Commas, Commas!
Using Quotations
Sentence Structures
Punctuation
Tenses and Words, Oh my!
100
Determined to make it to the football game the next day we worked on our papers all night.
What is a missing comma after an introductory element? Determined to make it to the football game the next day, we worked on our papers all night.
100
The author states "language is a tricky subject." (Smith 25).
What is a mechanical error with a quotation? The author states "language is a tricky subject" (Smith 25).
100
Singing a song or when I write a poem is enjoyable to me.
What is lack of parrallelism? Singing a song or writing a poem is enjoyable to me.
100
College writing is practice for real life writing.
What is a missing hyphen? College writing is practice for real life writing.
100
Amy was watching a movie. Then she walks to the football game and meets her friends.
What is an unnecessary shift in verb tense? Amy was watching a movie. Then she walked to the football game and met her friends.
200
She wanted to do well on the test but she didn't study.
What is a missing comma in a compound sentence? She wanted to do well on the test, but she didn't study.
200
Some studies explain how difficult it is for students to understand writing "Understanding commas is one of the easiest things" (Smith 25).
What is a poorly integrated quotation? Some studies explain how difficult it is for students to understand writing, but some aspects of grammar come easier for students: "Understanding commas is one of the easiest things" (Smith 25).
200
But she never wanted that to happen.
What is a sentence fragment? She wasn't sure of her feelings, but she never wanted that to happen.
200
The author examined the book and it's contents.
What is an unnecessary apostrophe? The author examined the book and it's contents.
200
The author uses a large amount of ethos in his writing. You often use ethos to make your writing more credible.
What is an unnecessary shift in person? The author uses a large amount of ethos in his writing. An author will often use ethos to make their writing more credible.
300
Ms. T who is definitely the coolest teacher in this program was the first to speak.
What is missing commas with a non-restrictive element? Ms. T, who is definitely the coolest teacher in this program, was the first to speak.
300
Many feel that "college will be the best four years of a person's life."
What is incomplete or missing documentation? Many feel that "college will be the best four years of a person's life" (Smith 25).
300
Which is why we never go to that restaurant.
What is a sentence fragment? She heard it was very expensive -- which is why we never go to that restaurant.
300
The furniture on this side of the dorm room is Amys.
What is a missing apostrophe (showing possession)? The furniture on this side of the dorm room is Amy's.
300
Bob and Stan both applied for the job. The company offered a great salary and extensive benefits to him.
What is a vague pronoun reference? Bob and Stan both applied for the job. The company offered a great salary and extensive benefits to Bob after he was hired.
400
People, who voted against the political candidate, opposed the new bill proposed by the candidate and his followers.
What are unecessary commas with a restrictive element? People who voted against the political candidate opposed the new bill proposed by the candidate and his followers.
400
Many people like sports. "Football is an American favorite." Other favorites include baseball and basketball.
What is poor intergration of quotations? Many people like sports. ESPN experts explain that "football is an American favorite" (25). Other favorites include baseball and basketball.
400
She loves fashion and writing so she decided to try to work for a major fashion magazine after her internship at a retail clothing store she really loves her job now.
What is a run-on sentence? She loves fashion and writing, so she decided to try to work for a major fashion magazine after her internship at a retail clothing store. She really loves her job now.
400
It is not my fault we got in trouble; its yours.
What is a missing apostrophe (it is)? It is not my fault we got in trouble; its yours.
400
Each of the puppies snuggled up in their beds.
What is a lack of pronoun/antecedent agreement? Each of the puppies snuggled up in its bed.
500
I hope Texas Tech wins the last football game, that really would make the semester for me.
What is a comma splice? I hope Texas Tech wins the last football game; that really would make the semester for me. OR I hope Texas Tech wins the last football game. That really would make the semester for me.
500
"In the midst of this growing professionalism and increasing self consciousness, however, technical writing courses were still beset by the same old problems that always dogged them. The ascent of literary studies mean that the age-old battle raged on between those who wished to teach technical students to write and those who wished to teach them to read and appreciate great literature" (Connors 15).
What is the absence of a block quotation when three or more lines are quoted? However, a pedagogical split remained: in the midst of this growing professionalism and increasing self consciousness, however, technical writing courses were still beset by the same old problems that always dogged them. The ascent of literary studies mean that the age-old battle raged on between those who wished to teach technical students to write and those who wished to teach them to read and appreciate great literature (Connors 15).
500
Potential college students usually choose a school based on academics, how close the school is to home, and thinking about social activities and sports teams at the school.
What is faulty sentence structure? Potential college students usually choose a school based on academics, how close the school is to home, and the availability of social activities and sports teams.
500
I love all kinds of food; especially the kind that is served on Thanksgiving day.
What is misuse of a semi-colon? I love all kinds of food, especially the kind that is served on Thanksgiving day. OR I love all kinds of food; I especially love the kind that is served on Thanksgiving day.
500
The company allowed their employees to take the holiday off.
What is a lack of pronoun/antecedent agreement? The company allowed its employees to take the holiday off.
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