Punctuation

A period (.) after every declarative and every imperative sentence; as,
It is true. Do right.

A period is also used after every abbreviation; as, Dr., Mr., Capt.

An interrogation point (?) after every question.

The exclamation point (!) after exclamations; as, Alas! Oh, how lovely!

Quotation marks ( ) inclose quoted expressions; as Socrates said: I
believe the soul is immortal.

A colon (:) is used between parts of a sentence that are subdivided by
semi-colons.

A colon is used before a quotation, enumeration, or observation, that is
introduced by as follows, the following, or any similar expression; as,
Send me the following: 10 doz. Armstrong's Treasury, 25 Schulte's
Manual, etc.

A semicolon (;) between parts that are subdivided by commas.

The semicolon is used also between clauses or members that are
disconnected in sense; as, Man grows old; he passes away; all is
uncertain. When as, namely, that is, is used to introduce an example or
enumeration, a semicolon is put before it and a comma after it; as, The
night was cold; that is, for the time of year.

A comma is used to set off interposed words, phrases and subordinate
clauses not restrictive; as, Good deeds are never lost, though sometimes
forgotten.

A comma is used to set off transposed phrases and clauses, as, When the
wicked entice thee, consent thou not.

A comma is used to set off interposed words, phrases and clauses; as,
Let us, if we can, make others happy.

A comma is used between similar or repeated words or phrases; as, The
sky, the water, the trees, were illumined with sunlight.

A comma is used to mark an ellipsis, or the omission of a verb or other
important word.

A comma is used to set off a short quotation informally introduced; as,
Who said, The good die young?

A comma is used whenever necessary to prevent ambiguity.

The marks of parenthesis ( ) are used to inclose an interpolation where
such interpolation is by the writer or speaker of the sentence in which
it occurs. Interpolations by an editor or by anyone other than the
author of the sentence should be inclosed in brackets--[ ].

Dashes (--) may be used to set off a parenthetical expression, also to
denote an interruption or a sudden change of thought or a significant
pause.

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