"Believe!" interrupted his client. "I don't want you
to believe. I want you to know."
The dash is used before a word that summarizes the preceding part of the
sentence; as,
He had robbed himself of the most precious thing a man
can have in business--his friends.
After a comma the dash has the effect of lengthening the separation; as,
One thing the Puritans desired,--freedom to worship
God.
=Exercise 194--Parenthesis Marks ()=
Parenthesis marks are used to enclose explanatory expressions that are
not an essential part of the sentence; as,
The United States Department of Agriculture estimates
that the receipts of cattle at the six leading markets
(Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, South Omaha, St.
Joseph, and Sioux City) from January 1 to August 1 of
this year are 15 per cent less than they were in the
corresponding period of last year.
_Wrong._--Do not use parenthesis marks to cancel a word or a passage. A
line should be drawn through a word that is wrong.
Bring to class five sentences that illustrate the correct use of
parenthesis marks.
=Exercise 195--The Hyphen (-)=
The hyphen is used when a word has been divided. It is always used at
the end of the line and never at the beginning.
When several short words are taken together to form one word, they are
hyphenated; as,
a one-hundred-pound bag of coffee
As a rule, when two words taken together are each accented, they must be
written with the hyphen. When only one is accented, no hyphen is used;
as,
follow-up, first-class, self-reliant, railroad,
steamship
As a rule, nouns which are compounded of a participle and a noun use the
hyphen; as,
talking-machine, driving-wheel
When fractions are written out, the hyphen is used; as,
one-third, three-fifths
In other numerals expressing a compound number the hyphen is also used;
as,
twenty-one, sixty-six
=Exercise 196=
Punctuate the following letters, supplying a heading and an introduction
for each:
1
Gentlemen:
We are glad to tell you that contrary to the fears
expressed in your last letter there are no present
indications of sudden changes at least no indications
of drops in prices. With the exception of two fruits
and one vegetable grapes cantaloupes and cauliflower
all commodities sold on the wholesale fruit and
produce markets here were quoted yesterday at the
prices announced last Friday.
The change in grape prices affected the Red Peru
variety in which the supply has almost stopped the
price being raised from $1.05 to $1.25 a box. If one
may trust the forecast of local merchants the price
will probably remain at this higher point until the
supply is exhausted. Cantaloupes seem to be a trifle
scarce especially the pineapple variety the price of
which was raised from $1.10 to $1.30 a crate.
Cauliflower was raised to $1.35 a dozen heads the
staple price probably for the rest of the season.
Excepting these items we shall be glad to receive any
orders at Friday's quotations.
Yours truly,
2
Gentlemen:
Your order of the 20th instant forwarded from our
Trenton office came this morning. We regret to say
however that we do not carry the Sanito brand of
canned goods as we do not consider the grade
first-class. If the Monsoon brand which is generally
acknowledged to be excellent will serve your purpose
we can fill your order at once.
We are now in a position to supply the trade with Mrs.
Keller's coffee of which we have fortunately secured
several thousand packages at a very low price. If you
wish any at $2.50 per dozen packages less than half
the retail price you will notice let us hear from you
at once.
Yours truly,
3
Dear Sir:
We acknowledge your letter of October 5 but we regret
that as yet we have no information in regard to the
excess charge of $1.02 which you were obliged to pay
on the express shipment of one piece 27 yds. of plaid
silk chiffon. We have taken up the matter with the
mill however and as soon as we receive their report we
shall write you again.
Asking your indulgence meanwhile we are
Yours truly,
FOOTNOTE:
[4] Supply heading and introduction (see page 232).