Stops | Page 7

would be more expressive.

Note that the rule applies only where the adjunct immediately follows
the substantive. If the adjunct is placed elsewhere, different
considerations apply. See Rule XIII. (3).
Neither can any man marvel at the play of puppets, that goeth behind
the curtain and adviseth well of the motion.
XV. Words in apposition are generally marked off by commas.
James Watt, the great improver of the steam-engine, died on the 25th of
August, 1819.
But where the words in apposition are used in a limiting or
distinguishing sense, the principle of Rule XIV. applies, and no point is
used. Thus we should write "Burns, the poet," "Dickens, the novelist";
but, if we wished to distinguish them from another Burns and another
Dickens, we should omit the comma.
It is of Pliny the naturalist, not of Pliny the letter-writer, that we are
now speaking.
Again, where the general name precedes, we should in most cases use
no point, for the special name will be restrictive: "the poet Burns," "the
novelist Dickens."
There is, perhaps, not much authority for the consistent carrying out of
this distinction; but it seems useful and logical. Some cases, such as
"Paul the Apostle," "William the Conqueror," "Thomas the Rhymer,"
"Peter the Hermit," present no difficulty. The name and the descriptive
title are blended together, and form as distinctly one name as does
"Roderick Random."
XVI. A conjunction marks a transition to something new--enforcing,
qualifying, or explaining, what has gone before, and is therefore
generally preceded by some point. The proper point before a
conjunction is determined by many circumstances: among others, by
the more or less close connexion of the things joined, by the number of
words, and by the use of points for other purposes in the same sentence.

To deal with the different conjunctions one by one, would involve a
repetition of much that is said in other rules. For instance, if, unless,
though, for, because, since, and the like, will be pointed in accordance
with Rule IX. It will be well, however, to lay down separate rules for
the pointing of the common conjunctions, and and or.
1. AND.--(a) Where "and" joins two single words, as a rule no point is
used.
No work has been so much studied and discussed.
Compare this with the following sentence, where groups of words are
joined.
The work has been much studied, and has been much discussed.
In the following sentence the insertion of a comma would change the
meaning.
On this shelf you will put books and pamphlets published in the present
year.
As the sentence stands, "published in the present year" applies both to
books and to pamphlets: books published in the present year, and
pamphlets published in the present year. If there were a comma before
"and," the meaning would be: "On this shelf you will put books of any
date, and pamphlets of the present year."
(b) When "and" joins the separate words of a series of three or more
words, a comma is placed before it.
Trees, and bridges, and houses, were swept down by the flooded
stream.
(c) But where the different words are intended to be combined quickly,
so as to present to the mind only one picture, they would be spoken
without any pause, and in writing must not be separated by any point.
Whirling and boiling and roaring like thunder, the stream came down

upon them.
(d) Two of the words of the series may be more closely connected with
one another than with the other words of the series, and are, therefore,
not to be separated by any point.
In the following sentence, "all" qualifies both "tracts" and "pamphlets,"
and thus joins them closely.
My unbound books, and all my tracts and pamphlets, are to be tied up
with pink tape.
(e) When "and" occurs only between the two last words of the series,
the comma is usually inserted before it.
Trumpets, drums, and kettle-drums, contended in noise with the shouts
of a numerous rabble.
Many writers omit this comma. But it seems useful in order to make the
previous rule (d) effective.
2. When "and" joins two phrases, a comma generally precedes it.
The ceremony was performed in the accustomed manner, and with due
solemnity.
If, as in the following sentence, a preposition is common to two phrases,
and is not repeated in the second, no comma is used.
With proper care and good instruments, the work may be successfully
carried out.
3. When "and" joins two clauses, the preceding point may be the
comma, the semicolon, or even the full stop. Which point is right in any
particular case, will depend upon considerations set out in other rules.
The following example illustrates different cases:
Within that charmed rock, so Torridge boatmen tell, sleeps now the