PUNCTUATION, the art of dividing a written composition into sentences, or parts of sentences, by points or stops, for the purpose of marking the different pauses which the sense requires.
The comma (,) represents the shortest pause ; the semicolon (;) a pause double that of the comma ; the colon (;) double, that of the semicolon ; and the period (.) double that of the colon. The precise duration of these pauses must depend on the degree of slovi•es or rapidity observ. ed in reading; but the proportion between them should be ever invariable.
In order to determine clearly the appli cation of the points, it is necessary to dis tinguish between a simple sentence and a compound sentence. A simple sentence contains only one finite verb : as, " Virtue refines the affections." A compound sen tence has more than one finite verb ex pressed or implied, and thereffire consists of two or more simple sentences connect ed together : as, " Virtue refines the af fections ; but vice debases them." The comma is used to mark the pauses which occur in a simple sentence ; the semicolon and the colon divide kcom pound sentence into the members which compose it ; and the period is placed at the end of a sentence, to denote that it is complete, and unconnected with that which follows.
In a simple sentence, when two or more words of the same sort, or belong. ing to the same part of speech, occur, they are parted by a comma : as, " Hes. band, wife, and children ;" " open, ge nerous, sincere ;" " to read, mark, learn ;" " to live soberly, righteously, and godly," &c.
Where the connection of the different parts of a simple sentence is interrupted by necessary adjuncts, either to the sub ject or to the verb, the separation is gene rally marked by a comma: as, rouse mankind, when sunk in ignorance or su perstition, and to encounter the rage of bigotry, armed with power, required the utmost vehemence of zeal, and a temper daring to excess." The semicolon is used for dividing a compound sentence, and hence it occurs most generally in cases where the comma has preceded, and a greater pause is ne cessary : as, " Tribulation worketh pa tience ; and patience, experience ; and experience, hope." " He knew how to conciliate the most enterprising spirit, with the coolest moderation ; the most obstinate perseverance, with the easiest flexibility ; the most severe justice, with the greatest lenity : the greatest rigour in command, with the greatest affability of deportment ; the highest capacity and inclination for science, with the most shining talents for action." In each of these examples the first clause forms a complete sentence, and what is expressed in it is understood in those which follow.
The colon divides a compound sentence into parts less connected than those which are separated by a semicolon. It may be properly applied in the three following cases : 1. When a member of a sentence is com plete in itself; but is followed by some supplemental remark, or further illustra tion of the subject : as, "The knowledge of nature is only half the task of a poet: he must be acquainted likewise with all the modes of lite." 2. When several semicolons have pre ceded : as, " Those who propagate evil reports frequently invent them ; and it is no breach of charity to suppose this to be always the case ; because no man who spreads detraction would scruple to pro. duce it : and he who should diffuse poi sons in a brook would scarce be acquitted of a malicious design, though he should allege that he received it of another who is doing the same elsewhere." 3. Where an example, a quotation, or a speech is introduced : as, " He was otlen heard to say : I have done with the world." The period is employed to separate sen tences which are not connected in con struction ; but it may be sometimes ad mitted, though they are joined by a co pulative or disjunctive conjunction : as, "In passing judgment upon the charac ters of men, we ought to try them by the principles and maxims of their own age, and not by those of another. For, al though virtue and vice are at all times the same, manners and customs vary continually." Besides the points which mark the pauses in discourse, there are others, which denote a different modulation of voice in correspondence to the sense. These are, The interrogation point . . ? The exclamation point .. . ! The parenthesis The interrogation and exclamation points are sufficiently explained by their names : they are indeterminate as to their duration, and may in that respect be equivalent to a semicolon, a colon, or a period, as the sense requires. They generally mark an elevation of the voice.
parenthesis is a clause introduced into the body of a sentence without affect ing the construction. It marks a moderate depression of the voice, and may be mark ed with every point which the sense would require, if the parenthetical characters were omitted. It ought to terminate with the same kind of stop which the mem ber has that precedes it ; and to contain that stop within the parenthetical marks : as, "He found them asleep again ; (for their eyes were heavy :) neither knew they what to answer him."