XXIII. A series of words which explain a clause should be preceded by the colon.

Four boys deserve particular attention: John, James, Charles, and Henry.

XXIV. The colon introduces a second clause which explains the first clause.

One thing I know: she is a lady.

I have thought over every phase of the question and can reach but one conclusion: this corporation must not be killed.

Frequently the second clause is a direct quotation, introduced formally.

These were his words: "Say what you may, I care not for the consequences."

Note. The colon is used before a long quotation, but frequently the comma is used before a short one. See rule xvii.

XXV. The colon introduces a series of clauses to explain the first clause.

The battle of Actium was one of the most important in ancient history: it saved European civilization from undue Oriental influence; it ended the long anarchy which followed the murder of Caesar; and it placed the destiny of the empire in the hands of an able statesman.

The lesson for to-day is as follows: (1) we are to know the uses of the colon; (2) we are to write an incident; (3) we are to pick out and copy in the notebooks twenty-four of the best lines from "The Vision of Sir Launfal."

XXVI. The colon sometimes separates clauses which are subdivided by semicolons.

A clause is either independent or dependent: independent, if it forms an assertion by itself; dependent, if it enters into some other clause with the value of a part of speech.

XXVII. The colon should be used with the formal salutation of a letter. (See also rule xix).

Mr. J. W. Brown, Dear Mr. Brown:

Boston, Mass. Dear Sir:

Exercises

109. Copy the following sentences, completing the punctuation:

1. The contrast between the Greeks and the Orientals was at its height at Thermopylae on the one side the Persian officers scourged their men to battle on the other the Spartans voluntarily faced certain death in obedience to law.

2. On the base of his statue his countrymen placed this epitaph "Had your strength equaled your will Demosthenes the Macedonian War God would never have conquered Greece."

3. They had one virtue under the whip they could whirl a sledge over the snow farther and faster than a horse could trot in a day.

4. There are fines imposed for tardiness at rehearsals five dollars for a period not exceeding fifteen minutes ten dollars for a longer one and ten dollars for absence unless there is sufficient excuse.

110. Write in a single sentence what subjects you are studying in school this year. Use the colon in this exercise. (See rule XXIII).

111. Write in a single sentence, using the colon, the reason or reasons why you came to this school.

112. Write in a single sentence, making use of the colon, the reasons why a boy or a girl should not chew gum.

113. Using any one of the sentences written for the last three exercises as the first sentence of a paragraph, write all you have to say about the subject.

114. Write a paragraph of not more than a hundred words on your interests outside of school. Use a colon in the opening sentence. (See rule xxv).

115. Exchange papers and criticize: (1) form, (2) sentence structure, (3) punctuation at the end of the sentence, (4) the use of the colon. Keep in mind this question: Has the colon been used correctly, or might it be used to advantage?