A Dialogue between MASTER and SCHOLAR, concerning Stops and Marks made Use of in Reading and Writing. N. B. This also may be set by way of Task, a few Questions Master. How many Points or Stops are used in reading and Scholar. There are six, viz. a Comma, a Semicolon, a Co ion, a Period or full Stop, a Note of Interrogation, and a Note of Admiration. M. Please to tell me how they are made. S. A Comma is marked or made thus (,) a Semicolon, thus (;) a Colon, thus (:) a Period or full Stop thus (.) a Note of Interrogation, thus (?) and a Note of Admiration, thus (!) M. Pray tell me their Use in Reading? S. A Comma (,) is the shortest of all Stops, and serves to divide short Sentences, till you come to the full sense. As thus, I am persuaded, that neither Death, nor Life; nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Things present, not Things to come,nor Height, nor Depth, nor any other Crea ture, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. viii. 38, 39. M. What is the Use of a Semicolon? S. A Semicolon (;) serves also to part Sentences; and is often used when the Sentences are contrary, or point to a different End. M. Give me an Example? S. A soft Answer turneth away Wrath; but grievous Words stir up Anger. Prov. xv. 1. Or thus, I desired you to get your Lesson by Heart; but instead of that you have been at Play." M. Pray what is the use of a Colon? S. A Colon () parts several Sentences, every one of which has a full Meaning of its own; though at the same Time, it leaves us in Expectation of something that is to follow. M. Pray give me an Example. S. He is a wise and prudent Boy that minds his Book: Learning, and good Education, are better than Riches. M. What is the Use of a Period? S. A Period (.) is a full Stop, and shews the perfect End. and Conclusion of a Sentence. As thus, Love yout Learning. Obey your Parents. Fear God. Honour the King. N. B. Always remember, in your Writing, that after a Period, Note of Interrogation, and Admiration, you must begin your next Word with a great or capital Letter, as in the last Example you fee every Sentence begins with a capital Letter. M. What is a Note of Interrogation, and its Use? S. A Note of Interrogation (?) is always set at the End of any Question that is asked; as thus: Who made you? How old are you? What is the Ma ter ? &c. M. What is a Note of Admiration, and its Use! ン S. A Note of Admiration (!) is placed after such Words or Expressions as signify any Thing strange or wonderful; thus: Oh! Alas! Surprising! Or thus: O the Depth, both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! Rom. xi, 33. M. How long am I to pause or stop in Reading, when I meet with any of these Points? S. You are to stop at a Comma till you can tell one; at a Semicolon, till you can tell to; at a Colon, till you can tell three; and at a Period, Note of Interrogation, and a Note of Admiration, till you can tell five or six. TABLE XXII. Of the Names of other Marks, and their Use. Master. Scholar. An Apostrophe An Asterisk A Caret Crotchets An Elipsis A Section M. What is the use of an Apostrophe ? S. It is used when a Letter is omitted: Thus, sav'd, judg'd, signifies saved, judged, only they are pronounced with one Syllable. An Apostrophe also, placed before an s at the End of a Word, serves to express a Sentence much shorter and better: Thus, Solomon's Wisdom,' is the same as the Wisdom of Solomon: so that you see it supplies the Place of the and of. Thus, St. Mary's Parish, siguifies the Parish of St. Mary. Though it is customary with some to write the Parisk of St. Mary's, the Hofpital of St. Luke's, yet it is not good English. M. What is the Use of an Asterisk? S. An Asterisk, or Star, (*) is used to refer to some Note in the Margin of a Book: When there are several of them together, thus (****), they denote something that is left out, which the Author does not chuse to insert. M. What is the Use of a Caret ? S. A Caret (A) is placed underneath a Line when a Word is left out, and points to the Place where it ought to come in; thus, God will the Wicked, should be. God will punish the Wicked. G M. What is the Use of Crochets? S. Crotchets [] serve to inclose a short Sentence in the body of a longer one: As thus, He wrote a Treatise of [or concerning] the Globes. M. What is the Use of an Ellipsis? ) is used when Part of a Verse or Sentence is quoted; thus: M. When is a Hyphen used? That I may recover my S. A Hyphen is used in compound Words, in order to couple them together; as, Man-Servant, Maid-Servant. Sometimes it is omitted, and then the compound Words become but one; as, Coachmaker, Schoolmaster. M. What is the Use of an Index? S. An Index or Hand, thus (), points to some remarkable Thing or Passage in an Author. M. What is the Use of an Obelisk? S. An Obelisk or Dagger (†) is often used in large Books, and in many Quotations, and refers you to the Margin of the Book for further Instruction. Or it is often used against some obsolete Word or Sentence. M. What do you mean by a Paragraph? S. A Paragraph () is set at the Beginning of every new Subject, and no other Paragraph is made till the former Subject is entirely finished. You will find this mark in almost every Chapter of the Old and New Testament. M. What is the Use if a Parenthesis? S. A Parenthesis (), like Crotchets, serves to include a short Sentence in the Body of a longer one; and yet so that the Sentence itself will always read full as well, and sometimes better without it; and therefore the Words included in it should be read in a lower Tone of Voice: as thus, I know that in me (that is in my Flesh) dwells no good Thing. Or it serves to affirm more pes tively: Thus, the Word of God (and i know it is true) that the Wicked shall perish for ever. Or it is used in Exceptions; as thus, I give all I have (oxcept my Watch) to Alexander. M. What is a Quotation ? says S. it is a Pass: ge borrowed from another Author, and quoted Wora for Word; and then the Author that borrows it, puts, or should put, two Commas made backwards, thus (“), to let the Reader know is not his own Words or Opinion only. M. bat is the use of a Section ? S. A Section (§) is often set at the Head or Beginning of some Subject, or new Discourse: It is also used in long writ ings, where the Author gives many Instances of a Thing, and refers for the Proof of it to the Margin; in a Word, it serves the same Purpose as an Asterisk or Obelisk. M. Are these all the Marks that are used? 3. There is another, called a Brace, and it is made thus. M. Pray what is its Use? S. It serves to bind or link several Things together. It is often used in Poetry to tie or link three Lines together, that rhyme or jingle in the Ear. Thus, Prostrate my contrite Heart I bend; } Of the Letters of the English Alphabet, with some Remarks on the different Methods of pronouncing Vowels and Consonants. Of Vowels Master. THAT is the Alphabet? WHA Scholar. Alphabet signifies the Letters of a Language placed in their due Order; and in the English Tongue is vulgarly called the Cross Row. M. How many Letters are there in the English A'phabet? 8. Twenty-six, which are called by two Nimes, viz. Vowels and Consonants.. M. How many Vowels are there S. Six, viz. a, e, i, o, u, and y, M. How many Consonants are there. S. Twenty-one, viz. b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, V, W, X, Y, Z. M. What is the Use of Vowels? S. To form Words; for there can be no Word without a Vowel. M. How is it that y is called both a Vowel and Consonant ? S. Y is a Vowel in all Words, except in such as begin with ay, and then it is a Consonant. M. What do Of double Vowels, called Dipthongs. you call a double Vowel? |