Imatges de pàgina
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Right: The only doctor we could find (namely, the vil-
lage horse doctor!) pronounced it a case of angina
pectoris.

Inquiry

529. In an interrogative predication any member may be followed by a question mark to indicate insistent or eager inquiry. (Cf. Rule 208.)

Right: Have you pistols? shot? powder?
Right: Who took it? and where has he taken it?

530. As has been already noticed (see Rule 287), a predication declarative in form but interrogative in sense may be designated as interrogative by the question mark.

Conjecture

Eager inquiry denoted by repeated question

mark

particularly of a Conjecture

531. The fact that a statement date is conjectural may be indicated by a parenthe- denoted by

sized question mark.

Right: These events occurred in 411 B.C. (?)

question mark

532. But the use of a parenthesized question mark as a Abuse of notice of humor or irony is a puerility. (Cf. Rules 227,

533 f.)

BAD: After his polite (?) remarks we have nothing
more to say.

Right: After his polite remarks we have nothing more
to say.

Sundry Errors of Designative Punctuation

the device

marks:

533. Quotation marks should not be used (a) to Misuses of enclose the title at the head of a composition unless the quotation title is a quotation; (b) to enclose proper names,1 in- Heading cluding names of animals.

1 See the Grammatical Vocabulary, pp. 360 ff.

1

Proper

names

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WRONG: I expect to go to "Ober-Ammergau.'
Right I expect to go to Ober-Ammergau.

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WRONG : "Thomas" and "Rover" were good friends.
Right Thomas and Rover were good friends.

:

(c) to enclose letters and symbols that are not quoted;

WRONG: He makes a figure "2" like the letter "z."
Right: He makes a figure 2 like the letter z.

(d) to enclose words coined extempore;

WRONG: The manning and "womaning" of the enterprise will be difficult.

:

Right The manning and womaning of the enterprise will be difficult.

WRONG It is not bronchitis or peritonitis or any of the "itises."

Right: It is not bronchitis or peritonitis or any of the itises.

(e) to enclose proverbial phrases;

WRONG: He seemed to be "as mad as a March hare."
Right: He seemed to be as mad as a March hare.
WRONG: It was "nipped in the bud."

Right: It was nipped in the bud.

(f) to serve the undignified and inartistic purpose of labeling one's own humor or irony (cf. Rules 227, 532);

BAD

Such is the ardor of this "pious" Hotspur.
Right: Such is the ardor of this pious Hotspur.

BAD: Senator Platt's speech on the bill was a sort of
"funeral oration.

Right: Senator Platt's speech on the bill was a sort of funeral oration.

No reason (g) for no reason at all.

at all

Misuses of parentheses and

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BAD: If the Creator in his "power and munificence" is good to me, I shall gain "distinguished success. Right: If the Creator in his power and munificence is good to me, I shall gain distinguished success.

534. Neither parentheses nor brackets should be used brackets: (a) to emphasize a word (see Rules 216, 226);

Emphasis

BAD: "The man (who) they thought was dead sur-
prised them" is correct.

Right: "The man who they thought was dead surprised
them" is correct.

(b) to enclose a word about which something is said as a Words word (see Rules 216, 224);

WRONG (Party) is often incorrectly used for (person).
Right: Party is often incorrectly used for person.

(c) to indicate the title of a book (see Rules 216, 217);
Garland's story (Among the Corn Rows) is

WRONG
pathetic.

Right: Garland's story Among the Corn Rows is
pathetic.

discussed

Literary titles

(d) to enclose a letter, number, or symbol which is not Letters

used parenthetically ;

BAD: A (v) shaped plate of steel.
Right: A v-shaped plate of steel.

and symbols

BAD: It is marked with the figure (2).
Right: It is marked with the figure 2.

535. The first of a pair of quotation marks, parentheses, or brackets should never be placed at the end of a line.

BAD: He stepped up to me and said gruffly,
You are wanted."

66

Right: He stepped up to me and said gruffly,

"You are wanted."

BAD:

they were usually late) Right :

(they were usually late)

The twelve o'clock whistles (
at last began to blow.

The twelve o'clock whistles
at last began to blow.

Initial quotation mark, parenthesis, or bracket at end of line

Every composition a

series of

PARAGRAPHING

Introduction: The Meaning of the Term Thoughtcomponenti

536. Before the rules for paragraphing are given, it is necessary to explain a term frequently used in those rules. This is the term thought-component.

A composition of any kind on any subject necessarily discusses a number of different topics which form divisions of the main subject. An essay on George distinct in Washington will necessarily discuss several topics that form divisions of the subject George Washingtonsuch topics as these:

passages

topic

Washington's early life
His military career

His political career

His personal character

Again, an essay on the smaller subject The Personal Character of Washington will necessarily discuss topics falling under this subject—for example,

His dignity

His pride

His sense of humor

His piety

Again, an essay on The Dignity of Washington will necessarily discuss several topics falling under this subject for example,

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His dignity of speech

The dignity of his literary style

His dignity of bearing
His breaches of dignity

1 See Exercises 750-752.

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A composition explaining the game of baseball will necessarily discuss several topics falling under the main subject for example,

The field

The apparatus

The stations of the players

The method of play

A composition giving an account of a picnic will necessarily deal with several topics-for example,

The meeting of the party

The journey to the ground
The dinner

The games

An editorial on an athletic victory will necessarily deal with several topics-for example,

Brief summary of the game

Special praise for Flaherty's end run

Hopes suggested by the victory

Every composition is thus made up of a series of passages, each distinct in topic from what precedes and follows. These passages may consist of one sentence, of two or three sentences, or of an indefinite number of sentences. Such passages will hereafter be called thought-components. A component is a part. The components of a pair of scissors are the right blade, the left blade, and the rivet. To analyze a thing is to observe or point out its com- Analysis ponents. Many things can be analyzed in several differ- on different ways—or, to use a common term, can be analyzed on several different bases. The population of a certain city, analyzed on the basis of its individuals, is made up of fifty thousand components; analyzed on the basis of sex, it is made up of two components; analyzed on the basis of nationality, it is made up of six components; analyzed on the basis of religious sects, it is made up of eight components. Likewise a composition may be

ent bases

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