Indented matter in 26½-pica or wider measure also requires a seven-asterisk line to indicate the omission of one or more entire paragraphs.
If an omission occurs in the last part of a paragraph immediately before a line of asterisks, three asterisks are used, in addition to the line of asterisks, to indicate such an omission.
Equalize spacing above and below an ellipsis line.
The exclamation point is used to mark surprise, incredulity, admiration, appeal, or other strong emotion which may be expressed even in a declarative or interrogative sentence.
- Who shouted, "All aboard!" [Note omission of question mark.]
- "Great!" he shouted. [Note omission of comma.]
- He acknowledged the fatal error!
- How breathtakingly beautiful!
- Timber!
- Mayday! Mayday!
In direct address, either to a person or a personified object, O is used without an exclamation point, or other punctuation; but if strong feeling is expressed, an exclamation point is placed at the end of the statement.
- O my friend, let us consider this subject impartially.
- O Lord, save Thy people!
In exclamations without direct address or appeal, oh is used instead of O, and the exclamation point is omitted.
- Oh, but the gentleman is mistaken.
- Oh dear; the time is so short.
The hyphen (a punctuation mark, not an element in the spelling of words) is used—
To connect the elements of certain compound words. (See Chapter 6 "Compounding Rules.")
