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 following rules of punctuation are generally 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.

_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 all
have the same grammatical relation to the rest of the sentence,
unless conjunctions are used between all of 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, Caesar crossed the Rubicon.

Caesar crossed the Rubicon, thus taking a decisive step.

108. Use the comma to set off appositive expression (see Sec.29, Note
1), or a geographical name that limits a preceding name.

He was told to see Dr. Morton, the principal of the school.

Muncy, Pennsylvania, is not spelled 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 will do it.

To most people, this will seem absurd.

110. Use the comma to set off slightly parenthetical remarks that
are thrown into the sentence. If the break is very marked, use
the dash or parenthesis.

That, if you will permit me to explain, cannot be done without
permission from the police.

Two men, Chase and Arnold, were