OBSERVATIONS.

OBS. 1.—­The value of the eroteme as a sign of pause, is stated very differently by different grammarians; while many of the vast multitude, by a strange oversight, say nothing about it.  It is unquestionably variable, like that of the dash, or of the ecphoneme.  W. H. Wells says, “The comma requires a momentary pause; the semicolon, a pause somewhat longer than the comma; the colon, a pause somewhat longer than the semicolon; and the period, a full stop.  The note of interrogation, or the note of exclamation, may take the place of EITHER of these, and accordingly requires a pause of the same length as the point for which it is substituted.”—­Wells’s School Gram., p. 175.  This appears to be accurate in idea, though perhaps hardly so in language.  Lindley Murray has stated it thus:  “The interrogation and exclamation points are intermediate as to their quantity or time, and may be equivalent in that respect to a semicolon, a colon, or a period, as the sense may require.”—­Octavo Gram., p. 280.  But Sanborn, in regard to his “Question Point,” awkwardly says:  “This pause is generally some longer than that of a period.”—­Analytical Gram., p. 271.  Buchanan, as long ago as 1767, taught as follows:  “The Pause after the two Points of Interrogation and Admiration ought to be equal to that of the Period, or a Colon at least.”—­English Syntax, p. 160.  And J. S. Hart avers, that, “A question is reckoned as equal to a complete sentence, and the mark of interrogation as equal to a period.”—­Hart’s English Gram., p. 166.  He says also, that, “the first word after a note of interrogation should begin with a capital.”—­Ib., p. 162.  In some instances, however, he, like others, has not adhered to these exceptionable principles, as may be seen by the false grammar cited below.

OBS. 2.—­Sometimes a series of questions may be severally complete in sense, so that each may require the interrogative sign, though some or all of them may be so united in construction, as not to admit either a long intermediate pause or an initial capital; as, “Is there no honor in generosity? nor in preferring the lessons of conscience to the impulses of passion? nor in maintaining the supremacy of moral principle, and in paying reverence to Christian truth?”—­Gannett.  “True honour is manifested in a steady, uniform train of actions, attended by justice, and directed by prudence.  Is this the conduct of the duellist? will justice support him in robbing the community of an able and useful member? and in depriving the poor of a benefactor? will it support him in preparing affliction for the widow’s heart? in filling the orphan’s eyes with tears?”—­Jerningham’s Essay, p. 113.  But, in this latter example, perhaps, commas might be substituted for the second and fourth erotemes; and the word will might, in both instances, begin with a capital.