may also be used. The use of the dash, however, is simply a matter of
taste.
REMARKS.
1. A colon should not be placed after the greeting, except in official or
very formal salutations. See p. 100.
2. A semicolon should never be used.
_Position._—The introductory words may be written in three different
positions:—
1. When the address occupies two lines, the salutation should be written
on the line immediately following, commencing a little to the right of
the second line of the address; as,
Mr. Harry B. Hutchins,
Mt. Clemens, Mich.
Dear Sir,—
2. If the address consists of three lines, the first word of the
salutation commences on a line with the number of the street; as,—
A. S. Barnes & Co.,
34 and 36 Madison St.,
Chicago.
Gentlemen,—
3. If the address is written at the close of the letter, the introductory
words should commence on a line with the body of the letter, that is,
with the marginal line; as,—
Dear Manning,—
Rest you merry in your own opinion.
Opinion is a species of property; and though
I am always desirous to share with my friend to
a certain extent, I shall ever like to keep some
tenets, and some property, properly my own. *
* * * *
Your well-wisher and friend,
C. Lamb.
_Forms of Salutation._—Custom authorizes the use of several forms of
salutation. These may be arranged under four heads:—
1. _To Strangers._
Sir, Madame, Miss ⸺.
2. _To Acquaintances._
Dear Sir, Dear Madame, Dear Miss ⸺.
My dear Sir, My dear Madame, My dear Miss ⸺, imply a better acquaintance
than Dear Sir, &c.
3. _To Friends or Relatives._
Dear Friend, My dear Father, Dear Henry, &c.
4. _To Business Firms or Corporate Bodies._
Sirs, Gentlemen, Ladies.
_Salutations to Young Ladies._—Owing to the fact that we have no word
corresponding to Sir that can be used in addressing young ladies, there
is sometimes an uncertainty as to the proper salutation to be used.
Although Madame may refer to a married or an unmarried lady, it is not
an appropriate word with which to address a young lady. There are three
forms that may be used:—
1. _To a Stranger._
Decatur, Ill., May 6, 1877.
Miss Delia L. Corbus,—
* * * * *
Respectfully,
William C. Johns.
Miss Delia L. Corbus,
Adrian, Mich.
The name is given as the salutation, and the full address is given at the
close of the letter.
2. _To an Acquaintance._
Adrian, Mich., Sept. 3, 1877.
Dear Miss Dewey,—
* * * * * *
Very truly,
Thomas M. Hunter.
Miss Ella Dewey,
Hotel Madison, Toledo, Ohio.
3. _To an Intimate Friend._—In writing to intimate friends, the character
of the letter, and the intimacy of the writers, will suggest the proper
forms.
_Salutations to Married Ladies._
1. _To a Stranger._
Mrs. J. C. Hill,
Adrian, Mich.
Madame,—
2. _To an Acquaintance._
Mrs. W. S. Sears,
Adrian, Mich.
Dear Madame,—
3. _To a Friend._
66 Summit St., Toledo, Ohio,
Dec. 1, 1877.
Dear Mrs. Millard,—
* * * * * *
Very truly,
Franklin Hubbard.
Mrs. A. L. Millard,
Adrian, Mich.
IV. BODY OF THE LETTER.
_The First Word._—The first word should commence on the line immediately
following the introductory words, and directly under the comma or the
dash of the salutation; as,—
Dear Sir,—
Your letter * * * *
REMARK.
Some writers commence the body of the letter on the same line with the
greeting.
_Margin._—It is the usual custom to leave a margin on the left of a
written page. This varies according to the taste of the writer and the
size of the page.
_Paragraphs._—A new paragraph should commence whenever a new subject is
introduced, and, with the exception of the first paragraph, which begins
directly under the comma or the dash of the salutation, each paragraph
should commence a little to the right of the marginal line.
V. THE CONCLUSION.
_Definition._—The conclusion is made up of two parts,—words of respect or
affection, and the signature of the writer; as,—
Very truly,
Joseph M. Blain.
REMARKS.
1. Various forms of respect or affection are used in concluding letters;
as, Respectfully, Most respectfully, Very affectionately, &c.
2. In using words of respect or affection, the first word only should be
capitalized. In the salutation, Sir, Friend, &c., should commence with
a capital, as a mark of respect; but in the conclusion of a letter, it
would, to say the least, be in bad taste to give the same prominence to
one’s own worth.
3. The conclusion should always be in keeping with the introductory
words. If Sir were used in the salutation, it would not be proper to use
Very affectionately at the close.
4. Although custom sanctions the use of Your obedient servant, Your most
obedient servant, and similar forms, the practice is not to be commended.
These expressions are associated with a past age, when men depended on
the uncertain patronage of the great.
_Punctuation._—A comma should be placed after the words of respect and
affection, and a period should be placed at the end of the signature.
REMARK.
There is great carelessness exhibited by all writers in punctuating their
names. A period should always be placed at the end of the signature,
to indicate that the signature is complete. If the different parts of
the name are written out in full, no punctuation marks should be placed
between them; if, however, any part of the name is abbreviated, a period
should always be used to indicate the abbreviation; as, Ettie Shier,
Laura B. Palmer, Geo. L. Bennett.
_Position._—The conclusion should be written on, at least, two lines. The
words of respect and affection should be written on the line immediately
following the close of the letter, on the right, commencing near the
middle of the line; the signature should be on the line immediately
following the words of respect and affection, a little farther to the
right.
_The Signature._—In signing one’s name, there are several important facts
to be remembered:—
1. The writer’s full name should always be given, especially in business
letters and in letters containing money, so that the letter can be
returned, if, for any reason, it is sent to the Dead Letter Office. This,
of course, can not be done unless the writer’s name is given in full.
Thousands of dollars are lost every year by writers thoughtlessly signing
themselves Nellie, Fred., &c. 25,000 letters, containing $1,301,780, were
sent to the Dead Letter Office in the year 1877.
2. A lady, in writing to a stranger, should always sign her name so that
the person receiving the letter will know, in answering, whether to
address a single or a married lady; as, Miss Maria S. Colvin, Mrs. David
Finley.
3. It is frequently the custom for married ladies to use their husband’s
name; as, Mrs. E. B. Pond. Widow ladies use their Christian name.
4. If the person writing a letter to a stranger, occupies a responsible
or official position, he should give this in connection with his
signature, so that the person to whom the letter is written, may have
some means of knowing how much attention to give to the letter.
SUMMARY.
I. _To a Relative._
Ann Arbor, Mich., Nov. 15, 1877.
Dear Father,—
Your letter * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
Affectionately,
James A. Stacy.
C. A. Stacy, Esq.,
Adrian, Mich.
II. _To an Intimate Friend._
The form of a letter to an intimate friend should be the same as the
preceding one.
Salutation to a married lady, p. 94.
III. _To an Acquaintance._
Bay City, Mich., Dec. 4, 1877.
Mr. Wm. B. Mumford,
Adrian, Mich.
Dear Sir,—
Your letter * *
* * * * * * * * *
Very truly,
William T. Smalley.
1. Salutation to a married lady, p. 94.
2. Letter-form to a young lady, p. 93.
IV. _To a Stranger._
The same form should be used as to an acquaintance, with the exception of
the salutation, which should be Sir, Madame, or Miss ⸺.
Letter-form to a young lady, p. 93.
V. _Letter with Number and Street._
34 and 36 Madison St., Chicago,
Sept. 12, 1877.
Mr. Charles Scribner,
124 Grand St., N. Y.
Dear Sir,—
Your favor * *
* * * * * * * * * *
Respectfully,
A. S. Barnes & Co.
1. For another form, see p. 91.
2. County and state, pp. 86, 89.
3. Hotels, pp. 86, 93.
4. Seminaries and colleges, p. 86.
VI. _Official Letters._
150 Summit St., Toledo, Ohio,
Dec. 10, 1877.
Hon. Samuel J. Randall,
Speaker of the House,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:—
* * * * * * * *
Very respectfully,
Fred. L. Geddes.
To the Common Council of the City of Adrian.
Gentlemen:—
* * * * * *
Respectfully,
W. S. Wilcox.
For the use of the colon, see p. 91, Rem. 1.
[Illustration: Proof-Reading.]
INTRODUCTION.
Most business men, and all professional men, have occasion, more or less,
to have something printed for their own use, or to write something for
the public press, so that a correct knowledge of some of the simpler
marks used by proof-readers, in making corrections and additions, seems
imperative. The advice sometimes given to allow the printer to make
all corrections, since he is more likely to know what corrections are
necessary, is destructive to a clear presentation of what another has
written. The printer may understand better than the writer the mechanical
part of his work, but “mind reading” has not yet reached such perfection
that the compositor can tell, in all instances, what meaning the writer
really wishes to convey, and a misconception on the part of the printer
may be the means of changing the sense of a whole paragraph.
In preparing anything for the press, a few facts should be remembered:—
1. It is never allowable to write on both sides of a sheet of paper. Only
one side should be used, and each page should be properly numbered.
2. The manuscript should be prepared with great care. It should be
properly punctuated, capitalized, and broken into paragraphs. In fact,
the copy placed in the hands of the printer should be in a condition to
be exactly reproduced. Some expect the printer to dress up in proper form
their half expressed, poorly written, and badly punctuated sentences, and
if their hieroglyphics and abbreviations are not deciphered to suit their
unreasonable expectations, they rail against incompetent printers and
blundering proof-readers.
3. Some writers thoughtlessly leave many points unsettled in the
manuscript, so as to see “how they look in print,” then fill the proof
with numberless corrections and additions, and expect the printer to
make such changes as the impulse of the moment has suggested. This is
certainly a great injustice to the compositor, who usually receives no
remuneration for this additional tax on his time and patience. No half
finished manuscript ought to be allowed to go into the printer’s hand.
4. Whenever it is really necessary to strike out several words, enough
words should be substituted in their places to fill the vacant spaces.
DEFINITIONS.
_Copy._—This word really means something to be imitated, and it is used
by printers when referring to the manuscript of a writer.
_Proof-Sheet._—When the copy is set up in type, an impression in ink is
taken for corrections. This is called a proof-sheet. In correcting proof,
the first thing to be done is to place the copy in the hands of some
one to read aloud, while the proof-reader pays attention principally to
omissions, the spelling and capitalization of words, and punctuation.
After this, the proof should be carefully examined to detect what are
called typographical errors, that is, mistakes in type.
_Revise._—After the corrections indicated in the proof are made, another
impression is taken. This is called the revise. The revise should be
carefully compared with the proof, to see that all corrections are made.
INTRODUCTORY REMARK.
Mistakes in the proof should be called attention to by certain marks
which will hereafter be described, and the corrections should be
indicated in the margin, on the right or left of the line in which
they occur. If mistakes are found near the beginning of the line, the
corrections should be placed in the margin on the left, otherwise they
should be placed on the right. The numbers in the following statements
refer to lines of the specimen proof-sheet on pages 111, 112.
I. _Wrong Letters and Punctuation Marks._—The most common mistakes in
a proof-sheet are wrong letters and punctuation marks. When these are
noticed, a line should be drawn slopingly, from right to left, through
each, and the correct letter or punctuation mark written in the margin.
It is better to repeat the line with the correction in the margin, so as
to attract attention to the desired change; as, 2, 4, 8. A sloping line
should always be placed between corrections opposite the same line, and
the corrections should be placed in the order in which they occur.
REMARKS.
1. The correction in the margin should always be placed to the left of
the sloping line; as, 2, 3, 4, 8.
2. The period, dash, hyphen, quotation marks, apostrophe, and reference
marks should be distinguished in the margin, thus:—
[Illustration]
For illustrations, see 6, 10.
3. If it is necessary to change a capital letter to a small letter, draw
a line through the capital, and either write a small letter in the
margin, or the abbreviation _l.c._, lower case, which indicates that a
common letter is to be used; as, 3.
4. The abbreviation _w.f._, wrong font, indicates that a letter is of
improper size.
II. _Wrong Words._—When an entire word is incorrect, a straight line
should be drawn through it, and the proper word written in the margin;
as, 5.
REMARK.
When it is necessary to change a word, printed in capitals, to small
letters, draw a line through the word, and write _l.c._ in the margin;
as, 16. See I., Rem. 3.
III. _Omissions._—If a letter, punctuation mark, or word is omitted,
the omission should be indicated by a caret, and the omitted letter,
punctuation mark, or word placed in the margin; as, 3, 6.
REMARKS.
1. When the period, dash, hyphen, quotation marks, or reference marks are
omitted, they should be distinguished in the margin as in I., Rem. 2.
2. A sloping line should always be made in the margin, to the right of an
omitted letter or punctuation mark; as, 3.
3. If several words or lines are omitted, it is sometimes necessary to
write the words at the top or bottom of the proof. When this is the case,
a line should be drawn from the caret to the words to be inserted; as, 25.
4. Sometimes so much has been omitted that it is necessary to refer to
the copy. When this is so, indicate the omission by a caret, write _See
Copy_ in the margin, and inclose within parenthetical marks or brackets
the portion of the copy to be inserted in the proof.
IV. _Inverted Letter._—When a letter is inverted, a sloping line should
be drawn through it, and the change indicated in the margin by 9, a
character resembling an inverted 6; as, 13.
REMARK.
Some proof-readers draw a line under the inverted letter, but this is not
so easily recognized as a sloping line drawn through the letter.
V. _Strike Out._—It is sometimes necessary to strike out a letter,
punctuation mark, or word. A line should be drawn through each, as in I.
and II., and the sign ₰, which means strike out, placed in the margin;
as, 9, 19.
VI. _Capitals and Italics._—Three lines drawn under a word indicate that
the word should be printed in large capitals; two lines, small capitals;
one line, italics. The abbreviations, _Caps._, _S. Caps._, _Ital._,
should also be written in the margin; as, 1, 2.
REMARKS.
1. If a word is italicized, and it is desirable to change it to the
ordinary type, draw a line under it, and write _Rom._, the abbreviation
for Roman, in the margin; as, 15.
2. To change a word printed in capitals to small letters, see II., Rem.
VII. _Spacing._—When there is too great a space between two letters, the
letters should be connected by the marks ⁐, and the same sign should be
repeated in the margin; as, 21. The single mark ‿ connecting two words
and repeated in the margin, indicates too great a space between words;
as, 23.
When there is not sufficient space between two words, a caret is used to
indicate the want of space, and the sign # written in the margin; as, 25.
REMARKS.
1. When there is not space enough between two lines, or there is too
much, the fact can be indicated as in 7 and 8, 13 and 14.
2. When a space is not left at the commencement of a paragraph, a caret
indicates the want of space, and the sign ▭ is placed in the margin; as,
17.
VIII. _Paragraphs._—When a new paragraph is desired, the sign [ should be
inserted in the proof, before the first word of the new paragraph, and
the sign ¶ should be placed in the margin; as, 10.
When two paragraphs are to be run together, they should be connected by a
line, and _No_ ¶ written in the margin; as, 24.
REMARKS.
1. The line connecting the two paragraphs is usually so readily
recognized that an additional sign in the margin is not always required.
2. For space at the commencement of a paragraph, see VII., Rem. 2.
IX. _Correction to be Disregarded._—Dots placed under a word, and
_Stet._, which means let it stand, written in the margin, indicate that a
correction is to be disregarded; as, 25.
X. _Broken Letters._—When it is necessary to call the attention of the
printer to a broken letter, a line should be drawn under it, and the sign
× placed in the margin; as, 21.
REMARK.
It is the custom with some proof-readers to draw a sloping line through
the broken letter, and repeat the letter in the margin. This is sometimes
a great convenience to the printer, especially when the letter is so
badly injured that it can not be recognized; for, unless the printer
is familiar with the spelling of the word, it may be necessary, with
considerable inconvenience, to refer to the copy.
XI. _Transpose._—When two words should change places, the custom is to
draw a line over the first, continue it under the second, and write
_tr._, the abbreviation for transpose, in the margin; as, 26.
REMARKS.
1. When several letters in a word are not in their proper order, either
draw a line through the word and rewrite it in the margin, or draw a line
under or through the letters, and write them in their proper order.
2. When the order of several words is to be changed, indicate the proper
order by placing 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., over the words, draw a straight line
under each, and write _tr._ in the margin.
XII. _Crooked Words._—When the letters of a word are displaced, draw a
line above and below the word, and repeat the lines in the margin; as,
28. The same marks are used to call attention to a crooked line.
XIII. _Projecting Leads._—When a lead projects so as to leave an
impression on the proof, a sloping line should be drawn through it, and
the sign [symbol] or [symbol] placed in the margin; as, 22.
XIV. _Diphthongs._—When _æ_ and _œ_ should be printed as diphthongs, a
line should be drawn through them, and the letters forming the diphthong
written in the margin thus, æ̑, œ̑.
XV. _Mark of Attention._—The sign + is sometimes used to call the
attention of the printer to some defect in a word or line.
GENERAL REMARK.
It is the custom with many proof-readers to draw a line from the mistake
in the proof to the correction in the margin. This should always be done
when the mistakes are numerous, or the lines crowded together.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
DESCRIPTION OF A PALACE IN A VALLEY.
[Illustration]
Ye who listen with credulity to the whispers of fancy, and pursue with
eagerness the phantoms of hope; who expect that age will perform the
promises of youth, and that the deficiencies of the present day will be
supplied by the morrow, attend to the history of Rasselas, prince of
Abyssinia.
Rasselas was the fourth son of the mighty emperor, in whose dominions the
father of waters begins his course; whose bounty pours down the streams
of plenty, and scatters over half the world the harvests of Egypt.
The place which the wisdom or policy of antiquity had destined for the
residence of the Abyssinian princes, was a spacious valley in the
kingdom of Amhara, surrounded on every side by mountains, of which the
summits overhung the middle part. The only passage by which it could be
entered, was a cavern that passed under a rock, of which it has long been
disputed whether it was the work of nature or of human industry.
DR. JOHNSON.
INDEX.
The first number of each reference refers to the page.
A
Abbreviations, how indicated, 29, II.;
list of, 29, 30;
additional marks, 30, 1;
proper names, 30, 2;
numerals, 30, 3;
numbering pages, 30, 4;
letter doubled to indicate the plural, 30, 5;
how to abbreviate words, 30, 6;
Mr., Mrs., etc., 74, 1, 2.
Addressed, person or thing, 13, VIII.;
strong emotion, 14 Rem.; 33, III.
Address of envelopes, most important part of letter-writing, 73;
position, 74;
punctuation, 74;
honorary titles, 75;
large cities, 76;
small towns and villages, 77;
addressed envelopes, 77;
letters with special request, 78;
stamp, 78;
forms of address, 78-82.
Address, inside, definition of, 87;
punctuation of, 88;
large cities, 88;
small towns and villages, 89;
intimate friends and relatives, 89;
position, 90.
Adjectives, two, 17, 2;
in a series, 18, 1.
Adverbs, 10, 3.
Advertisements, capitalization of, 62, 3.
Almighty God, 64, 2.
And, or, nor, connecting words in a series, 17, XIV.;
words and phrases, 19, 3;
phrases and clauses, 18, XV.; 19, 2;
_or_ between two words or expressions, the latter explaining the
former, 18, 2.
Answer and question in the same paragraph, 36, 3.
Apostrophe, the, 47, 48;
form of, 47, Rem.;
denotes what, 47, II
See Possession.
Appositives, 15, XI.;
definition of, 16, 1;
two nouns in apposition, 16, 2, a;
noun and pronoun, 16, 2, b;
two pronouns, 16, 2, c;
parts of a person’s name, 16, 2, d.
Arabic numbers, 22, XVIII.
As, 21, 3;
introducing an example, 24, Rem.;
_as_ with a dash, 36, 4.
As it were, 9, IV.;
as follows, 27, III.
Aunt, when to commence with a capital, 63, 2, 3; 90, 2; 96, 2.
Author from whom a quotation is taken, 36, 2;
manuscript of, 72, 102, 103;
correction of proof, 102.
B
Because, 7, 1.
Being or having been, 14, Rem.
Bible, references to. See References.
Body of the letter, the first word, 94;
margin, 95;
paragraphs, 95.
Books, titles of, 44, II.;
chapter, 62, 2;
title-pages, 62, VIII.
Brackets, 41, 42;
additional marks, 41, 1;
reporting speeches, 41, 2;
parenthetical marks, 42, 3.
Broken letters in proof, 109, X.
Broken sentences, 34, I.
Brother, when to commence with a capital, 63, 2, 3; 90, 2; 96, 2.
But, 6, 1.
C
Capitals, 54-70;
usage formerly, 55;
tendency at the present day, 56;
value of capitals, 56;
how indicated in writing, 53, V.;
in proof, 107, VI.;
title-pages, 62, VIII.
Caret, 52, II.;
in proof, 106, III.
Chapter, first word of, 62, 2.
Church, when written with a capital, 60, 3.
Clauses, definition of, 5;
independent, 6, I.;
dependent, 6, II.;
relative, 7, 8, 9;
participial, 14, IX.;
series of, 24, III.;
concluding, 34, II.;
short, 24, Rem. See Expressions.
Colon, the, 25-28;
indicates what, 3, 4;
not used as much as formerly, 28.
Comma, the, 5-22;
indicates a close relationship, 3, 4;
omitted, 3; 16, 2; 21, 1, 2, 3;
preferred sometimes to semicolons, 25.
Commas, two, placed under a word, 52, I.
Complete sentences, 29, I.;
title of essay, oration, etc., 29, Rem.
Compound words, 49, I.;
definition of, 49, 1.
Concluding clause, 34, II.;
emphatic conclusion, 35, 1;
_namely_, _that is_, etc., omitted, 35, 2;
word or expression repeated, 35, 3.
Conclusion of a letter, definition, 95;
punctuation, 96;
position, 97;
signature, 97.
Conclusion, emphatic, 35, I.
Contrasted expressions or comparisons, 20, XVII.;
comparison, short, 21, 1;
_so-that_, _rather-than_, etc., 21, 2;
_as_, _than_, 21, 3;
first expression negative, the other affirmative, 21, 4.
Consequently, 9, IV.
Copy, definition of, 104.
Correction in proof to be disregarded, 109, IX.
Cousin, when to commence with a capital, 63, 2, 3; 90, 2; 96, 2.
Crooked words in proof, 110, XII.
D
Dagger, double dagger, uses of, 53, VI.
Dash, 34-38;
additional punctuation marks, 38, 1, 2.
Days of the month, 60, VI.;
spring, summer, etc., 61, Rem.
Dates, 22, Rem.
Deity, the, 63, X.;
difference among writers, 63, 1;
First Cause, etc., 64, 2;
King of kings, etc., 64, 3;
eternal, divine, etc., 64, 4;
pronouns, 64, 5; 65, 6;
god, goddess, deity, 65, 7.
Democrat, 60, V.
Dependent clauses, 6, II.;
definition of, 7, 1;
omission of comma, 7, 2.
Devil, 59, 3.
Diæresis, 50, 4.
Diphthongs, how indicated in proof, 110, XIV.
Direct question, 31, I.
Direct quotation. See Quotation.
Divine, 64, 4.