Frederick W. Hamilton

“ Always remember that the real business of the comma is just that of helping the meaning of the words and of preventing ambiguity by showing clearly the separation and connection of words and phrases. If there is possibility of misunderstanding without a comma, put one in. If the words tell their story beyond possibility of misunderstanding without a comma, there is no reason for its use. ”

“ When a quotation ends a sentence the quotation marks are placed after the period.
The comma is always placed inside the quotation marks.
The position of the other marks (semicolon, colon, exclamation, and interrogation) is determined by the sense. If they form a part of the matter quoted, they go inside the quote marks; if not, they go outside them.
11. When quotation marks occur at the beginning of a line of poetry, they should go back into the indention space.
“Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
‘This is my own, my native land’?” ”

“ The close, or stiff, system, using points wherever they can be used, is of importance in precise composition of every sort, such as laws, contracts, legal and ecclesiastical statements, and the like. The open, or easy, system, omitting points wherever they can be omitted, is used generally in the commoner forms of composition. The tendency, sometimes pushed too far, is toward an extremely open style of punctuation. The general attitude of writers and printers may be summed up by saying that you must justify the use of a punctuation mark, particularly a comma, rather than its omission. ”

“ Printing is not now and never will be a purely mechanical trade. A printing office is no place for an apprentice who can not learn to think.
This book contains a description of the functions of the punctuation marks and the common rules for their use. Rules for the use of punctuation marks are very different from rules for the use of purely material things. They are useless unless applied intelligently. No set of rules could be devised which would work automatically or relieve the compositor from the necessity of thinking. Punctuation can never be reduced to an exact science. ”

“ If there is no way of finding out [3] what the sentence means, follow copy. Insert no punctuation marks which you are not sure are needed.
Punctuation as we know it is of recent invention. The practice of the art of printing brought the necessity for a defined and systematized use of the points which had, most of them, long been in existence, but which had been used largely according to the personal preferences of the scribes or copyists. With the coming of the new methods of book reproduction came the recognized need for standardization and systematization. ”

“ The comma is placed between the words which it is intended to separate. When used in connection with quotation marks, it is always placed inside them.
“Honesty is the best policy,” as the proverb says. ”

“ The hyphen is used to join compound words; to mark the division of a word too long to go entirely into one line; to separate the syllables of words in order to show pronunciation; as a leader in tabular work. For this last purpose the period is to be preferred to any other mark in use. Tabular work without leaders is obscure and therefore objectionable.
[31]
QUOTATION MARKS
Quotation marks are signs used to indicate that the writer is giving exactly the words of another. A French printer named Morel used a comma in the outer margin to indicate a quoted line about 1550. ”

“ The parenthesis, commonly used in pairs, encloses expressions which have no essential connection with the rest of the sentence, but are important to its full comprehension. It is liable to be neglected by writers because the dash is easier to make, and by printers because it is generally thought to mar the beauty of the line. ”

“ A reversed semicolon was used as a question mark. Wynkyn de Worde, Caxton’s successor in the printing business in London, used five points in 1509. They were the period, the semicolon, the comma, the “interrogative,” and the parenthesis.
The systematization of punctuation is due mainly to the careful and scholarly Aldus Manutius, who had opened a printing office in Venice in 1494. The great printers of the early day were great scholars as well. For a very long time the chief concern of the printer was the opening of the treasures of ancient thought to the world. ”

“ A single bracket is used to enclose the ending of a long line of poetry which will not fit the register and has to be run over into an adjoining line.
Doubt whether to use parentheses or brackets can usually be settled by this general principle:
Parentheses always enclose remarks apparently made by the writer of the text. Brackets enclose remarks certainly made by the editor or reporter of that text.
[26]
THE INTERROGATION
The interrogation is the point that asks questions. It should always be placed outside quotation marks unless it is a part of the quotation itself. ”

“ When the members of a compound sentence contain statements distinct, but not sufficiently distinct to be thrown into separate sentences.
Sit thou a patient looker-on;
Judge not the play before the play be done;
Her plot has many changes; every day
Speaks a new scene. The last act crowns the play.
3. When each of the members of a compound sentence makes a distinct statement and has some dependence [15] on statements in the other member or members of the sentence.
Wisdom hath builded her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars; she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine ”

“ The comma is by far the most difficult of all the punctuation marks to use correctly. Usage varies greatly from time to time and among equally good writers and printers at the same time. Certain general rules may be stated and should be learned. Many cases, however, will arise in which the rules will be differently interpreted and differently applied by different people.
The comma is the least degree of separation possible of indication in print. Its business is to define the particles and minor clauses of a sentence. ”

“ Certain general directions should be borne in mind by writers and printers.
I. Learn by heart the rules for punctuation.
II. Note the peculiarities of the best writers and the best printers, especially in contemporary examples.
III. Pay constant attention to punctuation in everything you write.
IV. Punctuate your sentence while you are writing it.
V. Understand what you are printing. This is of supreme importance. Punctuation is an aid to understanding. You cannot correctly punctuate anything that you do not understand. ”

“ Each publication has been compiled by a competent author or group of authors, and carefully edited, the purpose being to provide the printers of the United States—employers, journeymen, and apprentices—with a comprehensive series of handy and inexpensive compendiums of reliable, up-to-date information upon the various branches and specialties of the printing craft, all arranged in orderly fashion for progressive study. ”

“ It is not quite a full and definite statement, but it is much more than a mere amplification such as we might get by leaving out she hath every time after the first. In the former case we should use periods. In the latter we should use commas.
4. A comma is ordinarily used between the clauses of a compound sentence that are connected by a simple conjunction, but a semicolon may be used between clauses connected by conjunctive adverbs. Compare the following examples:
The play was neither edifying nor interesting to him, and he decided to change his plans. ”

“ They are weak and therefore hardly adequate to their purpose in aiding the understanding through the eye. Being cast on the upper part of the type body, they leave a blank space below and thus impair the beauty of the line and interfere with good spacing. Certain rules for the position of quotation marks when used with other marks are based upon these typographical considerations rather than upon logical considerations. ”

“ This is done to avoid confusion between the play, the character, and the real person portrayed. “William Tell” is a play. William Tell is a character in fiction. William Tell is a national hero of Switzerland.
This usage is by no means uniform; here again, we are on the ground of office style.
6. Names of vessels are sometimes quoted, sometimes italicized, and sometimes printed without distinguishing marks. Here we are once more on the ground of office style.
7. Sentences from a foreign language are usually enclosed in quotation marks. Single words or phrases are usually printed in italics. ”

“ Care has been taken to make all statements accurate and clear, with the purpose of bringing essential information within the understanding of beginners in the different fields of study. Wherever practicable, simple and well-defined drawings and illustrations have been used to assist in giving additional clearness to the text. ”

“ It is part of the general tendency toward greater simplicity of expression which has developed the clear and simple English of the best contemporary writers out of the involved and ornate style of the period of Queen Elizabeth. An ornate and involved style needs a good deal of punctuation to make it intelligible, while a simple and direct style needs but very little help. ”

“ Who sometimes counsel takes—and sometimes tea.
3. To express in one sentence great contrariety of action or emotion or to increase the speed of the discourse by a succession of snappy phrases.
She starts—she moves—she seems to feel
The thrill of life along her keel.
In this connection DeVinne gives the following excellent example from Sterne:
Nature instantly ebbed again;—the film returned to its place;—the pulse fluttered,—stopped,— went on,—throbbed,—stopped again,—moved, —stopped,—Shall I go on?—No. ”

“ The dash is sometimes used to connect a side heading with the text that follows, or to connect the end of that text with the name of the writer.
A Rule for Peace.—If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.—St. Paul.
The dash is sometimes used in catalogue work as a ditto mark.
De Vinne, Theodore Low. Historic Printing Types. New York, 1886.
——The Invention of Printing. Francis Hart & Co., New York, 1878.
——Plain Printing Types. Oswald Publishing Co., New York, 1914.
French printers use the dash in printing dialogue as a partial substitute for quotation marks. ”

“ In technical matter, after the recognized abbreviations for linguistic epochs. IE (Indo-European) , MHG (Middle High German)
[19] and after titles of well-known publications indicated by initials such as AAAPS (Annals of the American Academy of Political Science) .
When a parenthesis forms the end of a declarative sentence the period is placed outside the parenthesis, as in the preceding example. A period is placed inside a parenthesis only in two cases.
1. After an abbreviation.
This was 50 years ago (i.e. 1860 A.D.)
2. ”

“ Typecasting and Composing Machines A. W. Finlay, Editor
Section I—The Linotype By L. A. Hornstein
Section II—The Monotype By Joseph Hays
Section III—The Intertype By Henry W. Cozzens
Section IV—Other Typecasting and Typesetting Machines By Frank H. Smith
A brief history of typesetting machines, with descriptions of their mechanical principles and operations. Illustrated; review questions; glossary.
PART III—Imposition and Stonework [iv]
24. ”

“ Introduction 1 The Comma 7 The Semicolon 14 The Colon 16 The Period 18 The Dash 20 The Parenthesis 23 The Bracket 25 The Interrogation 26 The Exclamation 27 The Apostrophe 28 The Hyphen 30 Quotation Marks 31 General Remarks 34 Summary 35 Supplementary Reading 36 Review Questions 37 Glossary of Terms 40
[1]
INTRODUCTION
Punctuation is a device by which we aid words to tell their story. Words have done this at times without such aid, and may now do so, but at constant risk of serious misunderstanding. ”

“ Rules for the division of words at the ends of lines, with remarks on spelling, syllabication and pronunciation. 42 pp.; 70 review questions.
36. Compound Words By F. W. Hamilton
A study of the principles of compounding, the components of compounds, and the use of the hyphen. 34 pp.; 62 review questions.
37. Abbreviations and Signs By F. W. Hamilton
A primer of information about abbreviations and signs, with classified lists of those in most common use. 58 pp.; 32 review questions.
38. The Uses of Italic By F. W. Hamilton
A primer of information about the history and uses of italic letters. ”

“ Suggestions for authors, editors, and all who are engaged in preparing copy for the composing room. 36 pp.; 67 review questions.
41. Printers’ Manual of Style
A reference compilation of approved rules, usages, and suggestions relating to uniformity in punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations, numerals, and kindred features of composition.
42. The Printer’s Dictionary By A. A. Stewart
A handbook of definitions and miscellaneous information about various processes of printing, alphabetically arranged. Technical terms explained. Illustrated.
PART VII—Design, Color, and Lettering
43. ”