A. Tranfpofition is the putting the Words in a Sentence, or Sentences, out of their natural Order; that is, putting Words or Sentences before, which fhould come after, and Words or Sentences after, which. fhould come before.

The Subftantive is often put out of its Place, efpecially when there or it is fet before the Verb; as, There was a Man, i. c. a Man was; It is the Custom, i. e. The Cuftom is.

So always in an Interrogative Sentence.

So Adjectives, efpecially if a Verb come between the Subftantive and the Adjective; as, Happy is the Man, for the Man is happy.

The Prepolition is frequently transplaced; as, Whom do you dine with? for, With whom do you dine? What Place do you come from? for, From what Place do you come?

Q. Why do they place Words out of their natural Order?

A. To render the Words more harmonious or agreeable to the Ear.

Q. May we then tranfplace all Words in every Sentence as we please?

A. No; not always, but we must in this, as in all other things, follow the Ufe of the best Speak

ers.

We fhall obferve one Thing, which is, that the best and cleareft Writers have the feweft Tranipofitions in their Difcourfes; and that they are more allowable in Poetry than in Profe, because it is there generally fweeter and more agreeable to the Ear. For Example: Any Thing, though never fo little, which a Man speaks of himself, in my Opinion, is ftill too much. The natural Order is thus: Any Thing is too much, in my Opinion, which a Man fpeaks of himfelf, though never fo little.

Soi

Ceafe I to wander where the Mufes haunt,
Clear Spring, or hady Grove, or funny Hill,
Smit with the Love of facred Song; but chief
Thee Sion, and the flowry Brooks beneath

That wah thy hallowed Feet, and warbling flow,
Nightly I vifit, &c.

The natural Order is thus: Yet finit with the Love of facred Song, I ceafe not to wander, Sr. But chief, I nightly vifit thee Sion, &c.

Of Man's first Disobedience, and the Fruit
Of that forbidden Tree, whofe mortal Tafte
Brought Death into the World, and all our Wat,
With Lofs of Eden, till one greater Man
Reflore us and regain the blissful Seat,

Sing heavenly Muse, &c.

The Order is thus: Heavenly Mufe fing of Man's firft Difobedience:

Q. What is Ellipfis?

A. Elliptis is the leaving out of Words

in a Sentence.

Q. May We leave out what Words we please in

a Sentence?

A. No. But whatever Words may be as well understood when left out, as they would be if they were mentioned, may be left out in a Sen

tence.

Q. Upon what account may Words' be left out?
A. Words may be left out upon four ac-:

Counts.

I. When a Word has been mentioned juft before, and may be fuppofed to be kept in Mind, then it is often left out. As, Cæfar came, and faw, and conquered; where you need not fay, Cefar came, Cafar faw, and Cæfar conquered: So, ye have eaten more than we, i. c. than we have eaten. This Book is the Mafler's, i. e. Book. Whefe Horse is this? Ours, i. c. our Horse.

.

Therefore in a Relative Sentence, (a Sentence having who, which, or that in it) the Antecedent [foregoing] Word is feldom repeated: As, I bought the Horfe which you fold, i. e. which Horfe, &c. The line is bad which you fent me, i. e. which Wine, &c. What Words 1 fpoke, thofe I deny, i. e. thofe Words, &c.

II. When any Word is to be mentioned straight or prefently, if it can be well understood, it may be left out in the former Part. As, I ever did, and ever will love you, i.e. I ever did love, &c. Drink ye white or red Wine, i. e. Drink ye White Wine, or, &c. The best of the Churches is Paul's, i. e. the beft Church of the Churches is Paul's Church; or to put it into the natural Order; Paul's Church is the best Church of the Churches.

III. When the Thought is expreffed by fome other means; as, Who is he? Pointing to a Man, you need not fay, What Man is that Man?

IV. Thofe Words which, upon the mentioning of others, must needs be fuppofed to be meant, may be left out; as, When you come to Paul's then turn to the left, every body knows you mean Paul's Church, and the left Hand, therefore thofe Words need not be expreffed. The Prepofition to is often left out; as, Reach me the Book, for Reach the Book to me. Hand is often left out; as, turn to the Right, turn to the Left, i. e. to the right Hand, to the left Hand, &c.

Thing and Act are frequently left out when they may be understood: As, It is hard to travel through the Snow, i. e. It is a hard Thing, &c. It is eafy to do fo, i. e. It is an eafy Thing or A&t,&c.

The Cople that is often left out in a compounded Sentence, &c. as, I defire (that) you would write for me. I think I faw him, i. e. that I faw,

&c.

The Relatives, that, which, who, whom, may be omitted or left out; as, This is the Man I killed, i. c. that or whom. Give me the Horfe you fole, i.c. which you ftole, &c. Is this the Man ye Spoke of? i. c. of whom ye spoke.

CHA P. IV. .

Of the Points or Paufes in a Sentence..

THE

HE Method of diftinguishing the Sense in a Sentence, properly belongs to that Part of Grammar that is called Syntax. For in a Sentence, not only its Structure or Order is to be regarded, but alfo Diftinction. For the Ufe of Stops is not only to mark the Distance of Time in pronouncing, but also to prevent any Confufion or Obfcurity in the Senfe, by diftinguithing Words from Words, and Sentences from Sentences.

Q. How many chief Points or Stops are there?

A. The Points or Stops that direct what kind of Paufe is to be oblerved, are four: A Comma (,) a Semicolon (;) a Colon (:) A Period or full Stop (.).

Note, Of these we fhall immediately treat, after having taken notice, that Writing being the Picture or Image of Speech, ought to be adapted unto all the material Circumstances of it; and confequently, Luit

must have fome Marks to denote these various Manners of Pronunciation: Which may be fufficiently done by thefe fix kinds of Marks or Points.

Q. How many Points or Marks are there to denote the various Manners of Pronunciation ? A: Six.

Q. Which are they?

A. 1. Parenthefis. 2. Parathefis. 3. Erotefis. 4. Ecphonefis. 5. Emphafis. 6. Irony. Q. What is Parenthesis?

A. A Parenthefis or Interpofition ferves for the Diftinction of fuch an additional Part of a Sentence, as is not neceffary to perfect the Senfe of it; and is ufually expreffed by the inclofing of fuch Words betwixt two curve or crooked Lines, (). As, Your Kindness to me, (which I account a very great Happiness) makes me undergo, &c.

Note, Some do ufe this Point wrong, when they include as I think, as he fays, &c. in this Point; where it is fufficient to fet only a Comma, or at molt a Semicolon on each Side. We ought alfo to take care that our Parenthesis's be not too frequent or too long, nor crammed one into another, for that obfcures and darkens the Senfe.

Q. What is a Parathefis?

A. A Parathefis or Expofition is ufed for Diftinétion of fuch Words as are added by way of Explication, or of explaining fomething that preceeds or goes before, and is ufually expreffed by incloting fuch Words between two angular Lines, []. As, Angular Lines, [Brackets] mark the Point called a Parathefis.

Q. What is an Erotefis, or an Interrogative, Point?.

A. An Erotefis or Interrogation is a kind of Period for the Distinction of fuch Sentences as are

pro