Punctuation | Page 4

equally good writers and printers at the same time. Certain general
rules may be stated and should be learned. Many cases, however, will
arise in which the rules will be differently interpreted and differently
applied by different people.
The comma is the least degree of separation possible of indication in
print. Its business is to define the particles and minor clauses of a
sentence. A progressive tendency may be seen in the printing of
English for centuries toward the elimination of commas, and the

substitution of the comma for the semicolon and of the semicolon for
the colon. Compare a page of the King James version of the Bible,
especially in one of its earlier printings, with a page of serious
discourse of to-day and the effects of the tendency will be easily seen.
It is part of the general tendency toward greater simplicity of
expression which has developed the clear and simple English of the
best contemporary writers out of the involved and ornate style of the
period of Queen Elizabeth. An ornate and involved style needs a good
deal of punctuation to make it intelligible, while a simple and direct
style needs but very little help.
This progressive change in the need for punctuation and in the attitude
of writers toward it accounts for the difference in usage and for the
difficulty in fixing rules to cover all cases. The present attitude toward
punctuation, especially the use of the comma, is one of aversion. The
writer is always held to justification of the presence of a comma rather
than of its absence. Nevertheless it is quite possible to go too far in the
omission of commas in ordinary writing. It is quite possible to
construct sentences in such a way as to avoid their use. The result is a
harsh and awkward style, unwarranted by any necessity. Ordinary
writing needs some use of commas to indicate the sense and to prevent
ambiguity.
Always remember that the real business of the comma is just that of
helping the meaning of the words and of preventing ambiguity by
showing clearly the separation and connection of words and phrases. If
there is possibility of misunderstanding without a comma, put one in. If
the words tell their story beyond possibility of misunderstanding
without a comma, there is no reason for its use. This rule will serve as a
fairly dependable guide in the absence of any well recognized rule for a
particular case, or where doubt exists as to the application of a rule.
Reversed, and usually in pairs, commas mark the beginning of a
quotation.
In numerical statements the comma separates Arabic figures by triplets
in classes of hundreds: $5,276,492.72.

In tabular work reversed commas are used as a sign for ditto.
SCHOOLS TEACHING PRINTING
Boston: Boston Typothetæ School of Printing. " Industrial Arts High
School. Chicago: Lakeside Press School of Printing. " Chicago
Typothetæ School of Printing. " Lane Technical High School.
The comma is placed between the words which it is intended to
separate. When used in connection with quotation marks, it is always
placed inside them.
"Honesty is the best policy," as the proverb says.
Rules for the Use of the Comma
1. After each adjective or adverb in a series of two or more when not
connected by conjunctions.
He was a tall, thin, dark man.
The rule holds when the last member of the series is preceded by a
conjunction.
He was tall, thin, and dark.
The comma may be omitted when the words are combined into a single
idea.
A still hot day. An old black coat.
2. After each pair in a series of pairs of words or phrases not connected
by conjunctions.
Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my
heart to this vote.
Formerly the master printer, his journeymen, even his apprentices, all
lived in the same house.

3. To separate contrasted words.
We rule by love, not by force.
4. Between two independent clauses connected by a conjunction.
The press was out of order, but we managed to start it.
5. Before a conjunction when the word which preceded it is qualified
by an expression which does not qualify the word which follows the
conjunction.
He quickly looked up, and spoke.
6. Between relative clauses which explain the antecedent, or which
introduce a new thought.
The type, which was badly worn, was not fit for the job.
If the relative clause limits the meaning of the antecedent, but does not
explain it and does not add a new thought, the comma is not used.
He did only that which he was told to do.
7. To separate parenthetical or intermediate expressions from the
context.
The school, you may be glad to know, is very successful. The books,