PICKING COTTON ON ONE OF THE LARGE PLANTATIONS, NEAR MILNER, GEORGIA

Reproduced by permission of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum.

much by punctuation. Short sentences, and these placed in single paragraphs, are clearer than long sentences containing many clauses and phrases run together. Reduce the need for punctuation to a minimum by short, clear statement. Read over your own written work aloud to yourself, and the sound of the material you have written will probably prompt you to punctuate properly. The following briefly stated rules may be used as a safe guide in cases of doubt.

RULES FOR THE USE OF CAPITALS

Capitalize

1. The first word of every sentence or advertising phrase.
2. The first word of every line of poetry or advertising jingle.
3. Proper nouns and proper adjectives formed from them
(except titanic, oriental, and a few others for which the
dictionary must be used as guide), and coined words that
require accenting.

4. Abbreviations of proper nouns and adjectives. Some
abbreviations may be written with either capitals or

small letters, — þ.m., a.m.,
preferable.

- though small letters are

5. O and I, except in those cases where used in reference to themselves, as, "That i is not dotted," "That o should be a capital."

6. Such exclamatory words, as a rule, as Ugh! Ah! Aye! Grrr! 7. Titles, courteous addresses, and degrees used in connection with proper names: Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, Miss Jane Addams, Joseph Choate, LL.D.

8. The first word of every direct quotation, except when the quotation is begun in the middle of a sentence or line of poetry.

9. The first word and every important word in titles of any sort and in trade phrases.

10. All words used in reference to the Deity. The rule varies in regard to pronouns referring to the Deity: personal

pronouns are usually capitalized; relative pronouns, usually not.

II. Words that are associated with proper nouns, thus, Manchester College, Chestnut Street, Forty Second Street, Campbell's Soups, O'Sullivan's Rubber Heels.

12. Words that are personified or apostrophized, except where the figure is extended or allegorical, and even in allegory when the name of a characteristic is used as a family

name.

13. Words that require special emphasis or accent. Other devices may be used for these, however, such as italics, small capitals, etc.

General Rules for Capitalization

Capitalize consistently.

If one word in a list of topics is capitalized, all should be. If a hyphenated word is used in a title, capitalize only the important members of it: "The Major-General's Command.” Trade names and phrases should be capitalized at least until they have become standardized through familiarity.

The names of commodities in an advertisement are sometimes capitalized in varying sizes of capitals according to their importance in the business advertised.

Use the period

THE PERIOD
[.]

1. At the close of declarative and of most imperative sentences. 2. At the close of abbreviations. Learn to regard the period as a part of an abbreviation.

3. Consecutively with three or four others to indicate an omission of words, phrases, or whole passages.

4. After each word, phrase, or sentence in a list of topics or rules. This is not a required use of the period; it may or may not be so used, but it should be either used or omitted consistently throughout.

5. After paragraph or section topics, as in this book, usually followed by the dash. This use is also variable, sometimes the dash only being used or the comma and the dash.

THE INTERROGATION POINT

Use the interrogation point

[?]

1. At the close of a direct question, but not at the close of an indirect one: 'Where were you?' he asked." "He asked

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me where I was."

2. To indicate doubt as to meaning or interpretation in a passage of writing. In such cases it is usually enclosed in parenthesis.

3. To create curiosity, as an advertising device, or to stimulate interest, as in continued stories.

4. To question matter that is vague or misunderstood in proof.

THE EXCLAMATION POINT

Use the exclamation point

[!]

1. At the close of any expression (be it word or phrase or sentence) of strong feeling, such as terror, grief, surprise, etc. 2. To indicate ridicule, doubt, humor, or reproof: "This bill has been standing for three years!" "You say you have been imposed upon!"

3. As an advertising or sales device in placards or as a “shocker" in headlines.

Use the dash

THE DASH
[-]

1. After the salutation in a letter, with or without comma or colon. (See page 133.)

2. Before examples, explanations, continuations, lists, etc., with or without comma or colon: "He bought the follow