Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Definition and Examples of Colons

Definition and Examples of Colons The colon ( : )  is a mark of punctuation  used after a statement (such as an independent clause) or that introduces a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series. In addition, the colon usually appears after the salutation of a business letter (Dear Professor Legree:), between the chapter and verse numbers in a biblical citation (Genesis 1:1), between the title and subtitle of a book or article (Comma Sense: A FUNdamental Guide to Punctuation), and between numbers or groups of numbers in expressions of time (3:00 a.m.) and ratios (1:5). History The word  colon  comes from the  Greek term  kÃ… lon,  meaning a part of a verse or clause, or more literally, part of a limb, particularly a leg. Keith Houston, who has authored several books on punctuation, explained the origin of the colon in his article The Mysterious Origins of Punctuation published on Sept. 2, 2015, on the  BBC  website. Houston said the punctuation mark originated, ultimately, during the third century B.C., in the Hellenic Egyptian city of Alexandria. A  librarian there named Aristophanes developed a series of three dots to break up the unbroken stream of text that had been the norm in writing at the time. The dots, aligned with the middle, bottom, or top of each line, represented what today would be a colon, comma, and period, respectively. Though the Romans disregarded the punctuation marks after conquering the Greeks, the dots eventually were given new life in the seventh century by Isidore of Seville. Ashley Timms in her Dec. 28, 2016, article, A History of Punctuation in English, published on the website of  Unravel Magazine, a linguistics journal, detailed the timeline: In his work The Etymologies (or  Etymologiae  in Latin), Isidore  of Seville explained that the highest dot marked the end of a sentence, the lowest dot functioned much like a comma does today, and the middle dot represented a pause somewhere in between the two: The work of Isidore of Seville was widely respected and he was even cited by Dante Alighieri and quoted by Geoffrey Chaucer.  Etymologiae  was treated as a textbook through the Middle Ages and no doubt had a profound effect on how writers used grammar and punctuation. Eventually, the middle dot evolved into two dots  possibly through Gregorian chants, which included  punctus  elevatas  (raised dots) that looked like the modern-day colon, says Timms. Purpose The Associated Press Stylebook, 2018 provides possibly the best explanation (among the various style guides) of the purpose and use of the colon. The AP says the punctuation mark should be used for: Emphasis:  The AP gives this example:  He had only one hobby: eating.Lists:  The colon usually comes at the end of a sentence or phrase to introduce lists, tabulations, and texts.Listings: Use the colon in such listings as time elapsed (1:31:07.2), time of day (8:31 p.m.), as well as biblical and legal citations (2 Kings 2:14; Missouri Code 3:245–260).Dialogue: An example would be:  Bailey: What were you doing the night of the 19th? Mason: I refuse to answer that.Question-and-answer interviews: The AP gives this example:  Q: Did you strike him?  A: Indeed I did. The AP says you can use a colon to introduce a direct quotation of one sentence that remains within a paragraph. You would also use a colon to introduce long- or block- quotations. When doing so, enter a hard return on the keyboard after the introductory text to bring the quoted material to the next space down, as shown in the history section above. Use and Misuse Use the colon at the  end of a sentence,  after initials  and  abbreviations, after other punctuation marks, in  computing and math, and in Bible verses, among other instances. At the end of a sentence: Use the colon instead of a period when the two clauses have a connection such that a period would be too hard of a break. Capitalize the first word after a colon only if the colon is followed by a proper noun or an independent clause. These examples are adapted from the Associated Press and June Casagrandes book, The Best Punctuation Book, Period: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Writer, Editor, Student, and Businessperson: Right: He promised this: The company will make good all the losses.Wrong:  Refrigerator temperature is critical: if its not cold enough, food will spoil. Right:  Refrigerator temperature is critical: If its not cold enough, food will spoil. Before a list:  Capitalize the first letter of the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun. Right:  Joe invited several friends to the party: Samantha, David, and Frank.Right:  The pizza came with three toppings: pepperoni, onion, and mushrooms.Wrong:  The pizza came with three toppings: Pepperoni, onion, and mushrooms. After quotation marks and other punctuation:  Use a colon  after  other punctuation marks but never before: The truth was simple (almost too simple): Dan was guilty.The truth, she said, was simple: Dan was guilty. Bible verses:  Cite  listing the number of chapter and verse(s) in this form: Matthew 3:16Luke 21:1–131 Peter 2:1 Math and computing:  Some styles- though not the AP- use colons to separate parts of a  ratio, as in: 2:5, which means a 2-to-5 ratio, two out of five, or 2/53:4, which means  a 3-to-4 ratio, three out of four, or 3/4 Additionally, you can also use a colon to separate a book title and subhead, such as for Casagrandes book listed previously in this section. Use a colon in a citation to separate the chapter and page number, as in: Journal of English Language Learning 15:220–229 Also, never combine a dash and a colon. Linking Equal Ideas Generally, use colons to show that two sentences, or a sentence and a clause, are  parallel  or relate to the same idea or subject, says David Crystal, author of Making a Point: The Persnickety Story of English Punctuation. Examples would be: A  liberal arts education  creates citizens:  people who can think broadly and critically about themselves and the world.- William Deresiewicz, Faulty Towers,  The Nation, May 23, 2011I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought:  What the hell good would that do?- Ronnie Shakes, standup comedian In the first quote, which joins a sentence followed by a nonsentence clause, Deresiewic uses the colon to show that citizens who receive a liberal arts education are the same group as people who can think broadly and critically. The second, by the late Shakes, who was a frequent guest on late-night television shows, uses  the colon (and irony) to show two sides of himself: the optimist who was going to buy a book about positive thinking and the pessimist who talked himself out of it.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Quotes from Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Quotes from Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Metamorphosis is a famous novella by Franz Kafka. The work centers around a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa who wakes up one morning to realize hes turned into a bug. The absurdist story was considered to be part of the Dada art movement. Metamorphosis Quotes When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin. He was lying on his back as hard as armor plate, and when he lifted his head a little, he saw his vaulted brown belly, sectioned by arch-shaped ribs, to whose dome the cover, about to slide off completely, could barely cling. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, were waving helplessly before his eyes.- The Metamorphosis, Ch. 1 Why was only Gregor condemned to work for a firm where at the slightest omission they immediately suspected the worst? Were all employees louts without exception, wasnt there a single loyal, dedicated worker among them who, when he had not fully utilized a few hours of the morning for the firm, was driven half-mad by pangs of conscience and was actually unable to get out of bed? - The Metamorphosis, Ch. 1 And now he could see him, standing closest to the door, his hand pressed over his open mouth, slowly backing away as if repulsed by an invisible, unrelenting force. His mother - in spite of the managers presence she stood with her hair still unbraided from the night, sticking out in all directions - first looked at his father with her hands clasped, then took two steps towards Gregor, and sank down in the midst of her skirt spreading out around her, her face completely hidden on her breast. With a hostile expression, his father clenched his fist, as if to drive Gregor back into his room, then looked uncertainly around the living room, shielded his eyes with his hands, and sobbed with heaves of his powerful chest. - The Metamorphosis, Ch. 1 Those had been wonderful times, and they had never returned, at least not with the same glory, although later on Gregor earned enough money to meet the expenses of the entire family and actually did so. They had just gotten used to it, the family as well as Gregor, the money was received with thanks and given with pleasure. - The Metamorphosis, Ch. 2 Hardly she entered the room than she would run straight to the window without taking time to close the door - though she was usually so careful to spare everyone the sight of Gregors room - then tear open the casements with eager hands, almost as if she were suffocating, and remain for a little while at the window even in the coldest weather, breathing deeply. With this racing and crashing, she frightened Gregor twice a day; the whole time he cowered under the couch, and yet he knew very well that she would certainly have spared him this if only she had found it possible to stand being in a room with him with the window closed.- The Metamorphosis, Ch. 2 Into a room in which Gregor ruled the bare walls all alone, no human being beside Grete was ever likely to set foot.- The Metamorphosis, Ch. 2 Gregors serious wound, from which he suffered for over a month - the apple remained imbedded in his flesh as a visible souvenir since no one dared to remove it - seemed to have reminded even his father that Gregor was a member of the family, in spite of his present pathetic and repulsive shape, who could not be treated as an enemy; that on the contrary, it was the commandment of family duty to swallow their disgust and endure him, endure him and nothing more.- The Metamorphosis, Ch. 3 What the world demands of poor people they did to the utmost of their ability; his father brought breakfast for the minor officials at the bank, his mother sacrificed herself to the underwear of strangers, his sister ran back and forth behind the counter at the request of the customers; but for anything more than this they did not have the strength.- The Metamorphosis, Ch. 3 I wont pronounce the name of my brother in front of this monster, and so all I say is: we have to try and get rid of it. Weve done everything humanly possible to take care of it and to put up with it; I dont think anyone can blame us in the least.- The Metamorphosis, Ch. 3, pg. 51 Growing quieter and communicating almost unconsciously through glances, they thought that it would soon be time, too, to find her a good husband. And it was like a confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions when at the end of the ride their daughter got up first and stretched her young body.- The Metamorphosis, Ch. 3