CHAPTER II.ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE It is nearly half past five,and we cannot reach town before dark. Note that if the second clause is preceded by an adverb,such as accordingly,besides, so,then,therefore,or thus,and not by a conjunction,the semicolon is still required. I had never been in the place before;so I had difficulty in finding my way about. In general,however,it is best,in writing,to avoid using so in this manner;there is danger that the writer who uses it at all may use it too often.A simple correction, usually serviceable,is to omit the word so,and begin the first clause with as: As I had never been in the place before,I had difficulty in finding my way about. If the clauses are very short,and are alike in form,a comma is usually permissible: Man proposes,God disposes. The gate swung apart,the bridge fell,the portcullis was drawn up. 6.Do not break sentences in two In other words,do not use periods for commas. I met them on a Cunard liner several years ago.Coming home from Liverpool to New York. He was an interesting talker.A man who had traveled all over the world,and lived in half a dozen countries In both these examples,the first period should be replaced by a comma,and the fol- lowing word begun with a small letter.8 CHAPTER II. ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE It is nearly half past five, and we cannot reach town before dark. Note that if the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as accordingly, besides, so, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still required. I had never been in the place before; so I had difficulty in finding my way about. In general, however, it is best, in writing, to avoid using so in this manner; there is danger that the writer who uses it at all may use it too often. A simple correction, usually serviceable, is to omit the word so, and begin the first clause with as: As I had never been in the place before, I had difficulty in finding my way about. If the clauses are very short, and are alike in form, a comma is usually permissible: Man proposes, God disposes. The gate swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up. 6. Do not break sentences in two In other words, do not use periods for commas. I met them on a Cunard liner several years ago. Coming home from Liverpool to New York. He was an interesting talker. A man who had traveled all over the world, and lived in half a dozen countries. In both these examples, the first period should be replaced by a comma, and the fol￾lowing word begun with a small letter