CAPITALIZATION AND PUNCTUATION
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RULES FOR CAPITALIZATION
95. Capitalize al proper nouns and adjectives derived from proper nouns.
France, French, Paris, Parisian, John, etc.
96. Capitalize al titles when used with proper nouns. Capitalize, also, the titles of
governmental officers of high rank even when used separately. Do not capitalize other titles
when used separately.
Uncle Sam, Bishop Anselm, Professor Morton, the Postmaster General, Postmaster Smith
of Keley Cross Roads, the postmaster of Keley Cross Roads.
97. Capitalize the important words in titles of books.
The Master of Balantrae, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, The Discovery of America.
98. Capitalize the first word of every sentence, of every line of poetry, and of every
complete sentence that is quoted.
He said, "Is it I whom you seek?"
He said she was a "perfect woman, nobly planned."
99. Capitalize the words, mother, father, etc., when used with proper names of persons,
or when used without a possessive pronoun to refer to some definite person. Capitalize also,
common nouns in phrases used as proper nouns.
Father John, my Uncle John, my uncle, if Uncle writes, if my uncle writes, along the river,
along the Hudson River, Madison Square.
100. Capitalize the names, North, South, East, and West, when referring to parts of the Page 137
country; words used to name the Deity; the words, Bible and Scriptures; and the words I
and O, but not oh unless it is at the beginning of a sentence.
EXERCISE 72
Secure five examples under each of the above rules, except the last.
RULES FOR PUNCTUATION
101. Punctuation should not be done for its own sake, but simply to make the meaning
clearer; never punctuate where no punctuation is needed.
The folowing rules of punctuation are generaly accepted:
The Period (.)
102. Use the period after (1) every complete sentence that is not interrogative nor
exclamatory; (2) after every abbreviation; and (3) after Yes and No when used alone.
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The Interrogation Point (?)
103. Use the interrogation point after every direct question.
The Exclamation Point (!)
104. Use the exclamation point after every exclamatory sentence or expression.
Alas! It is too late.
Fire if you dare!
The Comma (,)
105. Use the comma after each word of a series of words that al have the same
grammatical relation to the rest of the sentence, unless conjunctions are used between al of Page 138
those words.
Ours is a red, white, and blue flag.
He talked, smoked, and read.
He talked and smoked and read.
Do not, however, precede the series by a comma.
Wrong: He lectures on, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Right: He lectures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
106. Use the comma to separate two adjectives modifying the same noun, but not if one
modifies both the other adjective and the noun.
An honest, upright man.
An old colored man.
A soiled red dress.
107. Use the comma to set off non-emphatic introductory words or phrases, and
participial phrases.
John, come here.
By the way, did you see Mary?
After having done this, Cæsar crossed the Rubicon.
Cæsar crossed the Rubicon, thus taking a decisive step.
108. Use the comma to set off appositive expression (see §29, Note 1), or a geographical
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name that limits a preceding name.
He was told to see Dr. Morton, the principal of the school.
Muncy, Pennsylvania, is not speled the same as Muncie, Indiana.
109. Use the comma to set off any sentence element that is placed out of its natural order.
If it is possible, he wil do it.
To most people, this wil seem absurd.
110. Use the comma to set off slightly parenthetical remarks that are thrown into the Page 139
sentence. If the break is very marked, use the dash or parenthesis.
That, if you wil permit me to explain, cannot be done without permission from the police.
Two men, Chase and Arnold, were injured.
He, himself, said it.
111. Use the comma to set off explanatory or non-restrictive clauses, but not to set off
restrictive clauses. (See §§ 25 and 26.)
Mr. Gardner, who has been working in the bank, sang at the church.
But: The Mr. Gardner whom you know is his brother.
112. Use the comma to separate coördinate clauses that are united by a simple
conjunction.
He can sing wel, but he seldom wil sing in public.
He doesn't wish to sing, and I do not like to urge him.
113. Use the comma to separate the members of a compound sentence when those
members are short and closely connected in their thought.
John carried the suit-case, I the hat box, and Wiliam the umbrela.
114. Use the comma to separate dependent and conditional clauses introduced by such
words as if, when, though, unless the connection be close.
He did not stop, though I caled repeatedly.
Your solution is right in method, even if you have made a mistake in the work.
But: You are wrong when you say that.
115. Use the comma to set off short, informal quotations, unless such quotation is a word
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or phrase closely woven into the sentence.
Wiliam said, "Good morning"; but, "Helo," was Henry's greeting.
But: He introduced the man as "my distinguished friend."
116. Use the comma to set off adverbs and adverbial phrases; such as, however, then, Page 140
also, for example, so to speak, etc.
Such a man, however, can seldom be found.
This sentence, for example, can be improved by changing the order.
117. Use the comma whenever for any reason there is any distinct pause in the sentence
that is not otherwise indicated by punctuation, or whenever something clearly is omitted.
We want students, not boys who simply come to school.
Cæsar had his Brutus; Charles the First, his Cromwel; ...
The Semicolon (;)
118. Use the semicolon to separate the clauses of a compound sentence that are long or
that are not joined by conjunctions.
He says that he shal teach for two more years; then he shal probably return to colege.
119. Use a semicolon to separate the clauses of a compound sentence that are joined by a
conjunction, only when it is desirable to indicate a very definite pause.
I have told you of the theft; but I have yet to tel you of the reason for it.
120. Use a semicolon to separate the parts of a compound or a complex sentence, when
some of those parts are punctuated by commas.
As men, we admire the man that succeeds; but, as honest men, we cannot admire the man
that succeeds by dishonesty.
Wrong: He spends his money for theatres, and dinners, and wine, and for his family he has
not a cent.
Right: He spends his money for theatres, and dinners, and wine; and for his family he has
not a cent.
121. Use a semicolon before certain adverbs and adverbial expressions, when they occur Page 141
in the body of the sentence and are used conjunctively; such as, accordingly, besides,
hence, thus, therefore, etc.
I do not care to see the game; besides, it is too cold.
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John is sick; however, I think he wil be here.
122. Use the semicolon before the expressions, namely, as, that is, etc., or before their
abbreviations, viz., i.e., etc., when they are used to introduce a series of particular terms,
simple in form, which are in apposition with a general term.
At present there are four prominent political parties; namely, the Republican, the
Democratic, the Prohibition, and the Socialist.
The Colon (:)
123. Use the colon after an introduction to a long or formal quotation, before an
enumeration, or after a word, phrase, or sentence that constitutes an introduction to
something that folows.
Mr. Royer says in his letter: "You wil remember that I promised to send you a copy of my
latest musical composition. I am mailing it to you to-day."
There are four essentials of a legal contract: competent parties, consideration, agreement,
and legal subject matter.
124. Use the colon after the salutation of a formal letter. (See §161.)
The Dash (—)
125. Use the dash to indicate any sudden break in thought or construction.
I am pleased to meet you, Captain—what did you say your name is?
The man I met—I refer to Captain Jones—was in the naval service.
126. Use the dash in the place of the comma to set off more definitely some part of a Page 142
sentence.
I was always lacking what I needed most—money.
127. Use the dash preceded by a comma before a word which sums up the preceding part
of a sentence.
Democrats, Republicans, Prohibitionists, Socialists, and Populists,— all were there.
128. Do not use dashes where not required or in place of some other mark of punctuation.
The Parenthesis Marks ( )
129. Use the parenthesis marks only to enclose a statement that is thrown into the
sentence, but is grammaticaly independent of it.
He belongs (at least so it is said) to every secret society in town.
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130. Do not use a comma or other punctuation mark with the parenthesis marks unless it
would be required even if there were no parenthesis. When other punctuation is used it
should folow the parenthesis.
They sent us (as they had agreed to do) al the papers in the case.
We expect John to bring his roommate home with him (he has been very anxious to do
so); but we expect no one else.
Modern usage is to avoid entirely the use of the parentheses.
The Bracket [ ]
131. Use the bracket to enclose some statement or word of the writer that is thrown into a
quotation by way of explanation or otherwise.
His letter reads: "We have decided to get Mr. Howard [his cousin] to deliver the
address..."
The Quotation Marks (" ")
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132. Use quotation marks to enclose quotations of the exact language of another.
The Bible says, "Charity suffereth long."
133. Use single quotation marks (' ') to enclose a quotation within a quotation.
The speaker in closing said: "I can imagine no more inspiring words than those of Nelson at
Trafalgar, 'England expects every man to do his duty.'"
134. If a quotation consists of several paragraphs, quotation marks should precede each
paragraph and folow the last.
135. Do not use quotation marks to enclose each separate sentence of a single continuous
quotation.
136. Do not use quotation marks to enclose wel-known nicknames, titles of books,
proverbial phrases, or to indicate one's own literary invention.
137. Examine the location of quotation marks and other punctuation in the folowing
sentences:
Wrong: "You may do as you wish, he said, if you only wish to do right."
Right: "You may do as you wish," he said, "if you only wish to do right."
Wrong: "Can you come," she asked?
Right: "Can you come?" she asked.
The Apostrophe (')
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138. Use the apostrophe to mark certain plurals and possessives. See §§ 13 and 15.
Use the apostrophe to indicate the omission of letters.
Doesn't, Can't, What's the matter?
The Hyphen (-)
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139. Use the hyphen when a word must be divided at the end of a line.
Never divide words of one sylable, nor short words; such as, though, through, also,
besides, over, etc.
Never divide words except at the end of a sylable, and always put the hyphen at the end
of the first line, not at the beginning of the second.
Wrong division: int-end, prop-ose, superint-endent, expre-ssion.
Proper division: in-tend, pro-pose, superin-tendent, expres-sion.
In writing it is good usage not to divide a word like expression by placing ex on one line
and the rest of the word on the next line.
140. Use the hyphen to divide certain compound words. No rule can be given by which to
determine when compounded words demand the hyphen. Only custom determines.
Always use a hyphen with to-day, to-morrow, and to-night.
EXERCISE 73
Punctuate and capitalize the following selections. For instructions as to
paragraphing and the arrangement of conversation, see §§ 143 and 144:
1. however father had told us not to expect good accommodations because it is a very
smal town
2. tomorrow if it is a clear day we wil go to pittsburgh
3. wil that be satisfactory was his question
4. it doesnt make any difference said she whether you come or not
5. whats the matter with you john
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6. john replied i mean that poem that begins the curfew tols the knel of parting day
7. and that day i was only a child then I traveled al alone to new york city
8. he is a member at least he claims to be of the presbyterian church
9. the author says that the hero of waterloo welington was a general of great military
training
10. buddhist brahmin mohammedan christian jewish every religion was represented
11. his letter wil tel what he wants or wil attempt to do so
12. you wil please hand in the folowing sentences one three seven and nine
13. four presidents have been unitarians namely the two adams filmore and taft
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14. the verse to which you refer is as folows
the boast of heraldry the pomp of power
al that beauty al that wealth eer gave
await alike the inevitable hour
the paths of glory lead but to the grave
15. a noun is the name of something as wiliam france book cat
16. the train leaves at eight therefore we shal have to rise at seven at latest
17. the different points discussed are these first the history of the divine right theory second
the exponents of the theory and third the result of the theory
18. in the first problem divide in the second multiply
19. if the break is slight use a comma if it is more perceptible use a semicolon if it is very
sharp use a period
20. wiliam if you gear me answer
21. he told mother that he must go home at least that is what she understood
22. as noise it is an undoubted success as music it is a flat failure
23. that may be true but i stil doubt it
24. separate the clauses by a comma unless the connection be close
25. even though that be true it does not prove what we want proved
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26. mary said yes but helen said no
27. he is caled the peerless leader
28. such a man for example was lincoln
29. if as you say it ought to be done why dont you do it
30. that too is a mistake
31. that is wool not cotton as you seem to think
32. the english are stolid the french lively
33. in that case let us have war
34. such an opinion i may say is absurd
35. alas when i had noticed my mistake it was too late
36. the house which was built by smith is on the corner of a large lot
37. he means the house that has green shutters
38. those are al good books but none of them wil do
39. dickens wrote nicholas nickleby hugo les miserables thackeray henry esmond
40. he is a good student and also a great athlete
41. he gave me a red silk handkerchief
42. having assigned the lesson he left the room
43. royers address is danvile ilinois
44. you wil find it discussed in paragraphs one two and three
45. i had classes under the president dr harris
46. moreover naxon the cashier has fled
47. oh that is what you mean is it
48. for this you wil need a piece of clean white paper
49. the bible says the lord thy god is a jealous god
50. the boundary of uncle sams lands is the rio grande river
51. theodore roosevelt is not the only strenuous man in history
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52. the north quickly recovered from the civil war
53. he told mother to write to my uncle about it
54. he said then why are you here
55. in that army old young and middle aged men served for their country could no longer
raise a picked army
56. he was told to ask the principal professor morton
57. in the same town muncy lives smith now a respected man
58. a peasant named ali according to a good old oriental story needing badly a donkey for
some urgent work decided to apply to his neighbor mehmed whose donkey ali knew
to be idle in the stable that day i am sorry my dear neighbor said mehmed in reply to Page 147
alis request but i cannot please you my son took the donkey this morning to the next
vilage i assure you insisted ali i shal take the very best care of him my dear neighbor
can you not take my word demanded mehmed with a show of anger i tel you the
donkey is out but at this point the donkey began to bray loudly there that is the donkey
braying now wel said the justly indignant mehmed if you would rather take my
donkeys word than my word we can be friends no longer and under no circumstances
can i lend you anything.
59. a coroner was caled upon to hold an inquest over the body of an italian the only
witness was a smal boy of the same nationality who spoke no english the examination
proceeded thus where do you live my boy the boy shook his head do you speak
english another shake of the head do you speak french another shake do you speak
german stil no answer how old are you no reply have you father and mother no reply
do you speak italian the boy gave no sign wel said the coroner i have questioned the
witness in four languages and can get no answer it is useless to proceed the court is
adjourned.
NOTE. Further exercise in punctuation may be had by copying without the marks of
punctuation selections from books, and afterwards inserting the proper marks.