The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-02-11

There are only two very necessary
marks in average writing
,r espondence-the comma and the
period. Punctuation is governed by
1atu, al laws of expression. The trouble
with most writer's is they use too many
punctuation marks and the present
is to eliminate as many of |
them as possible. Therefore tie semi |
colon is practically obsolete and is
never used except in financial tables to
separate clauses of figures as may be
noticed in the style used in printing
cell transfers in this journal.
Simple spelling will never come
prot ably-but simple punctuation is
here. All sentences of course are
closet with period to denote the end
of the thought to be conveyed on paper
and should be properly closed with a
full stop indicating it to be the final
end.
Now take the above sentence for ex-
ample aud note the absence of all
punctuation marks except the period
at the end. Here is now given the old
style OF punctuatiny the above-men-
toned Paragraph: All sentences, of
course, are clos ed with period, to de-
note the end of tie thought to be con-
yeyed on paper and should be properly
closed with a full stop, indicating it to
be the final end.
TIE old style of punctuation as fol-
lows is obsolete or out of use.
Mr.. John Brown, of Brownsville, was
in town yesterday, and believing it
might a n, went to the barn, hltched
up his team, aud looking skyward, inn
mediatey started for home. All the
commas may be eliminated. They are
unnecessary. In only few instances
is comma now used before the con-
junction and. In speaking there is u.s.
ually a normal Inhalation of the bre attn
before saying and-thus lie iding to the
old sty;e of placing comma before it
but it is unnecessary.
For the benefit of stating thiags most
explicately will write short letter
unpunctuated and will then follow it
with a repetition giving the correct
| punctuation according to latest meth
Ods.
Mr. David Pillsbury
Boston Mass
Ny De IT Sir
lam in receipt of your valued ia
vor of February and will thank you
to send me 1000 dozens of number si1
spool cord Enclosed find draft or
First National Bank of New York fol
eight hundred dollars am
Yours very truly
/ Michael Jenning'
Saltwater MINI Feb 1909
J, Mr.. David Tillsbury,
i Boston, Mass.
My Dear Sir:
| am in receipt of your valued ia
/, yor of February and will thank yo'
to send me 1000 dozens of number 81:
spool cord. Enclosed find draft Of
First Natioral Bank of New York 70
eight hundred dollars. am
| Yours very truly,
II Michael Jennings
saltwater. Mimi, Feb. 5, 1909.
i More punctuation marks may be use
3 but the above are enough. The cor
: fusion with many arises from the to
: frequent use of punctuation mark
The tendency on the part of typ
a writists is to follow the rule when
q doubt use comma. The best rule
{ follow is to use period at the end
q a sentence and let the other marks 6
e to the scrap heap of oblivion. Thel
should be period at the end Of ever
; abbreviatitn> n Thus: Mister abbrevia
4 ed to Mr. should have q period after
9 as, Mr.. Parenthesis and brackets a
d little used now adays. Quotation mari
a e" aroused only in quoting what othe
# say but the object Of these few lines
II to promote simpliied punctuation. N
d enough attention IS paid to this bran'
IS of education and it is q very essenti
ID and importants one. Many exampl
a. might be given but it is unnecessary
20 this time to~do SO. The simplest ru
A for punctuation is this one: Punctua
a as you talk. Eliminate the use Of col
a. mas as much as possible. Use she
sentences in com position and not lo