RULE XV. Correlative Words, Phrases, and Clauses. § I. Two correlative expressions, united by the conjunction as or than, are written without a point between them. § II. But, when united by any other word than these conjunctions, the correlative expressions are distinguished by a comma. EXAMPLES. § I. 1. Men are never | so easily deceived || as when they plot to deceive others. 2. A child in the humblest walks of life is as richly gifted || as in the highest. 3. Only such repentance is beneficial || as makes us wiser and better. 4. Do not spend | more time in bed || than is required for sleep. § II. 1. But though learned and methodical, || yet the teacher was not a pedant. 2. A great man will | neither trample on a worm, || nor cringe before a king. 3. All know that | as virtue is its own reward, || so vice is its own punishment. 4. Yes, the more we see of a truly good man, || the better we love him. "more REMARKS. a. To indicate the true character of the sentences just quoted, we have put two perpendicular lines between each pair of correlative expressions, and a single line before the first expression, in each example. It will be seen, that the phrases or clauses beginning severally with the correlative words, “so—as," as-as," " "such-as," -than," which occur in the first class of examples, have a stronger attraction to each other than those commencing with the correlatives "though-yet," "neither-nor," as-so," "the morethe better," in the second; and that, on this account, the expressions under the former division are properly written without commas, and those under the latter with them. 99 66 b. When the conjunction but is improperly used, after so, for as and a negative, the sentence is subject to the principle of punctuation contained in the first section of the rule; as, "There is no opinion so absurd but has [as not to have] some philosopher or other to produce in its support." c. When, in sentences referable to the first division of the rule, the last of the correlative words requires a comma after it, a comma should also be inserted between the correlative expressions; as,“ The mind that boasts of its rich endowments is so limited and cramped, as, in comparison with what it might enjoy, to be utterly poor and naked." It is evident, that, without the point before the conjunction as, this word would seem to be more closely united with the preceding than with the following portion of the sentence, to which it rather belongs. d. Correlative expressions should be separated, if ambiguity of sense would be occasioned in any instance by the omission of the comma before the second correlative; as, "Greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues." Without the point, the sentence might be improperly read so as to mean,- "Greater is he that prophesieth with tongues than he that speaketh with tongues." e. So, also, in respect to the same class of sentences, the correlative expressions are better separated by a comma, when they consist of two or more phrases; as, "We can no more preserve a stationary attitude in the moral world, than we can refuse to accompany the physical earth | in its rotation." Here, the insertion of the point, though not essential, shows more clearly those portions of the sentence to which each set of phrases belongs, and by this means serves to bring out the sense. f. As an exception to the second division of the rule, it may be remarked, that the comma is better omitted between clauses containing the correlative words so or such-that, when they are closely connected; as," John was so much injured that he could not walk.”"The earthquake produced such a shock that it awoke us all." g. But if these correlatives are placed at or near the beginning of the clauses to which they respectively belong, or if the last correlative word has a comma after it, the clauses should be separated, agreeably to the rule; as, " So benevolent a man was he, that almost every act of his was devoted to the well-being of his race."—"Man is so created, that, let his wants be as simple as they will, he must labor to supply them." h. Expressions beginning with both—and, whether—or, either—or, neither-nor, are generally separated by a comma when each is a clause, but left unpointed when one of them is a phrase; as," Neither flatter yourselves, nor permit others to flatter you."-"We cannot trace either their causes or their effects." ORAL EXERCISES. Agreeably to Rule XV. (p. 93), state why some of the following sentences are printed with, and others without, the comma: It is easier to rouse the passions than to direct the mind. She is as good as he. No one is so much alone in the universe as a denier of God. As we do to others, so shall it be done unto us. Man gains wider dominion by his intellect than by his right arm. Wherever man is, there are the elements of poetry. Every one has as much vanity as he is deficient in understanding. Though truth is fearless and absolute, yet she is meek and modest. We can discover nothing so sublime as the spirit of self-sacrifice. Show how the preceding Remarks will apply to the punctuation of correlative clauses and phrases in the following sentences: No errors are so trivial but they deserve to be mended, and no sin so slight but it should be repented of and renounced. Our sympathy is always awakened more by hearing the speaker, than by reading his works in our closet. Only such sorrow purifies and blesses, as comes to us in the pursuit of high and noble ends. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox, and hatred therewith. Virtue is so amiable that even the vicious admire it. - So frowned the mighty combatants, that hell grew darker at the sight. Such was the rush of the people, that but few could be admitted to the lecture. Grace of manners is so essential to rulers, that, whenever it is neglected, their virtues lose a great degree of lustre. Whether my gift be liberal, or whether it be niggardly, is not the question. Whether right or wrong, I am held responsible. We can neither fly from the presence of God, nor escape his sight. Virtue is neither a phantom nor a vain vision. c. When, in sentences referable to the first division of the rule, the last of the correlative words requires a comma after it, a comma should also be inserted between the correlative expressions; as, "The mind that boasts of its rich endowments is so limited and cramped, as, in comparison with what it might enjoy, to be utterly poor and naked." It is evident, that, without the point before the conjunction as, this word would seem to be more closely united with the preceding than with the following portion of the sentence, to which it rather belongs. d. Correlative expressions should be separated, if ambiguity of sense would be occasioned in any instance by the omission of the comma before the second correlative; as, “Greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues." Without the point, the sentence might be improperly read so as to mean, "Greater is he that prophesieth with tongues than he that speaketh with tongues." - e. So, also, in respect to the same class of sentences, the correlative expressions are better separated by a comma, when they consist of two or more phrases; as, "We can no more preserve a stationary attitude in the moral world, than we can refuse to accompany the physical earth | in its rotation." Here, the insertion of the point, though not essential, shows more clearly those portions of the sentence to which each set of phrases belongs, and by this means serves to bring out the sense. f. As an exception to the second division of the rule, it may be remarked, that the comma is better omitted between clauses containing the correlative words so or such-that, when they are closely connected; as," John was so much injured that he could not walk.”— "The earthquake produced such a shock that it awoke us all.” g. But if these correlatives are placed at or near the beginning of the clauses to which they respectively belong, or if the last correlative word has a comma after it, the clauses should be separated, agreeably to the rule; as," So benevolent a man was he, that almost every act of his was devoted to the well-being of his race."—"Man is so created, that, let his wants be as simple as they will, he must labor to supply them." h. Expressions beginning with both-and, whether-or, either-or, neither-nor, are generally separated by a comma when each is a clause, but left unpointed when one of them is a phrase; as, " Neither flatter yourselves, nor permit others to flatter you."-"We cannot trace either their causes or their effects." ORAL EXERCISES. Agreeably to Rule XV. (p. 93), state why some of the following sentences are printed with, and others without, the comma: — It is easier to rouse the passions than to direct the mind. She is as good as he. No one is so much alone in the universe as a denier of God. As we do to others, so shall it be done unto us. Man gains wider dominion by his intellect than by his right arm. Every one has as much vanity as he is deficient in understanding. Though truth is fearless and absolute, yet she is meek and modest. The more industrious you are, the sooner will you learn a trade. Be governed more by a regard to duty than by a prospect of gain. Such as the tree is, such will be the fruit. We can discover nothing so sublime as the spirit of self-sacrifice. The better a proverb is, the more trite it generally becomes. Show how the preceding Remarks will apply to the punctuation of correlative clauses and phrases in the following sentences: — No errors are so trivial but they deserve to be mended, and no sin so slight but it should be repented of and renounced. Our sympathy is always awakened more by hearing the speaker, than by reading his works in our closet. Only such sorrow purifies and blesses, as comes to us in the pursuit of high and noble ends. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox, and hatred therewith. Virtue is so amiable that even the vicious admire it. So frowned the mighty combatants, that hell grew darker at the sight. Such was the rush of the people, that but few could be admitted to the lecture. Grace of manners is so essential to rulers, that, whenever it is neglected, their virtues lose a great degree of lustre. Whether my gift be liberal, or whether it be niggardly, is not the question. Whether right or wrong, I am held responsible. We can neither fly from the presence of God, nor escape his sight. Virtue is neither a phantom nor a vain vision. |