Commas Rules
Semi-colons & Colons
Common Confusables
Spelling
Feeling Lucky?
100
Nausicaa of the Valley of Winds, My Neighbour Totoro, and Princess Mononoke are three major films in which Miyazaki introduces the interactions of nature humanity and the gods to audiences.
What is commas in a list (the serial comma)
100
Semi-colons can be used in simple list.
What is false? They are used in complex lists where the items are long and/or contain internal punctuation.
100
The greater significance of the article lies in it's conclusion, where the author emphasizes the impact of the problem.
What is incorrect? Its would be the correct usage: it's = it is.
100
It doesn't matter whether you use Canadian or American spellings in the same paper.
What is false? When in Rome... OR keep it consistent OR check with your prof as to preference.
100
Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year, we always decorate our house and try hard to scare the kids.
What is a comma splice? When a comma is used to join two independant clauses.
200
The start of any solar cycle is known as the solar minimum, and it is characterized by sunspots that are small and short-lived.
What is separating independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunction?
200
Semi-colons function like a period, joining together two main clauses that are related.
What is true? The clauses must be related.
200
The effects of the oil sands are becoming evident; the environment, communities, and economies are affected for good or ill.
What is correct? effect = result; not used as frequently as affect.
200
Adjectives joined together to make one adjective are always hyphenated.
What is true? well-known; up-to-date;
200
Tip-toeing through the tulips, a turtle turned towards me.
What is a dangling modifier? When the noun/pronoun for the words/phrase isn't clear. Happens often at the start of sentences.
300
Although Weimann's argument was generally solid, the section on Twitter weakened its persuasiveness to some degree.
What is following an introductory clause?
300
Colons can only be used if they follow an independent clause.
What is true? It is incorrect to say, "My favorite all time book is: Pride and Prejudice."
300
Apart of me agrees that vampirism reflects humanity's desire to live forever--who wouldn't want that--but it seems that ultimately, the vampire must live a part, doomed to solitude.
What is incorrect? a part = a piece of a whole; apart = separated from, away from
300
English pronunciation is closely connected to English spelling.
What is false? Think of homonyms, words like laugh, or even words ending in "e". Use a dictionary to check if you spelled a word right. Keep lists and practice using the words.
300
Trick-or-treating and guising has not always been linked.
What is incorrect subject verb agreement? The subject [trick-or-treating and guising] requires a plural form of the verb: have.
400
Over time, however, these strands become intertwined and collect together at a single point.
What is setting off interrupting phrases (appositives) expressing contrast?
400
The information following the colon should be a list.
What is false? It can be a word, a list, a phrase, a statement, a quotation: essentially, any information that comments on or expands the statement that precedes it.
400
I am not sure how to site my sources for my research paper.
What is incorrect? Site = place; cite = to reference
400
When making plural forms of words, you use an apostrophe.
What is false? Except when forming plurals of letters (s's), numerals (6's), words named as words (if's or but's).
400
simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
What are sentence types? See p. 133 AWE
500
Hayao Miyazaki, one of the greatest animators and directors in Japan, is well known for his creativity and incredible artistic ability.
What is setting off non-essential information?
500
There are many kinds of liminal creatures in folklore: zombies, vampires, ghosts, mummies to name a few; however, it is the vampire that best represents our fascination and struggle with death and dying.
What is correct?
500
The transformation of zombies which has taken place in film has resulted in crafty, quick moving, unpredictable monsters; the gruesomeness, that used to be hallmark zombie, has turned inward. Some critics that study folklore suggest it reflects the fears society has around mental illness.
What is incorrect? That = for essential clauses; which = for non essential (after a comma); who = for people.
500
The author's arguement portrayed a lack of understanding of the complexities of the issue.
What is incorrect? argument.
500
This, that, these, those
What are demonstrative pronouns? The antecedant (the noun the pronoun refers to) must always be clear to the reader.
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