A Museum for Young Gentlemen and Ladies | Page 2

take notice of the several points or marks used in printing or writing, for resting or stopping the voice, which are four in number, called
1. The Comma (,) 3. Colon (:) 2. Semicolon (;) 4. Period (.)
These points are to give a proper time for breathing when you read, and to prevent confusion of sense in joining words together in a sentence. The Comma stops the reader's voice till he can tell one, and divides the lesser parts of a sentence. The Semicolon divides the greater parts of a sentence, and requires the reader to pause while he can count two. The Colon is used where the sense is complete, and not the sentence, and rests the voice of the reader till he can count three. The Period is put when the sentence is ended, and requires a pause while he can tell four.
But we must here remark, that the Colon and Semicolon are frequently used promiscuously, especially in our bibles.
There are two other points, which may be called marks of affection; the one of which is termed an Interrogation, which signifies a question being asked, and expressed thus (?); the other called an Admiration or Exclamation, and marked thus (!). These two points require a pause as long as a period.
We have twelve other marks to be met with in reading, namely,
1. Apostrophe (') 7. Section (��) 2. Hyphen (-) 8. Ellipsis (--) 3. Parenthesis ( ) 9. Index ( [index] ) [hand pointing rightwards] 4. Brackets [ ] 10. Asterisk (*) 5. Paragraph ( ) 11. Obelisk ([dagger]) 6. Quotation (") 12. Caret (^)
Apostrophe is set over a word where some letter is wanting, as in lov'd. Hyphen joins syllables and words together, as in pan-cake. Parenthesis includes something not necessary to the sense, as, I know that in me (that is in my flesh) liveth, &c. Brackets include a word or words mentioned as a matter of discourse, as, The little word [man] makes a great noise, &c. They are also used to enclose a cited sentence, or what is to be explained, and sometimes the explanation itself. Brackets and Parenthesis are often used for each other without distinction. Paragraph is chiefly used in the bible, and denotes the beginning of a new subject. Quotation is used to distinguish what is taken from an author in his own words. Section shews the division of a chapter. Ellipsis is used when part of a word or sentence is omitted, as p--ce. Index denotes some remarkable passage. Asterisk refers to some note in the margin, or remarks at the bottom of the page; and when many stand together, thus ***, they imply that something is wanting, or not fit to be read, in the author. The Obelisk or Dagger, and also parallel lines marked thus (||), refer to something in the margin. The Caret, marked thus (^), is made use of in writing, when any line or word is left out, and wrote over where it is to come in, as thus,
had A certain man two sons: ^
Here the word had was left out, wrote over, and marked by the Caret where to come in.
It may also in this place be proper to mention the crooked lines or Braces, which couple two or three words or lines together that tend to the same thing; for instance,
/ \ | a long | The vowel a has < a short > Sound | a broad | \ /
This is often used in poetry, where three lines have the same rhyme.
The other marks relate to single words, as Dialysis or Di?resis, placed over vowels to shew they must be pronounced in distinct syllables, as Rapha?l. The Circumflex is set over a vowel to carry a long sound, as Euphrates. An Accent is marked thus (��), to shew where the emphasis must be placed, as negl��ct; or to shew that the consonant following must be pronounced double, as h��mage. To these may be added the long (��) and short ([breve]) marks, which denote the quantity of syllables, as water.
RULES FOR READING.
When you have gained a perfect knowledge of the sounds of the letters, never guess at a word on sight, lest you get a habit of reading falsely. Pronounce every word distinctly. Let the tone of your voice be the same in reading as in speaking. Never read in a hurry, lest you learn to stammer. Read no louder than to be heard by those about you. Observe to make your pauses regular, and make not any where the sense will admit of none. Suit your voice to the subject. Be attentive to those who read well, and remember to imitate their pronunciation. Read often before good judges, and thank them for correcting you. Consider well the place of emphasis, and pronounce it