By FRANCES M. PERRY, Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition,
Wellesley College.
$0.30
The Punctuation Primer is a manual of first principles or essentials
simply and systematically presented; it is not an elaborate treatise on
punctuation. It offers a few fundamental principles that are flexible
and comprehensive, and easily understood and remembered. The meaning of
the text to be punctuated and the grammatical structure of the sentence
are made the bases for generalization and division.
¶ The discussion is taken up under two main divisions: The terminal
punctuation of sentences, and the punctuation of elements within
sentences. Under punctuation of elements within sentences, the
punctuation of principal elements, of dependent elements, of coordinate
elements, of independent elements, and of implied elements are
considered in the order given.
¶ In addition, several important related topics are treated, such
as paragraphing, quotations, capitalization, compound words, word
divisions, the uses of the apostrophe, the preparation and the
correction of manuscript, conventional forms for letters, the use of
authorities in writing themes, the correction of themes, and the making
of bibliographies.
¶ Throughout the carefully selected examples make clear the meaning of
the text, while the exercises provided at each stage of the work afford
the student practice in the correct application of the principles.
¶ Though written primarily to meet the needs of college freshmen, the
primer is an excellent manual for high schools.
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY
(S.84)