he rank of the marks of punctuation, he
will not be far from right. It will be noticed that he has paused in
the reading after important words, as if the thought stayed a moment
there for the help of the reader. Naturally we pause after important
words; and conversely, the places of importance in a sentence are near
the marks of punctuation, increasing from the comma to the period.

End of a Sentence.

The end of a sentence is more important than the beginning; and the
difference in value is greater than in a paragraph. In a paragraph the
opening is very important, generally containing the topic. In a
sentence, however, the beginning more often has some phrase of
transition, or some modifier; while it is the end that contains the
gist of the sentence. This fact makes it imperative that no unworthy
matter stand at the end. How important a position it is, and how much
is expected of the final words of a sentence, is evident from the
effect of failure produced by a sentence that closes with weak words.
In the following sentences, phrases have been moved from their places;
the weakness is apparent.

Abstract liberty is not to be found; and this is true of
other mere abstractions.

This is a persuasion built upon liberty, and not only
favorable to it.

I pass, therefore, to their agriculture, another point of
view.

Of course Burke never wrote such sentences as these. However,
sentences like them can be found in school compositions.

"Lincoln's character is worthy to be any young man's ideal;
having in it much to admire."

"Euclid Avenue, with its broad lawns, and with Wade Park as
the fitting climax of its spacious beauty, is the most
attractive driveway in the United States, which is saying a
good deal."

"Minnesota has many beautiful lakes; Mille Lacs, fringed
with dark pines; Osakis, with its beach of glistening sand;
Minnetonka, skirted by a lovely boulevard bordered by cool
lawns and cosy cottages; and many others not so big."

Such sentences as these are not uncommon. Their ruin is wrought by the
closing words. Watch for trailing relatives, dangling participles, and
straggling generalities at the end of sentences. The end of a sentence
is a position of distinction; it should be held by words of
distinction.

So influential is position in a sentence that by virtue of it a word
or a clause of equal rank with others can be m