How to parse. ...

Par. 307-309.] PUNVCTUA TION.

191

sentence follows its principal Verb, there is not so
much need of a pause or division, and consequently
the Comma may be dispensed with. Compare -
" Very gradually, his health and strength re(1) turned."
" His health and strength returned very gradually."
"As soon as he caught sight of me, he ran
(2) away."
" He ran away as soon as he caught sight of
me."
307 II. When the Subject-phrase is short, and the
omission of the Comma produces no ambiguity, it
is omitted:(1) " What you say is very sensible."
(2) "To be ignorant is to be weak."
308 III. Caution.- The Comma ought not to be inserted (1) before "that" introducing an Objectphrase, nor (2) before " that" introducing a Subject
after " Preparatory it." Avoid the following: -
(1) "The ambassador replied, that no interference
was needed."
(2) "It was the common belief, that the house was
haunted by the ghost of a murdered woman."
309 The Colon and Semicolon. - The Colon
(meaning "limb" or "member ") is used after a
"member " of a sentence; that is, after a portion