Participle with something 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 person, the Noun, answering to the Vocative Cafe in Latin, is diftinguished by a Comma. Examples: "This faid, He form'd thee, Adam; thee, O man, Dust of the ground." "Now morn, her rosy steps in th' eastern clime Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl. Milton. Two Nouns, or two Adjectives, connected by a single 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 diftinguished by a Comma. Simple Members connected by Relatives, and Comparatives, are for the most part diftinguished 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 sense; the pause becomes almost insensible, and the Comma is better omitted. Examples: Raptures, transports, and extafies, are the rewards which they confer: fighs and tears, prayers and broken hearts, are the offerings which are paid to them." Addison, ibid. "Gods partial, changeful, paffionate, unjust; Whofe attributes were rage, revenge, or luft." Pope. "What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion?" A circumstance 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 distinction. Example: "The principle may be defective or faulty; but the confequences it produces are so 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 something closely depending on it, may be diftinguished by a Se micolon. Example: Example: "But as this paffion for admiration, when it works according to reason, improves the beautiful part of our species in every thing that is laudable; so 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 itself would make a complete Sentence, and so requires a greater pause than a Semicolon, yet is followed by an additional part making a more full and perfect Sense, may be diftinguished by a Colon. 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 shelves: not to mention millions of volumes, that would be utterly annihilated. Addison, Spect. N° 124. H3 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 second and third are Simple Members. When a Semicolon has preceded, and a greater pause is still necessary; a Colon may be employed, though the Sentence be incomplete. The Colon is also commonly used, when an Example, or a Speech, is introduced. When a Sentence is so 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 supposed precise quantity, or proper office, when taken separately. Beside the points which mark the pauses in discourse, there are others which denote a different modulation of the voice in correspondence with the fenfe. These are, The Interrogation Point, The Parenthefis, } thus marked. { ? () The Interrogation and Exclamation Points are fufficiently explained by their names: they are indeterminate as to their quantity or time, and may may be equivalent in that respect to a Semicolon, a Colon, or a Period, as the sense requires. They mark an Elevation of the voice. The Parenthesis incloses in the body of a Sentence a Member inserted into it, which is neither necessary to the Senfe, nor at all affects the Construction. It marks a moderate Depreffion of the voice, with a pause greater than a Comma. A PRAXIS, |