So likewife, the Cafe Abfolute; Nouns in Appofition, when confifting of many terms; the Participle with fomething depending on it; are to be diftinguished by the Comma: for they may be refolved into Simple Members.

When an address is made to a perfon, the Noun, anfwering to the Vocative Cafe in Latin, is diftinguifhed by a Comma.

Examples:

"This faid, He form'd thee, Adam'; thee, O man, Duft of the ground."

“Now morn, her rofy steps in th'eastern clime Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl." Milton,

Two Nouns, or two Adjectives, connected by a fingle Copulative or Disjunctive, are not separated by a Point but when there are more than two, or where the Conjunction is understood, they must be distinguished by a Comma.

Simple Members connected by Relatives, and Comparatives, are for the moft part distinguished by a Comma: but when the Members are short in Comparative Sentences; and when two Members are closely connected by a Relative, restraining the general notion of the Antecedent to a particular fense; the paufe becomes almoft infenfible, and the Comma is better omitted.

Examples:

Examples:

"Raptures, tranfports, and extafies are the rewards which they confer: fighs and tears, prayers and broken hearts, are the offerings which are paid to them." Addifon, ibid.

"Gods partial, changeful, paffionate, unjuft; Whose attributes were rage, revenge, or luft.”

Pope. "What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion ?"

A circumftance of importance, though no more than an Imperfect Phrase, may be set off with a Comma on each fide, to give it greater force and diftinction.

Example:

"The principle may be defective or faulty; but the confequences it produces are fo good, that, for the benefit of mankind, it ought not to be extinguished." Addison, ibid.

A Member of a Sentence, whether Simple or Compounded, that requires a greater pause than a Comma, yet does not of itself make a complete Sentence, but is followed by fomething closely depending on it, may be distinguished by a Semicolon.

Example:

"But as this paffion for admiration, when it works according to reafon, improves the beautiful part of our species in every thing that is laudable; fo nothing is more destructive to them, when it is governed by vanity and folly." Addison, ibid. Here the whole Sentence is divided into two parts by the Semicolon; each of which parts is a Compounded Member, divided into its Simple Members by the Comma.

A Member of a Sentence, whether Simple or Compounded, which of itfelf would make a complete Sentence, and fo requires a greater pause than a Semicolon, yet is followed by an additional part making a more full and perfect Senfe, may be dif inguiffed by a Colon. had van

Example:

Were all books reduced to their quinteffence, many a bulky author would make his appearance. in a penny paper: there would be scarce any fuch thing in nature as a folio: the works of an age would be contained on a few fhelves: not to mention millions of volumes, that would be utterly annihilated." Addifon, Spect. No 124.

1

Here

Here the whole Sentence is divided into four parts by Colons: the first and last of which are Compounded Members, each divided by a Comma; the fecond and third are Simple Members.

When a Semicolon has preceded, and a greater paufe is ftill neceffary; a Colon may be employed, though the Sentence be incomplete.

The Colon is alfo commonly used, when an Example, or a Speech, is introduced.

When a Sentence is fo far perfectly finished, as not to be connected in construction with the following Sentence, it is marked with a Period.

In all cafes, the proportion of the several Points in respect to one another is rather to be regarded, than their fuppofed precise quantity, or proper office, when taken separately,

Befide the Points which mark the paufes in difcourse, there are others which denote a different modulation of the voice in correfpondence with the fenfe. These are

The Interrogation and Exclamation Points are fufficiently explained by their names: they are indeterminate as to their quantity or time, and may be equivalent in that refpect to a Semicolon, a Colon, or a Period, as the fenfe requires. They mark an Elevation of the voice.

The Parenthefis inclofes in the body of a Sentence a member inferted into it, which is neither neceffary to the Senfe, nor at all affects the Conftruction. It marks a moderate Depreffion of the voice, with a paufe greater than a Comma,

A PRAXIS,