Punctuation is the art of marking in writing the several pauses, or
rests, between sentences, and the parts of sentences, according to their
proper quantity or proportion, as they are expressed in a just and
accurate pronunciation.
As the several articulate sounds, the syllables and words, of which
sentences consist, are marked by Letters; so the rests and pauses between
sentences and their parts are marked by Points.
But, tho’ the several articulate sounds are pretty fully and exactly
marked by Letters of known and determinate power; yet the several pauses,
which are used in a just pronunciation of discourse, are very imperfectly
expressed by Points.
For the different degrees of connexion between the several parts of
sentences, and the different pauses in a just pronunciation, which
express those degrees of connexion according to their proper value,
admit of great variety; but the whole number of Points, which we have to
express this variety, amounts only to Four.
Hence it is, that we are under a necessity of expressing pauses of the
same quantity, on different occasions, by different points; and more
frequently of expressing pauses of different quantity by the same points.
So that the doctrine of Punctuation must needs be very imperfect: few
precise rules can be given, which will hold without exception in all
cases; but much must be left to the judgement and taste of the writer.
On the other hand, if a greater number of marks were invented to express
all the possible different pauses of pronunciation; the doctrine of them
would be very perplexed and difficult, and the use of them would rather
embarass than assist the reader.
It remains therefore, that we be content with the Rules of Punctuation,
laid down with as much exactness as the nature of the subject will
admit; such as may serve for a general direction, to be accommodated to
different occasions, and to be supplied where deficient by the writers
judgement.
The several degrees of Connexion between Sentences, and between their
principal constructive parts, Rhetoricians have considered under the
following distinctions, as the most obvious and remarkable: the Period,
Colon, Semicolon, and Comma.
The Period is the whole Sentence, compleat in itself, wanting nothing to
make a full and perfect sense, and not connected in construction with a
subsequent Sentence.
The Colon, or Member, is a chief constructive part, or greater division,
of a Sentence.
The Semicolon, or Half-member, is a less constructive part, or
subdivision of a Sentence or Member.
A Sentence or Member is again subdivided into Commas, or Segments; which
are the least constructive parts of a Sentence, or Member, in this way of
considering it; for the next subdivision would be the resolution of it
into Phrases and Words.
The Grammarians have followed this division of the Rhetoricians, and
have appropriated to each of these distinctions its mark, or Point; which
takes its name from the part of the Sentence which it is employed to
distinguish; as follows:
The Period } { .
The Colon } is thus marked { :
The Semicolon} { ;
The Comma } { ,
The proportional quantity or time of the Points with respect to one
another is determined by the following general rule: The Period is a
pause in quantity or duration double of the Colon; the Colon is double
of the Semicolon; and the Semicolon is double of the Comma. So that they
are in the same proportion to one another as the Semibrief, the Minim,
the Crotchet, and the Quaver, in Music. The precise quantity or duration
of each Pause or Note cannot be defined; for that varies with the Time;
and both in Discourse and Music the same Composition may be rehearsed in
a quicker or a slower Time: but in Music the proportion between the Notes
remains ever the same; and in Discourse, if the Doctrine of Punctuation
were exact, the proportion between the Pauses would be ever invariable.
The Points then being designed to express the Pauses, which depend on
the different degrees of connexion between Sentences, and between their
principal constructive parts; to understand the meaning of the Points,
and to know how to apply them properly, we must consider the nature of
a Sentence, as divided into its principal constructive parts; and the
degrees of connexion between those parts, upon which such division of it
depends.
To begin with the least of these principal constructive parts, the Comma.
In order the more clearly to determine the proper application of the
Point which marks it, we must distinguish between an Imperfect Phrase, a
Simple Sentence, and a Compounded Sentence.
An Imperfect Phrase contains no assertion, or does not amount to a
Proposition or Sentence.
A Simple Sentence has but one Subject and one finite Verb.
A Compounded Sentence has more than one Subject or one finite Verb,
either expressed or understood; or it consists of two or more simple
Sentences connected together.
In a Sentence, the Subject and the Verb may be each of them accompanied
with several Adjuncts; as the Object, the End, the Circumstances of Time,
Place, Manner, and the like; and this either immediately, or mediately,
that is, by being connected with some thing, which is connected with some
other; and so on.
If the several Adjuncts affect the Subject or the Verb in a different
manner, they are only so many Imperfect Phrases, and the Sentence is
Simple.
A Simple Sentence admits of no Point, by which it may be divided, or
distinguished into parts.
If the several Adjuncts affect the Subject or the Verb in the same
manner, they may be resolved into so many Simple Sentences: the Sentence
then becomes Compounded, and it must be divided into its parts by Points.
For if there are several Subjects belonging in the same manner to one
Verb, or several Verbs belonging in the same manner to one Subject, the
Subjects and Verbs are still to be accounted equal in number: for every
Verb must have its Subject, and every Subject its Verb; and every one of
the Subjects, or Verbs, should or may have its point of distinction.