Part 40 (2/2)
_The Colon_ (:)
123 Use the colon after an introduction to a long or formal quotation, before an enumeration, or after a word, phrase, or sentence that constitutes an introduction to so that follows
Mr Royer says in his letter: ”You will remember that I promised to send you a copy ofit to you to-day”
There are four essentials of a legal contract: coal subject matter
124 Use the colon after the salutation of a formal letter (See --161)
_The Dash_ (--)
125 Use the dash to indicate any sudden break in thought or construction
I am pleased to meet you, Captain--what did you say your name is?
The man I met--I refer to Captain Jones--was in the naval service
126 Use the dash in the place of the comma to set off more definitely so what I needed most--money
127 Use the dash preceded by a co part of a sentence
Democrats, Republicans, Prohibitionists, Socialists, and Populists,--_all_ were there
128 Do not use dashes where not required or in place of some other mark of punctuation
_The Parenthesis Marks_ ( )
129 Use the parenthesis marks only to enclose a stateras (at least so it is said) to every secret society in town
130 Do not use a comma or other punctuation mark with the parenthesis marks unless it would be required even if there were no parenthesis
When other punctuation is used it should follow the parenthesis
They sent us (as they had agreed to do) all the papers in the case
We expect John to bring his roommate home with him (he has been very anxious to do so); but we expect no one else
Modern usage is to avoid entirely the use of the parentheses
_The Bracket_ [ ]
131 Use the bracket to enclose some statement or word of the writer that is thrown into a quotation by way of explanation or otherwise
His letter reads: ”We have decided to get Mr Howard [his cousin]