en a set of rules too fragmentary and too incomplete
for any real guidance and a set of rules too long to be remembered and
used.

After all possible has been done to indicate the best usage it remains
true that the writer or the printer must, in the last resort, depend
very largely on himself for the proper application of certain
principles. The compositor may find himself helped, or restricted, by
the established style of the office, or he may at times be held to
strict following of copy. When left to himself he must be guided by the
following general principles:

I. The comma is used to separate for the eye what is separate in
thought.

The comma is not intended to break the matter up into lengths suited to
the breath of one reading aloud.

The comma is not an aesthetic device to improve the appearance of the
line.

II. The sole purpose of the comma is the unfolding of the sense of the
words.

III. The comma cannot be correctly used without a thorough understanding
of the sense of the words.

IV. In case of doubt, omit the comma.

THE SEMICOLON

The semicolon is used to denote a degree of separation greater than that
indicated by the comma, but less than that indicated by the colon. It
prevents the repetition of the comma and keeps apart the more important
members of the sentence. The semicolon is generally used in long
sentences, but may sometimes be properly used in short ones.

_Rules for the Use of the Semicolon_

1. When the members of a compound sentence are complex or contain
commas.

Franklin, like many others, was a printer; but, unlike the others,
he was student, statesman, and publicist as well.

With ten per cent of this flour the bread acquired a slight flavor
of rye; fifteen per cent gave it a dark color; a further addition
made the baked crumb very hard.

The meeting was composed of representatives from the following
districts: Newton, 4 delegates, 2 substitutes; Dorchester, 6
delegates, 3 substitutes; Quincy, 8 delegates, 4 substitutes;
Brookline, 10 delegates, 5 substitutes.

2. When the members of a compound sentence contain statements distinct,
but not sufficiently distinct to be thrown into separate sentences.

Sit thou a patient looker-on;
Judge not the play before the play be done;
Her plot has many changes; every day
Speaks a new scene. The last act crowns the play.

3. When each of the members of a compound