The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Writer's Desk Book, by William Dana Orcutt This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re- use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: The Writer's Desk Book Being a Reference Volume upon Questions of Punctuation, Capitalization, Spelling, Division of Words, Indention, Spacing, Italics, Abbreviations, Accents, Numerals, Faulty Diction, Letter Writing, Postal Regulations, Etc. Author: William Dana Orcutt Release Date: January 19, 2017 [eBook #54025] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRITER'S DESK BOOK*** E-text prepared by MWS, RichardW, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/writersdeskbookb00orcurich Some characters might not display in this html version. If so, the reader should consult the text file 54025-0.txt (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54025/54025-0.txt) or 54025-0.zip (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54025/54025-0.zip) or the original page images noted above. A more detailed discussion of this problem will be found in the transcriber's note at the end of the book. THE WRITER’S DESK BOOK [Available: Transcriber's Note] OTHER BOOKS BY MR. ORCUTT GOOD OLD DORCHESTER. A Narrative History PRINCESS KALLISTO, and other Tales of the Fairies ROBERT CAVELIER. A Novel THE FLOWER OF DESTINY. A Novel THE SPELL. A Novel THE LEVER. A Novel THE MOTH. A Novel The Writer’s Desk Book Being a reference volume upon ques​tions of PUNCTUATION · CAP‐ ITALIZATION · SPELLING · DIVISION OF WORDS · INDENTION · SPACING ITALICS · ABBREVIATIONS ACCENTS · NUMERALS · FAULTY DICTION · LETTER WRITING · POSTAL REGULA‐ TIONS · Etc · Etc By WILLIAM DANA ORCUTT for many years Head of The University Press · Cambridge · Now associated with THE PLIMPTON PRESS · Norwood Mass. New York · FREDERICK·A·STOKES COMPANY · Publishers · MCMXIII Copyright, 1912, by FREDERICK A. STOKES CO. SECOND EDITION THE · PLIMPTON · PRESS [W · D · O] NORWOOD · MASS · U · S · A CONTENTS PAGE PUNCTUATION Importance of correct punctuation — punctuation marks and accents — the comma — the semicolon — the colon — the period — the dash — the exclamation — the interrogation — quotation-marks — parentheses — brackets — the apostrophe — the hyphen 1 CAPITALIZATION Of religious terms — of proper names — of titles — of institutional terms — of references — of ordinals — in general — use of small capitals 20 SPELLING Importance of adopting an authority — basic rules for numbers and diphthongs — simple rules of orthography — accented words — participles — variable endings — list of variable spellings 31 COMPOUND WORDS General theory — changes in modern uses — rules and examples 45 DIVISION OF WORDS Rules and examples 52 INDENTION AND PARAGRAPHING Various forms used in display — en échelon — irregular — hanging — reverse — lozenge — blocked — definition of the paragraph — its value — kinds of paragraphs — length of paragraph 55 SPACING General principles — kerned letters — examples of varying spaces 59 ITALIC Its origin — its uses — when required and when not 62 ABBREVIATIONS Of dates — of proper names — of titles — commercial — of given names — geographical — miscellaneous — scriptural — monetary signs — mathematical signs — medical signs 65 NUMERALS History of their evolution — lists 93 CORRECT AND FAULTY DICTION Dr. Campbell’s canons — good usage — list of words and phrases commonly misused 99 LETTER WRITING Its importance — business, informal, formal — the heading — the address — the salutation — the text — the complimentary close — the signature — the envelope — postal cards — in general — examples 114 POSTAL INFORMATION Classes of mail — parcel post — wrapping of mail matter — forwarding mail matter — what cannot be mailed — concealed matter — domestic rates — foreign rates — exceptions — foreign parcels post — money order fees — registered mail — special delivery system — postal distances and time from New York City 129 APPENDIX Standard time — values of foreign coins — comparative thermometers — weights and measures — British weights and measures 142 INDEX 163 THE WRITER’S DESK BOOK {1} PUNCTUATION MARKS, ACCENTS, ETC. , Comma ¨ Dieresis ; Semicolon ç Cedilla : Colon Caret . Period “ ” Quotation-marks ? Interrogation { } Brace ! Exclamation * * * Ellipsis ( ) Parentheses . . . Ellipsis, leaders [ ] Brackets * Asterisk ’ Apostrophe † Dagger - Hyphen ‡ Double dagger ´ Acute accent § Section ` Grave accent ǁ Parallels ^ Circumflex accent ¶ Paragraph ~ Circumflex or tilde Index Long or macron * * * Asterisks Short or breve The Section-mark is derived from the first letters of the words signum sectionis, meaning sign of the section, the old-fashioned ∫ being used. The paragraph mark ¶ is the roman letter P reversed, with black and white interchanged. {2} PUNCTUATION IN early manuscripts the words followed one another without punctuation points, thus making it difficult for readers to separate the ideas into the same parts as originally intended by the authors. Later they were separated by dots or other marks, which method obtained in the earliest printed volumes. Aldus Manutius (Venice, 1490–1515) and his family were the pioneers in establishing a basis for systematic punctuation. From this chaotic condition definite rules have gradually been evolved for general guidance, but judgment and taste must always be the final guides to correct punctuation. Assistance may be obtained by observing a few simple rules which are based upon the idea that the purpose of every punctuation mark is to indicate to the eye the construction of the sentence in which it occurs. No one of the various punctuation marks should ever be used exclusively or to excess, for each one has some specific duty which it can perform better than any other. It is always wise to question why, in a given case, a punctuation mark should be put in rather than why it should be left out, for of the two evils an over-punctuated book is the more objectionable. “Close punctuation,” characterized by the use of many commas, prevailed in the English of the eighteenth century and is today the best French usage, but “open punctuation,” which avoids the use of any point not clearly required by the construction, is now favored by the best English writers. THE COMMA Dean Alford once wrote, in disgust, “The great enemies to understanding anything in our language are the commas,” and prided himself that in the course of editing the Greek text of the New Testament, he destroyed more than a thousand of these “enemies.” The chief use of this, the smallest degree of separation, is to define the particles and minor clauses of a sentence. It should always be placed inside the quotation-marks when used in connection with them. The comma is required: 1. Before a conjunction when the preceding word is qualified by an expression which is not intended to qualify the word following the conjunction: e.g., He suddenly started, and fell. 2. Between adjectives and adverbs when not connected by a conjunction: He possessed a calm, exasperating manner; but the comma may be omitted between two adjectives when the idea is close: e.g., A clear cold day. 3. After adjectives and adverbs where three or more are used in succession: e.g., The man possessed a calm, cynical, exasperating manner. 4. In a succession of three or more words where the conjunctive and is used before the last one: e.g., He was tall, thin, and pale. 5. When the word after the conjunction is followed by an expression which qualifies that word alone: e.g., ’Twas certain he could write, and cipher too. 6. After inverted phrases and clauses: e.g., Discouraged by constant opposition, he resigned his position. Short phrases of similar nature do not require the comma: e.g., Of his intentions there could be no doubt. 7. To separate the adverbs however, now, then, too, perhaps, and indeed from the context when they are used as conjunctions: e.g., This idea, however, had not occurred to him. When these words {3} {4} {5} are used as adverbs, the comma is not required: e.g., It must be done, however contrary it may be to our present advantage. 8. To separate parenthetical or intermediate expressions from the context: e.g., His intentions, though at first concealed, became obvious. 9. After the last word of a series composed of several words not connected by conjunctions: e.g., The men, the women, the children even, were up in arms. 10. Between words or phrases in apposition with each other: e.g., I refer to Mr. Taylor, the father of Scientific Management. But when used as a single phrase or a compound name, no comma is required: e.g., The poet Tennyson was born in 1809. 11. Between the name of a person and his title or degree: e.g., Charles W. Eliot, President Emeritus; Woodrow Wilson, LL.D. 12. Between two independent clauses connected by a conjunction: e.g., The door was barricaded, but we managed to open it. 13. Between relative clauses which are explanatory of an antecedent, or which present an additional thought: e.g., Her voice, which was charming in her own drawing-room, was not powerful enough for a public auditorium. But relative clauses which limit the meaning of the antecedent (called restrictive) do not require the comma: e.g., He did that which he was obliged to do. 14. Between two clauses, one of which depends on the other, and usually introduced by if, when, unless, though, where, wherever, etc.: e.g., If we stand together, success is assured. If the clauses are closely connected both in sense and construction, the comma is not required: e.g., William was ten years old when his father moved to Boston. 15. In compound sentences, to separate the co-ordinate clause when closely related and simple in construction: e.g., He was courteous, not cringing, to superiors; affable, not familiar, to equals; and kind, but not condescending, to inferiors. 16. To indicate an ellipsis: e.g., Price, seventy-five cents. 17. To separate vocative words or expressions from the context: e.g., I leave it, gentlemen, to your sense of right and wrong. 18. Before not, when introducing an antithetical clause: e.g., He devoted his attention to the matter before him, not because he was interested, but because he could not avoid the issue. 19. To separate similar or identical words, even though not required by the sense or grammatical construction: e.g., I tell you, you are wrong. 20. To separate two numbers: e.g., March 1, 1912 ; In 1911, 869 cases were reported. 21. To separate a quotation or similar brief expression from the preceding part of the sentence: e.g., To quote the proverb, “Look before you leap.” 22. Before the word of, connecting a proper name with residence or position: e.g., Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts. 23. After the salutatory phrase at the beginning of a letter, when informal: e.g., My dear Mother, but, when formal, Gentlemen : The comma is not required: 1. Before or after conjunctions such as and, or, nor, but, and yet when employed to connect two words belonging to the same part of speech and in the same construction: e.g., Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. When words are not in pairs, the comma must be used: e.g., Sink, die, or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. 2. Before or after conjunctions when they are employed to connect two expressions in the same construction used as if belonging to the same part of speech: e.g., The new system of management guarantees accuracy in getting orders under way and promptness in completing them. 3. Before the conjunction too when placed at the end of a sentence: e.g., I hope that you will {6} {7} {8} come too. 4. Where there are two or more words or phrases having a conjunction between each two: e.g., Lest he should be tempted and yield and thus be false. 5. After an adjective that describes or limits another adjective together with the noun following: e.g., He had on a pair of torn gray corduroy breeches. 6. When a pronoun is used with a noun for emphasis: e.g., Lafcadio Hearn himself could not have described the scene more vividly. THE SEMICOLON The semicolon is used to indicate a pause or a degree of separation next greater than the comma. Caxton was the first to introduce into English printing the Roman points of punctuation as used in Italy. The comma replaced the unwieldly |, and the colon was an added refinement, but for some unexplained reason he steadfastly opposed the introduction of the semicolon. This mark should always be placed outside the quotation-marks unless forming a part of the quotation itself. Use the semicolon: 1. When the members of a compound sentence are complex in construction or contain commas: e.g., He was courteous, not cringing, to superiors; affable, but not familiar, to equals; and kind, but not condescending, to inferiors. 2. To connect successive sentences: e.g., His face never showed an emotion other than that which he wished to have seen there; the mouth was protected by his heavy mustache; his eyes penetrated the object on which they fixed themselves. Shorter sentences should be divided by commas. 3. Between expressions in a series which have a common dependence upon words at the beginning or end of a sentence: e.g., The half-sick man is a nuisance to his entire household: he is not ill enough to accept restraint; he is too ill to be reasonable. 4. To separate passages containing chapters in scriptural references: e.g., Matt. 1 : 4–8, 12, 16; chap. 3; 8 : 16. THE COLON The colon is used between clauses of compound sentences, additional clauses without a conjunction, formal quotations, and particulars in apposition with a general term, to mark the necessity of a pause greater than that indicated by the semicolon and less than that indicated by the period. The colon is much less used today than formerly, as modern writers employ shorter and less formal sentences than those of a century ago. It should always be placed outside the quotation-marks unless included as a part of the quotation itself. Use the colon: 1. Before as, viz., that is, namely, etc., when these words introduce a series of simple particular terms in apposition with a general term: e.g., There are three genders in Latin: namely, masculine, feminine, and neuter. 2. Between two members of a sentence when one or both are made up of two or more clauses divided by semicolons: e.g., Vallie was nervous in his temperment; the Captain was calm and self- contained: Vallie was the product of the city; the Captain was the product of the world. 3. Between a complete sentence and an additional clause enlarging upon the same idea without a conjunction: e.g., Imagination is essential to business success: without imagination, plans for future development cannot intelligently be made. 4. Before particulars definitely stated: e.g., These new duties of the management are grouped under four heads: first, they develop a science for each element of a man’s work, etc. 5. Before formal quotations: e.g., In a recent speech attributed to you by the daily press, you are {9} {10} {11} reported to have used these words: “Good principles follow good habits.” 6. After the formal salutatory phrase at the beginning of a letter: e.g., Gentlemen :1 When less formality is desired, the comma may be used: e.g., My dear Mother, 1 See page 117, §§ 2, 3, 4. 7. Between the hours and minutes in indicating time: e.g., 11 : 30 A.M. 8. Between the chapter and verse in scriptural references: e.g., Matt. 1 : 4–8, 12, 16; chap. 3; 8 : 16. 9. Between the city of publication and the name of publisher in literary references: e.g., “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (New York: Harpers). THE PERIOD Always place the period inside the quotation-marks and inside the parentheses when parenthetical matter forms an independent sentence and is not a part of the preceding sentence. Use the period: 1. After every abbreviation. 2. To set off decimal numbers from whole numbers. 3. After every complete sentence unless the sentence is interrogative or exclamatory. 4. To indicate an ellipsis, repeating the mark three or more times separated by spaces: e.g., . . . Do not use the period: 1. After running-heads. 2. After cut-in side-notes. 3. After centered head-lines. 4. After box-heads in tables. 5. After legends beneath illustrations. 6. After subheads set in separate lines. 7. After date-lines at the top of letters. 8. After signatures at the end of letters. 9. At end of lines in display composition, such as titles,2 blocked headings, etc. 10. After roman numerals, even though they possess the value of ordinals: e.g., Vol. VIII; George V is king of England. 2 First adopted by William Pickering, the London publisher, about 1850. THE DASH The dash is more misused and overused than any of the other punctuation marks. The following rules define its proper use: Use the dash: 1. Whenever the construction or the sense is suddenly changed or suspended: e.g., You cannot believe — but I will not humiliate myself by asking the question. 2. To connect extreme dates in specifying periods of time: e.g., 1912–1918. 3. When the sentence is abruptly terminated: e.g., “If he is alive, I can make him one from this time; and if — if — ” 4. To secure rhetorical emphasis: e.g., We are ready — we are more than ready to meet the issue. 5. To define verse references in the Bible: e.g., Matt. 1 : 4–8 ; or to indicate page references in a book: e.g., See pp. 21–42. 6. Between short, snappy sentences to increase the speed of the discourse: e.g., Hullo! ho! the whole world’s asleep! — bring out the horses, — grease the wheels, — tie on the mail! {12} {13} 7. Between the subject-matter and its authority. 8. To indicate the omission of letters: e.g., Mrs. B——. 9. At the end of a series of phrases which depend upon a concluding clause: e.g., Courtesy and attention, patience and judgment, accuracy and carefulness — these are but a few of the elements which constitute successful business relations. 10. To precede expressions which are added to an apparently completed sentence, but which refer to some previous part of the sentence: e.g., The question of hearing was seriously troubling the minister — they probably had heard too much. ¶ Dashes may be substituted for commas or marks of parenthesis before and after expressions having closer connection with the main sentence than could be indicated by marks of parenthesis: e.g., They might have been talking for a quarter of an hour or more, when Monks — by which name the Jew had designated the strange man — said, etc. ¶ Use the dash preceded by the colon before a long quotation forming a new paragraph. The dash is not otherwise used with other punctuation marks unless demanded by clearness. ¶ In France, printers use the dash as a frequent substitute for quotation-marks in dialogue, placing quotation-marks only at the beginning and the end, even though extended over several pages. THE EXCLAMATION The proper use of the exclamation-point lends force and vigor to language in expressing surprise or emotion, but when overused it cheapens intended pathos and thus defeats the writer’s purpose. It should always be placed outside the quotation-marks unless it is a part of the quotation itself. The mark is formed from the word Io, signifying joy, written vertically . The exclamation-point is required: 1. At the end of a word or sentence to express strong emotion: e.g., God forbid! “Mind that, Fagin !” 2. To indicate sarcasm or doubt on the part of the writer regarding the authenticity of a statement: e.g., “For Brutus is an honorable man !” 3. After exclamatory words. If the same interjection is repeated use the comma to separate the words, placing the exclamation-point only at the end, unless the intention is to make each of the repeated words emphatic: e.g., “Oh! dear, dear, dear!” he exclaimed; “what an unfortunate memory you have !” ¶ Use great care in distinguishing between Oh !, an interjection expressing pain or surprise, and the vocative O, expressing a wish or an imprecation, which does not call for the exclamation-point: e.g., “Oh ! what damned minutes tells he o’er !” and “O that I had wings like a dove !” THE INTERROGATION The interrogation-point is formed from the first and last letters of the Latin word quaestio (a question ) placed one over the other; as . It should always be placed outside the quotation-marks unless it is a part of the quotation itself. 1. Every sentence containing a direct question should close with an interrogation-point: e.g., When can this order be shipped? We have received a letter which asks, “What date can you give us for shipping these goods ?” 2. The interrogation-point is used to express doubt: e.g., This volume is said to be bound in real ( ? ) morocco. 3. Indirect questions do not take the interrogation-point: e.g., He inquired when it would be ready. {14} {15} {16} QUOTATION-MARKS 1. Enclose every direct quotation in double quotation-marks: e.g., “I insist upon it,” he said; “there is no alternative.” 2. When a quotation of a passage from an author in his own words is run into the text it should be placed between quotation-marks. 3. Selections from different works by the same author, or from different authors, following each other without intervening original matter, or by reference to their sources, should be quoted. 4. When setting poetry the quotation-marks should overhang the beginning of the line. This should also be done when prose display matter is “blocked.” 5. Single quotes are used for quotations within quotations; double quotes for quotations within single quotations. 6. Quotations should always include the phrase etc., and other ellipses whenever necessary to secure perfect clearness. 7. When a long quotation is made, including several paragraphs or verses, the quotation-mark should appear at the beginning of each paragraph, but at the end of the last one only. Quote: 1. A phrase or a word which is accompanied by its definition: e.g., “Roman quote” means to place the matter indicated between quotations in roman type. 2. Words or phrases in the text which are intended by the writer to possess an unusual, technical, or ironical meaning: e.g., Her literary “salon” will long be remembered ; This so-called “captain of industry.” 3. Titles of poems, books, etc.: e.g., Longfellow’s “Belfry of Bruges.” 4. Serial titles: e.g., the “Oriental Series,” “Stories of Nations.” 5. Words to which the writer desires to attract attention: e.g., The name of “Florence” immediately causes one to think of humanism. 6. The names of ships, unless directed to italicize them. 7. The titles of works of art: e.g., Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna.” PARENTHESES 1. Marks of parenthesis are employed to separate from the rest of the sentence enclosed expressions having no essential connection: e.g., I am unable to take this action (why do you urge me?) for reasons which I cannot now give. 2. Figures or letters used to mark divisions in enumerations should be placed between parentheses: e.g., There is a double reason for doing this: (a) it is the simplest form; (b) it is clearer for the reader. BRACKETS Use brackets: 1. To enclose explanations or notes which are entirely independent of the balance of the sentence. Ordinarily these are comments, queries, directions, corrections, or criticisms inserted by some person other than the original writer: e.g., Let them clamor to get them back again [cheers]. 2. Rather than parentheses, to enclose drop-folios (folios placed at foot of page). 3. For enclosing parenthetical statements within parentheses. THE APOSTROPHE Use the apostrophe (or the apostrophe and the letter s): 1. To form the possessive case of common and proper nouns: e.g., The nation’s hope; For Jesus’ {17} {18} {19} sake; James’s apple; For appearance’ sake; The boys’ camp. 2. To form the plural of numerals, but the apostrophe alone for the plural of polysyllabic proper nouns ending in a sibilant: e.g., They passed by in two’s and four’s; She is one of those W.C.T.U.’s; That came from Perkins’. Add es or s for monosyllabic proper nouns: e.g., The Fosses. In general, the pronunciation may be taken as a guide: if it is necessary to add a syllable to pronounce the possessive, use the double s: e.g., Sickles’ corps, not Sickles’s. 3. Use the apostrophe to indicate the omission of one or more letters in a contracted word, or the omission of figures in a number: e.g., That’s ’ow ’twas ; The spirit of ’76; High o’er our heads; I’ll for I will; Don’t for do not, sha’n’t, etc. 4. The custom of substituting the apostrophe for the letter e in poetry, at one time common, is now obsolete: e.g., At ev’ry word a reputation dies. This rule is disregarded when the letter is omitted for metrical reasons. THE HYPHEN The hyphen is employed to join words together which have not become single words through general usage, and where words are necessarily broken at the end of a line. It is also used to separate the syllables of words, in showing the correct pronunciation. (See Compound Words.)