Punctuation (Academic Writing)

Apostrophes

100

Write the possessive form for the following:

 hat for a lady

 books for students

lady's hat

 students' books

200

Simplify the long phrase with a possessive apostrophe and add an apostrophe in contraction. 

Try the cookies that Phyllis made.  They are the best ones!

Try Phyllis's baked cookies. They're the best ones!

300

The Smith familys' decision to leave their house unattended for a week was a bad one. The familie's television and stereo system was stolen.

family's for both instances

400

What is wrong with this sentence?  

Even after four cup's of coffee, Melissa could’nt muster the energy to finish the journal assignments for Professor Koopman’s class.

(accept one of the possible answers)

cups has no apostrophe

 couldn't - could not

500

What is wrong with this sentence?

Mrs. Majeed frowned as she glanced at the blue team’s answers. We certainly hope she smiles' when she sees our's.

2 answers required to score the points.  

smiles is plural - no apostrophe

ours has no apostrophe

Commas & Semi-Colons

100

Basketball hockey football baseball and soccer are popular spectator sports.

Basketball, hockey, football, baseball, and soccer are popular spectator sports.

200

Where does the comma go? Girls are good at science in elementary school but often they lose interest in science in high school.

before "but"

300

Add punctuation: I told my friend whose name is Anne that I have homework to do therefore I must leave the play early. She understood but she was sad that I was going to miss the last act.

I told my friend, whose name is Anne, that I have homework to do; therefore, I must leave the play early. She understood, but she was sad that I was going to miss the last act.

400

Fix the following sentence so that it has correct punctuation: Waiters in Hong Kong restaurants leave the dirty dishes on the table until the customer has finished eating then the waiters count the dishes to total the bill.

Waiters in Hong Kong restaurants leave the dirty dishes on the table until the customer has finished eating; then, the waiters count the dishes to total the bill.

Waiters in Hong Kong restaurants leave the dirty dishes on the table until the customer has finished eating. Then, the waiters count the dishes to total the bill.

OR

Waiters in Hong Kong restaurants leave the dirty dishes on the table until the customer has finished eating, then the waiters count the dishes to total the bill.

500

Yes I did hire you on August 15 2004 Steve but I do not recall saving your original application.

Yes, I did hire you on August 15, 2004, Steve, but I do not recall saving your original application.

Capitalization

100

what is capitalized? the new york times is a very famous international newspaper.

New York Times

200

please bring paper plates, napkins, and pringles potato chips to the party

Please Pringles

300

jonas took a course in chemistry in the spring at northern california college.

Jonas Northern California College

400

which is farther from earth, mars or Jupiter?

Which Earth (optional) Mars

500

when sheila arrived she said, "please fix me some hot tea; i'm so cold!"

When Sheila Please I'm

Run-Ons & Comma Splices

100

Correct the sentence: My sister can be very annoying she always steals my things.

; or . between annoying and she

200

Create your own sentence using "however"

various answers

300

Create your own sentence using "yet"

varied answers

400

Fix the sentence: The boy showed us his tickets someone gave them to him.

You can  out a full stop or semi colon between tickets and someone.  

The boy showed us his tickets; someone gave them to him.  

The boy showed us his tickets.  Someone gave them to him.

The boy showed us his tickets as someone gave them to him.  

500

True or False: When two independent clauses are connected by only a comma, they constitute a run-on sentence that is called a comma-splice.

True

e.g. I wanted to go for a walk, it started raining. Either of these would be better- 

• I wanted to go for a walk. It started raining.

2. Use a semicolon

• 
  

  • I wanted to go for a walk; it started raining.

• 3. Add a coordinating conjunction

  • I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining.

• 4. Turn one clause into a dependent clause

  • I wanted to go for a walk because it started raining.

  • Because it started raining, I wanted to go for a walk. (less common meaning, but still grammatical)

Colons & Semi-Colons

100

where do you add colons and semi-colons to the following sentence? Each student should bring these things to class every week pens and pencils books and notebooks your curiosity and creativity.

Each student should bring these things to class every week: pens and pencils; books and notebooks; your curiosity and creativity.

200

Which is correct? A. He became a Writing Lab tutor because: he loved grammar and the pay was generous. B. He became a Writing Lab tutor because of two considerations: he loved grammar and the pay was generous.

A is correct

300

The class wanted a pet however no one wanted the responsibility of cleaning up after it.

The class wanted a pet; however, no one wanted the responsibility of cleaning up after it.

400

Add punctuation There are many responsibilities when owning a dog feeding walking bathing and making sure it has enough love.

There are many responsibilities when owning a dog: feeding, walking, bathing, and making sure it has enough love.

500

Edit the two sentences into one, with a colon John and Mary visited Ann Arbor for just one reason. John and Mary wanted to go to the Art Fair.

John and Mary visited Ann Arbor for just one reason: they wanted to go to the Art Fair.