Exercise 169 — Quotation Marks (" “)
1. When a speaker’s words are quoted exactly, they should be enclosed in quotation marks. This is called a direct quotation.
He said, “The business is growing.”
Notice that the word said is followed by a comma, and that the quotation begins with a capital letter.
2. If the quotation itself is a question, although it forms part of a declarative sentence, it requires an interrogation mark before the quotation mark; as,
Have you been waiting long?
She opened the door and said, “Have you been waiting long?”
3. The same applies to a quotation that requires an exclamation mark; as,
Look!
He cried, “Look!”
4. When the words of explanation follow the quoted words, the punctuation is as follows:
(a) When the quotation is a declarative sentence, put a comma after the quotation and begin the words of explanation with a small letter; as,
“The business is growing,” he said.
(b) When the quotation is a question, conclude it with an interrogation mark, and begin the words of explanation with a small letter; as,
“Have you been waiting long?” she asked.
(c) When the quotation is an exclamation, conclude it with an exclamation mark, and begin the words of explanation with a small letter; as,
“Look!” he cried.
5. When the author’s words of explanation interrupt the speaker’s words, the punctuation is as follows:
(a) When the interrupted parts are not naturally separated by any punctuation mark, the comma is used as follows:
I do not believe that the report is true.
“I do not believe,” he said, “that the report is true.”
Notice in what way the quotation marks show that the words he said do not belong to the quoted words.
(b) Whatever mark of punctuation would naturally appear between the interrupted parts must be used; as,
(1) I shall buy the Boston ferns; they seem to require but little care.
“I shall buy the Boston ferns,” she said; “they seem to require but little care.”
(2) Oh! The flames are higher!
“Oh!” she cried. “The flames are higher!”
4. Division into sentences is made within a quotation just as elsewhere. When the thought ends, the sentence must end. The different sentences, however, must not be divided by quotation marks; as,
“The train came in,” said he, “half an hour ago. I do not see them in the waiting room. I think they did not come.”
5. When a quotation is very long, consisting of several paragraphs, quotation marks should be placed at the beginning of the quotation, at the beginning of each succeeding paragraph, and at the end of the quotation—not at the end of each paragraph.
6. When a quotation occurs within a quotation, the one within is distinguished by single marks; as,
John explained, “After I had told Mr. Brown how I thought the work could be done more easily, he said, ‘Thank you for your suggestion.’”
7. Any words quoted from a book or article, or any words quoted with a special significance, such as slang, should be enclosed in quotation marks; as,
The day of the salesman who is satisfied with the “good old way” is fast passing.
8. A formal question, statement, or resolution for a debate is not enclosed in quotation marks; as,
The question we are to discuss is, Shall women vote?
Exercise 170
Punctuate the following, dividing into sentences wherever the sense demands division:
1. Thank you for your suggestion said Mr. Brown
2. Mr. Brown said thank you for your suggestion
3. Thank you said Mr. Brown for your suggestion
4. If you will ask the shipping clerk I volunteered I think you can get definite information
5. How can we enforce the law asked the man
6. The law cried the man how can we enforce the law
7. Tell me said the man how we can enforce the law
8. Tell me this said the man how can we enforce the law
9. The question before us is how can we enforce the law
10. John whispered did you hear his mother say yes you may go
11. As I was walking along the river he continued I heard a voice cry help
12. Halt shouted the captain the bridge is down
13. The captain shouted halt the bridge is down
14. We cannot cross said the captain the bridge is down
15. The bridge is down said the captain and I fear there is no other way to cross
16. Is the bridge down asked the captain does no one know another way to cross
17. The captain said the bridge is down do you know another way to cross
18. What shall we do asked a soldier if the bridge is down
19. Do cried the captain swim that’s what we’ll do
20. As we were riding along spoke up one of the soldiers I heard a farmer shout you fellows better try the bridge lower down
Exercise 171—Indirect Discourse
In the preceding exercise we saw different forms of direct quotations, or direct discourse. In each case, the speaker’s words were quoted exactly. When the substance of the thought is given in slightly different form, we have an indirect quotation, or indirect discourse, in which no quotation marks are used. An indirect quotation is usually a subordinate clause depending on a word of thinking, saying, telling, or the like. Indirect statements are usually introduced by that, and indirect questions by when, where, why, whether, if, who, which, what, and the like. When a sentence is changed from direct to indirect discourse, the person and usually the tense of the direct quotation are changed; as,
Direct: He said, “I do not believe the report.”
Indirect: He said that he did not believe the report.
Direct: He said, “Germany is over-populated.”
Indirect: He said that Germany is over-populated. (See Exercise 107.)
Direct: She said, “I did my work before I went to school.”
Indirect: She said that she had done her work before she went to school.
Direct: “I have finished my work,” said the girl.
Indirect: She says that she has finished her work.
Direct: “Why didn’t he succeed?” I asked.
Indirect: I asked why he had not succeeded.
Direct: “When may I go?” she inquired.
Indirect: She inquired when she might go.
In the following change the italicized parts to direct quotations. Do not change the paragraphing.
1
The Seal’s Lesson
The baby seal said that he could not swim.
His mother answered that he could try.
The little fellow persisted that he could never learn.
His mother looked at him sternly, and said that every seal must learn to swim.
He replied that the water was cold and that he liked the sand better, but because his mother insisted, he slid into the water whimpering.
After he had gone a short distance, he turned around and called out that the water was much pleasanter than the sand.
His mother said that she knew that it would be so. She said that young people must do as they are told because they have not had enough experience to judge for themselves.
2
A Faithful Servant
A certain old time king said that he needed a servant who could be depended upon. He said he knew that such a man is difficult to secure, and in the hope of getting the right one, he would hire two.
When he had engaged them, he took them to a well and, showing them a large basket, told them to fill it with water. He said that he would return at night to see what they had done.
The men were very much in earnest when they began the work, but, after pouring five or six bucketfuls of water into the basket, one of them stopped and said that he did not see any use in doing that because, as soon as he poured the water in, it ran out again, and his time was lost.
His companion replied that the kind of work that their master gave them was no concern of theirs; that they were paid to do the work; and, whether it seemed useful to them or not, they ought to do it.
The first speaker said that the other man could do as he pleased, but, as for him, he did not expect to waste his time on such foolish work. Throwing his bucket down, he walked off.
The one that was left continued at the work until about sunset, when he had nearly emptied the well. Looking into the basket, he saw something glittering. Stooping to look more closely, he found in the basket a ring of great value which his bucket had scooped up from the mud at the bottom of the well. He said that now he knew why the king had wanted the water poured into the basket.
Shortly afterward, when the king came up with some of his officers and saw the ring in the basket, he knew that the man had obeyed him, and he said that he knew he could trust him, and as a reward for obedience he would make him master over other servants.
Exercise 172—The Paragraph in Dialogue
In conversation the words of each speaker, together with the author’s words of explanation, form one paragraph. Whenever the speaker changes, the paragraph changes; as,
“Mimer,” boldly said the god Odin to the gray old guardian of the well where wit and wisdom lie hidden, “Mimer, let me drink of the waters of wisdom.”
“Truly, Odin,” answered Mimer, “it is a great treasure that you seek and one which many have sought before but who, when they knew the price of it, turned back.”
Then replied Odin, “I would give my right hand for wisdom willingly.”
“Nay,” rejoined the remorseless Mimer, “it is not your right hand, but your right eye, you must give.”—Keary: The Heroes of Asgard.
However, when one speaker talks at length, what he says is formed into paragraphs according to the divisions into which it falls. (See Chapter XIV.)
When a short quotation is simply part of a paragraph, it is punctuated as follows:
This, however, was of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind. Often when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, “Don’t give too much for the whistle,” and I saved my money.
Paragraph the following:
1
On the next morning we had gone but a mile or two when we came to an extensive belt of woods, through the midst of which ran a stream, wide, deep, and of an appearance particularly muddy and treacherous. In plunged the cart, but midway it stuck fast. Then approached the long team and heavy wagon of our friends, but it paused on the brink. “Now my advice is,—” began the captain, who had been anxiously contemplating the muddy gulf. “Drive on!” cried R. But Wright, the muleteer, apparently had not as yet decided the point in his own mind. He sat still in his seat on one of the shaft-mules, whistling in a low, contemplative strain to himself. “My advice is,” resumed the captain, “that we unload; for I’ll bet any man five pounds that if we try to go through, we shall stick fast.” “By the powers, we shall stick fast!” echoed Jack, the captain’s brother, shaking his large head with an air of conviction. “Drive on! drive on!” petulantly cried R. “Well,” observed the captain, turning to us as we sat looking on, “I can only give my advice; and if people won’t be reasonable, why, they won’t, that’s all!”—Parkman: The Oregon Trail.
2
Rebecca walked up the lane and went to the side door. There was a porch there. Seated in a rocking-chair, husking corn, was a good-looking young man. Rebecca was a trifle shy at this encounter, but there was nothing to do except explain her presence; so she asked, “Is the lady of the house at home?.” “I am the lady of the house at present,” said the stranger with a whimsical smile. “What can I do for you?” “Have you ever heard of the—would you like—er I mean, do you need any soap?” queried Rebecca. “Do I look as if I do?” he responded unexpectedly. Rebecca dimpled. “I didn’t mean that; I have some soap to sell; I mean I would like to introduce to you a very remarkable soap, the best now on the market. It is called the—” “Oh! I must know that soap,” said the gentleman genially. “Made out of pure vegetable fats, isn’t it?” “The very purest,” corroborated Rebecca. “No acid in it?” “Not a trace.” “And yet a child could do the Monday washing with it and use no force?” “A babe,” corrected Rebecca. “Oh! a babe, eh? That child grows younger every year, instead of older—wise child!”—Wiggin: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.
Change the following from indirect to direct discourse and paragraph:
When Whittier went on his first fishing trip, it was a day in early summer. The long afternoon shadows lay cool on the grass. The boy said that the flowers seemed brighter and the birds merrier than ever before. When they came to a bend in the river, his uncle said that this was a good place to try. He told the boy to throw out his line as he had seen others do and move it on the surface of the water in imitation of the leap of a frog. The boy did as he was told, but he caught no fish. His uncle said that he should try again. Suddenly the bait sank out of sight, and the boy cried out that he had caught a fish at last. As he spoke, he pulled up a tangle of weeds. His uncle said that he should try again, because fishermen must have patience. In a moment the boy felt something tug at his line, and as he jerked it up, he saw a fine pickerel wriggling in the sun. In uncontrollable excitement he called out to his uncle, telling him to look at the big pickerel. His uncle said that the boy didn’t have it yet, and as he spoke there was a splash in the water, and the boy’s hook hung empty. His uncle assured him that there were more fish in the river, but the boy would not be comforted. His uncle smiled shrewdly and told Whittier to remember never to brag of catching a fish until it was on dry land. He said that he had seen older people doing that in more ways than one, and so making fools of themselves. He said that it was better not to boast of doing a thing until it was done.
Exercise 173—The Comma (,)
Rule 1.—The comma is used to separate a direct quotation from the words of explanation.
For illustration see the foregoing exercises.
Write the following from dictation; then compare your version with the original:
Literature, the ministry, medicine, the law, and other occupations are hindered for want of men to do the work. To test this statement thoroughly you need only hunt up a first-class editor, reporter, business manager, foreman of a shop, mechanic, or artist in any branch of industry and try to hire him. You will find that he is already hired. He is sober, industrious, capable, reliable, and always in demand. He cannot get a day’s holiday except by courtesy of his employer, or of his city, or of the great general public. But if you need idlers, shirkers, half-instructed, unambitious, and comfort-seeking editors, reporters, lawyers, doctors, and mechanics apply anywhere.
—Mark Twain.
Rule 2.—The comma is used to separate the members of a series.
Exercise 174
Divide the following into sentences and supply the necessary commas:
Abraham Lincoln was a tall strong powerfully built boy he could lift a load cut down a tree or build a fence more quickly than any one else in the neighborhood his perseverance in his boyhood helps us to appreciate the firm true steady hand that guided our country through its great crisis Lincoln unceasingly showed his wise brain his great courage and his kindness of heart his character was not made in a day nor a month nor a year it was built up after years of yearning years of striving and years of hard work.
In the above point out the instances where the comma is used—
1. When several nouns follow one another, all being in the same case.
2. When several adjectives follow one another, all modifying the same noun.
3. When a succession of phrases modifies the same noun.
This kind of succession is called a series. Each new member gives a new idea, the comma being used to help the reader to separate one from the next with ease. Notice that the comma is used between the last two members before the coördinate conjunction as well as between the other members.
2
Dear Sir:4
You can make no mistake in buying BCL Power Co. bonds now the company supplies power to mines and towns of Colorado Utah and Idaho it furnishes electric light and power to Ophir Ouray Ames Pandora and other towns in Colorado in Utah it supplies light to Mescal Eureka Provo Logan and Bingham it also furnishes power for the street railway systems of Salt Lake City Farmington and Ogden.
The bonds offer such good security good interest and ready convertibility that we expect our allotment to be heavily oversubscribed will you therefore send us your order before Monday
Yours truly,
3
Imagine the scene: a little hollow in the prairie forming a perfect amphitheater the yellow grass and wild oats grazed short a herd of horses staring from the slope I myself standing in the middle like a ring-master in a circus and this wonderful horse performing at his own free will. He trotted powerfully he galloped gracefully he thundered at full speed he lifted forelegs to welcome he flung out hind legs to repel he leaped as if springing over bayonets he pranced and curvetted as if he were the pretty plaything of a girl and finally he trotted up and snuffed about me—just out of reach.
4
Dear Madam:4
Our Style Book shows you the best of the season’s styles for ladies misses and children it contains illustrations of the latest kinds of long coats of skirts in the most fashionable cuts and materials of hats that are new and particularly becoming and of dresses with the newest sleeves and collars we are especially sure that you will like our waists they are artistic in design stylish in cut and excellent in workmanship they are selected from the leading fashion centers are the creations of the best costumers and always have individuality twenty years of selling goods by mail have given us experience skill and knowledge that make it certain we can please you.
The enclosed coupon is good for fifty cents on a five dollar order one dollar and twenty-five cents on a ten dollar order and two dollars on an order for fifteen dollars or more this offer expires September 30.
Yours truly,
5
Increased wages shorter hours and perhaps lower efficiency for the hours worked have done more to raise the cost of living than almost anything else this higher cost of production we see on the farm in the factory in transportation in merchandising and even in domestic service we cannot double the cost of excavating brick-laying plumbing and decorating and expect not to double the rents that we must pay the cost of building has increased as the demands of laborers increased as their hours of work decreased and as their wages advanced the materials that go into a building the transportation of that material the labor of assembling it and the labor of fashioning it into a building have all advanced in price.
Moreover, high living has a great deal to do with the high cost of living because it has made most of us think that we must have more conveniences more luxuries more clothes and more amusements than our fathers had with a return to the thrift of our fathers with a return to their desire for work we shall no longer feel the grip of the high cost of living there is a real danger to our nation in our extravagance in our indifference to cost in our sweep toward ease and idleness and in our growing antipathy for work.
Exercise 175
Write five sentences illustrating series of words; five illustrating series of phrases; and five illustrating series of clauses.