THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF WRITING ENGLISH I ESTABLISHED USAGES 1. PUNCTUATION PUNCTUATION is a convenient mechanical device for indicating or assuring the unity, the coherence, or the emphasis implied in the written expression of thought. Punctuation is not an end in itself; it merely helps to suggest pauses, inflections, and intonations that in oral expression are of great value in making a thought clear. In the use of punctuation, the student must master certain recognized conventions that depend upon a few underlying principles. The more important general rules admit of little latitude for personal opinion in their application, since they are tacitly accepted by all who aspire to be careful writers. Other rules, though less binding, are indicative of what is considered good form in writing and are a proof of literary training and experience. In minor matters, a degree of personal freedom in punctuation is permitted. On the whole, until a writer has become thoroughly informed as to the best practice, he will do well to allow himself very little license in the use of the marks of punctuation. He should carefully apply the rules that have been agreed upon by students of language as the most efficient in supplementing the written word. The chief marks of punctuation are:- Question mark, or interrogation point ? ! EXCEPTION. The rule given above is extremely important, and it should, in general, be strictly adhered to; nevertheless, good usage furnishes an exception: Two or more sentences that are closely connected in thought may be separated merely by commas, if these sentences are very short, and are parallel in construction. (a) She laughed, she sang, she danced. (b) It rained, it hailed, it snowed, and it blew great guns. N.B. For a further note on this point, see under the Comma, page 15. 2. A fragment or a subordinate part of a sentence should not be followed by a period, unless there is nothing present for the partial sentence to adhere to, and unless the sense is clearly and completely understood. Bad: He was very inadequately prepared. Which fact soon became apparent. |