Murray's System of English Grammar

shorten a word: as, 'tis for it is; tho' for though; e'en for even; judg'd for judged.' Its chief use is to show the genitive case of nouns: as, 'A man's property; a woman's ornament.'

Λ

A Caret marked thus is placed where some word or letter happens to be left out in writing, and which is inserted over the line. This mark is also called a circumflex, when placed over a particular vowel, to denote a long syllable: as, 'Euphrâtes.'

A Hyphen, marked thus - is employed in connecting compound words: as, 'Lap-dog, tea-pot, pre-existence, self-love, to-morrow, mother-in-law.'

It is also used when a word is divided, and the former part is written or printed at the end of one line, and the latter part at the beginning of another. In this case, it is placed at the end of the first line, not at the beginning of the second.

The acute Accent marked thus: as, 'Fáncy.' The Grave thus: as, 'Favor.'

In English the accentual marks are chiefly used in spelling-books and dictionaries, to mark the syllables which require a particular stress of the voice in pronunciation.

The stress is laid on long and short syllables indiseriminately. In order to distinguish the one from the other, some writers of dictionaries have placed the grave on the former, and the acute on the latter, in this manner Minor, mineral, lively, líved, rival, ríver.'

The proper mark to distinguish a long syllable, is this as, Rosey' and a short one this: as, 'Folly.' This last mark is called a breve.

A Diæresis, thus marked ", consists of two points placed over one of the vowels that would otherwise make a diphthong, and parts them into two syllables: as, 'Creätor, coädjutor, aërial.'

A section, marked thus §, is the division of a discourse,
or chapter, into less parts or portions.

A paragraph ¶ denotes the beginning of a new subject,
or a sentence not connected with the foregoing. This
character is chiefly used in the Old and New Testaments.

A Quotation"". Two inverted commas are generally
placed at the beginning of a phrase or a passage, which
is quoted or transcribed from the speaker or author in his
own words; and two apostrophes at the conclusion: as,

"The proper study of mankind is man."

Crotchets or Brackets [ ] serve to enclose a word or
sentence, which is to be explained in a note, or the ex-
planation itself, or a word or sentence which is intended
to supply some deficiency, or to rectify some mistake.

An Index or hand points out a remarkable pas-
sage, or something that requires particular attention.

}

A Brace is used in poetry at the end of a triplet
or three lines which have the same rhyme.

Braces are also used to connect a number of words
with one common term, and are introduced to prevent a
repetition in writing or printing.

An Asterisk, or little star,* directs the reader to some
note in the margin, or at the bottom of the page.
Two
or three asterisks generally denote the omission of some
letters in a word, or of some bold or indelicate expres-
sion, or some defect in the manuscript.

An Ellipsis is also used, when some letters in a
word, or some words in a verse, are omitted: as, 'The
k-g,' for 'the king.'

An Obelisk, which is marked thus † and Parallels
thus, together with the letters of the Alphabet, and fig-
ures, are used as references to the margin, or bottom of
the page.

CHAPTER VII.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS.

It was formerly the custom to begin every noun with a capital but as this practice was troublesome, and gave the writing or printing a crowded and confused appearance, it has been discontinued. It is, however, very proper to begin with a capital,

1. The first word of every book, chapter, letter, note, or any other piece of writing.

2. The first word after a period; and, if the two sentences are totally independent, after a note of interrogation or exclamation.

But if a number of interrogative or exclamatory sentences are thrown into one general group; or if the construction of the latter sentences depends on the former, all of them, except the first, may begin with a small letter: as, 'How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning? and fools hate knowledge?' 'Alas! how different! yet how like the same!'

3. The appellations of the Deity: as, 'God, Jehovah, the Almighty, the Supreme Being, the Lord, Providence, the Messiah, the Holy Spirit'

4. Proper names of persons, places, streets, mountains, rivers, ships: as, George, York, the Strand, the Alps, the Thames, the Seahorse.'

5. Adjectives derived from the proper names of places. as, 'Grecian, Roman, English, French, and Italian,'

6. The first word of a quotation, introduced after a colon, or when it is in a direct form: as, "Always remember this ancient maxim: 'Know thyself."""Our great lawgiver says, "Take up thy cross daily, and follow me." But when a quotation is brought in obliquely af

ter a comma, a capital is unnecessary: as, Solomon observes, that pride goes before destruction.'

The first word of an example may also very properly begin with a capital: as, "Temptation proves our virtue.'

7. Every substantive and principal word in the titles of books: as, 'Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language; Thomson's Seasons ;' Rollin's Ancient History.'