II. ENDORSEMENT 1. Fold the paper evenly once lengthwise and write the endorsement on whichever side your teacher directs—always on the same side. 2. Place your name on the first line, the title on the second, and the date of handing-in on the third. 3. Place a comma after the name, another after the title, and a period after the date. 4. Punctuate the date correctly. B. RULES OF PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION Rule 1. Begin the first word in every sentence with a capital letter. Rule 2. End every sentence with a period, unless the sentence is a question or an exclamation. The two rules given above sound very simple; but they are not easy to follow. Nearly all beginners in composition frequently write two sentences rather closely connected in thought as if they were one sentence, sometimes placing a comma between them. This is called "the comma blunder " and is an unfailing sign of carelessness or lack of training. If you habitually make this mistake, root it out of your work. Copy the following sentences correctly, placing periods and capitals where they should be. Notice that when punctuated properly these sentences often prove to be very short and disjointed. 1. He had only one leg, the other was cut off at the knee. 2. Squire Trelawney was a large strong and tall man, being over six feet tall, he was dark, with a broad face, roughened and reddened in his travels. 3. She was not in any hurry, she just played along. 4. The captain is standing in the doorway, he looks very neat and clean beside the others. 5. First the map is what puts them up to this, if it had not been for the map they would not have known anything about the treasure. 6. Silver, when they landed at a port in Spanish America, had got some of the money and gone, he was never seen after this. 7. The trees by the pond were mostly maples and willows, they were all bare now, standing out against the sky. 8. We saw the long, solemn procession winding up the dusty road, it was passing the cemetery. 9. The train started, we were not more than two rods from the station, but we missed it. 10. Along the meadow path beside the brook the two children rambled happily, they chased butterflies and pulled the heads off daisies, no one saw them slip under the fence. 11. Whoever came to the door was kindly received, mother was the most truly hospitable person I ever knew. 12. The cactus bloomed on Christmas Day, it was a delicate pink thing, as frail-looking as a bubble. 13. My lamp must be broken, I cannot turn the wick up or down. 14. We followed our guide through a low stone gateway, the courtyard inside was a scene of confusion. 15. The windmill was clacking furiously, a strong breeze had sprung up from the south. 16. No one ever caught a fairy, that is no proof that fairies do not exist, however. 17. Tommy reached out to seize the cake, his little thin hand trembled so that he could hardly clasp the shiny, white, sweet morsel. 18. Our horse used to be a famous racer, she will give us a sample of her former powers now and then. 19. I like hickory nuts better than any other kind, they are good for cake or candy or in any way you choose to eat them. 20. A sea serpent is usually supposed to be as impossible as a mermaid, there is some truth in the tales about them. 21. The workmen in the fields were turning out" for the night, they all had a word of chaff with McTurg. Look over all the themes you have written and collect any examples of the comma blunder that you find. Bring them to class for your classmates to correct. The best way to find these blunders is to read your work aloud. Rule 3. Use a question mark to close a question, an exclamation mark to close an exclamatory expression. EXERCISE 11 - Written These first three rules cover the punctuation and capitalization of the sentence as a whole. Punctuate correctly the sentences in the following paragraph : What a cozy little room this is the moment I opened the door I fell in love with the place do you see the great open fireplace at the end of the room it will hold a four-foot log on the stone above it you see the motto of good cheer on each side is a many-paned window through which comes a glimpse of the garden the windows are framed in brilliant red leaves of woodbine is there anything so homelike as books and a fire here are all kinds of books ranged in cases on each side of the room what treasures for a rainy day who knows what delightful comrades are shut between those covers where shall I begin here is the easiest of easy-chairs I will pull it before the fire and snuggle down in luxury with the "Arabian Nights" from the top shelf in the corner my letter to you must wait. Rule 4. Begin with a capital letter every proper name of a person or a place, every word derived from one of these, and initials or abbreviations of them. EXAMPLES: John, England, India, Indian, English, American, French, R. M. Kelly, D.D. Exceptions: Names of places are not capitalized when joined to the name of some article of commerce so commonly associated with the place that the two names are taken as one; as chinaware (or china), india ink, persian ribbon. Rule 5. Begin with a capital letter the first and every important word in a title. For examples, see the lists of theme titles in various chapters of this book. Rule 6. Begin with a capital letter the first word in every line of poetry. NOTE. When quoting poetry always drop the verse to a new line on the page; never run it in as if it were prose. EXAMPLE: As Browning says in "Hervé Riel," "Praise is deeper than the lips." Rule 7. Begin with a capital letter a title of honor used with a proper name or instead of the name. EXAMPLES: Colonel Roosevelt; the President; Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States. Rule 8. Begin with a capital letter all special names applied to deity. EXAMPLE: "Ye are the children of the Great King." Rule 9. Begin with a capital letter names of months, holidays, and days of the week. EXAMPLE: This year Christmas came on Saturday and January will begin on Saturday, too. Rule 10. Begin with a capital letter names of things personified. EXAMPLE: The Little Red Hen said, I will, then." Rule 11. Begin with a capital letter the first word of a direct quotation. EXAMPLE: Arthur cried out to Bedivere, "What sawest thou? Rule 12. Capitalize the pronoun I and the interjection 0. Rule 13. Never use capital letters meaninglessly. EXAMPLE: My Brother saw the Elephant; but as I had the Measles, I could not go out to see the Parade. EXERCISE 12 - Oral Give the rule governing the use of each capital letter in the following sentences: 1. I know nothing in English or any other literature more admirable than that sentiment of Sir Thomas Browne, "Every man truly lives, so long as he acts his nature, or some way makes good the faculties of himself." 2. The old gentleman opposite all at once asked me if I ever read anything better than Pope's "Essay on Man.” He was fond of poetry when he was a boy, -- his mother taught him to say many little pieces, he remembered one beautiful hymn; and the old gentleman began, in a clear, loud voice for his years, The spacious firmament on high, - He stopped, as if startled by our silence, and a faint flush ran up beneath the thin white hairs that fell upon his cheek. As I looked round, I was reminded of a show I once saw at the Museum, the Sleeping Beauty, I think they called it. . . . Our Celtic Bridget, or Biddy, is not a foolish fat scullion to burst out crying for sentiment. . . . She couldn't set the plate down while the old gentleman was speaking. 3. Beware of rash criticisms; the rough and astringent fruit you condemn may be an autumn or a winter pear, and that which you picked up beneath the same bough in August may have been only its wormeaten windfalls. 4. Do I think that the particular form of lying often seen in newspapers, under the title, " From our Foreign Correspondent,” does any harm? Why, no; I don't think it does. I suppose it does n't really deceive people any more than the " Arabian Nights" or Travels" do. "Gulliver's |