The enclosed words are usually comments, queries, corrections, criticisms, or directions inserted by some person other than the original writer or speaker.
2. To enclose pa.s.sages of doubtful authenticity in reprints of early ma.n.u.scripts, special amendments to bills under legislative consideration, or any other portions of a text which need peculiar identification.
3. In legal or ecclesiastical papers to indicate numerical words which may have to be changed, or to indicate where details are to be supplied.
This is the first [_second or third_] publication.
The officers shall remain in office [_here state the time_] or until their successors are duly qualified.
4. To avoid the confusion caused by a parenthesis within a parenthesis.
5. A single bracket is used to enclose the ending of a long line of poetry which will not fit the register and has to be run over into an adjoining line.
Doubt whether to use parentheses or brackets can usually be settled by this general principle:
Parentheses always enclose remarks apparently made by the writer of the text. Brackets enclose remarks certainly made by the editor or reporter of that text.
THE INTERROGATION
The interrogation is the point that asks questions. It should always be placed outside quotation marks unless it is a part of the quotation itself.
_Rules for the Use of the Interrogation_
1. The interrogation point is used at the end of every direct question.
Are you there?
Indirect questions, that is, statements that a question has been asked, do not require the interrogation.
He asked me if I was there.
He asked the question, Are you there? and received no answer.
2. At the end of each of a series of questions thrown into a single sentence.
Did he speak in an ordinary tone? or shout? or whisper?
3. The interrogation, like a certain inflection in the voice, may indicate that a sentence, though declarative in form, is really a question and requires an answer.
You are, of course, familiar with New York?
THE EXCLAMATION
The exclamation mark is the mark of strong emotion.
_Rules for the Use of the Exclamation_
1. After every expression of great surprise or emotion.
Look, my lord! it comes!
Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Alas! my father.
2. After interjections and other exclamatory words.
Hurrah! Good! Away! Oh!
Where the exclamations are repeated without particularly emphasizing each one, each may be followed by a comma except the last.
Ha, ha, ha! That"s a good joke!
O used as a vocative or to express a desire or imprecation does not call for an exclamation.
O John.
Oh, yes.
O, that night would come!
The exclamation is sometimes used in job printing to fill out a display line or for other inadequate reasons. These uses should be avoided.
THE APOSTROPHE
The apostrophe is primarily the sign of the possessive case, but it has several other uses.
_Rules for the Use of the Apostrophe_
1. The apostrophe for the possessive case is added only to nouns, not to the p.r.o.nouns, which have their distinct possessive forms. _Its_ is a possessive p.r.o.noun. _It"s_ is an abbreviation for _it is_. Do not use an apostrophe with the possessive adjectives _hers_, _ours_, _yours_, _theirs_, _its_.
2. All nouns in the singular and all nouns in the plural except those ending in _s_ take an apostrophe and _s_ to form the possessive.
Nouns in the plural ending in _s_ take an apostrophe only to form the possessive.
There is much difference of opinion as to the invariability of the rule concerning singular nouns in _s_. DeVinne advises following the p.r.o.nunciation. Where the second _s_ is not p.r.o.nounced, as often happens, to avoid the prolonged hissing sound of another _s_, he recommends omitting it in print.
Moses" hat, for Moses"s hat.
For conscience" sake.