrupt turn in the sentiment : "A shot I heard-again a flame : "Flashed thick and fast-a volly came!" "The youthful heros rise "The chieftain starts-'tis the battle cry!" 485. To indicate a significant pause : "Come, Gaza, Ashdod, come! let Ekron boast, 486. When interruption or hesitation is implied : "I forgot my-" "Your portmanteau," hastily interrupted Thomas. "The same." "You know that gentleman? I mean-yet I need not mention his name." 487. In the place of that is to say :— "Where woe comes not, where never enters death, 488. When in other words may be considered as understood :— "These are but monuments of cruelty-a catalogue of crimes." 489. To supply the place of in short:"He offered gold, jewels, honours-everything for liberty." "My altars are the mountains and the ocean, Earth, air, seas-all that springs from the great Whole, Who hath produced, and will receive the soul." THE PERIOD. 490. When one or more words are complete, with respect to construction and the intended sense of the writer, the period, or full-point, is used. 491. At the head of this chapter, is placed "The period," to imply, at the outset, that the succeeding observations relate to that stop. It is all the heading that is necessary, and, therefore, being independent of any construction with other words, it is properly accompanied by the period. Had there been subjoined the words "or fullpoint," another name for the same thing, it would thus have been written: "The period, or full-point." You perceive that, in this event, the dot, or period, is removed to the end, the intended sense not being complete at any word preceding, and that the connection between the two terms period and full-point, is denoted by the intervening comma, as in the case of all explanatory words and phrases. 492. Lennie says, "A period is sometimes admitted between sentences connected by such words as but, and, for." The period, when the connection will allow, is an elegant substitute for the colon. 493. The full-point is employed after abbreviations, as, "Richard Cobden, Esq., M.P. The comma, too, comes in after Esquire, because, had Esq. been writen in full, a comma would have been placed before M.P. THE NOTE OF INTERROGATION, ETC. 494. The Note of Interrogation? is employed after questions, as :— "Plutarch, on being reproved for his inhumanity, by one of his slaves, whom he had ordered to be whipped in his presence, replied, 'How, ruffian, by what dost thou judge that I am now angry? Does either my face, my colour, my voice, or my speech, give manifestation of my being moved? Do I redden? Do I foam ? Does any word escape from my lips of which I ought to repent? Do I start? Do I tremble with wrath? For these, I tell thee, are the true signs of anger."" 495. The Note of Admiration, or Exclamation ! denotes what precedes to be the result of some sudden emotion, as, "Silence !" 496. The notes of interrogation and admiration, do not indicate any definite rest in reading. They take the places of the comma, the semicolon, the colon, and the period, as the connection may require. 497. The parenthesis () is employed for the purpose of enclosing some remark in the body of a sentence. 498. Besides the preceding, we have other marks necessary in writing, but, as their functions are readily learnt, a very brief sketch of them only need be given. 499. Crotchets, or brackets [ ] are to enclose a word or sentence which it is intended to explain in a note, or the explanation itself. Brackets are also used to correct a mistake, or supply some deficiency. 500. The Quotation "" is to show that the language which it encloses is some other person's than our own. The quotation is likewise employed by many writers in giving an example. It also often takes the place of italic letters in making any word or words remarkable or striking. A 501. The Caret implies that something either is omitted or interlined. A 502. The hyphen - connects compound words, like ill-deserving and son-in-law. It is likewise employed when part of a word is carried from the end of one line to the beginning of the next. 503. The apostrophe' denotes a contraction, as in don't-do not. It often supplies the place of e in poetry, as in the word mov'd for moved. It answers for describing possession, as in "John's shoes." 504. The Paragraph ¶ is placed at the beginning of a new subject. Only used in the Bible. 505. The Section § is to divide a discourse or chapter into portions. Now rarely used. 506. The index is to direct attention to something for particular observation. Principally used in hand-bills. 507. The asterisk, or star obelisk the double dagger the parallel || the and small letters and figures, are employed to refer to some note in the margin or at the bottom of the page. 508. Two, three, or more ***** indicate the omission of something too indelicate for insertion, or they denote some defect. which have one common term. The brace is likewise employed to connect three lines in poetry having the same rhyme. In this capacity its use is gradually declining. |