Commas
Insert commas where needed: She bought apples oranges pears and bananas for the picnic.
She bought apples, oranges, pears, and bananas for the picnic.
Choose the correct capitalization: we will visit the statue of liberty on monday.
A) We will visit the Statue of Liberty on Monday.
B) We will visit the statue of liberty on monday.
C) We will Visit the Statue of Liberty on Monday.
A) We will visit the Statue of Liberty on Monday.
Choose the correctly punctuated possessive:
The (dogs/dog's/dogs') leash is on the hook.
The dog's leash is on the hook.
Choose the best use of punctuation: I like jazz ___ my brother prefers rock.
A) ,
B) ;
C) :
D) .
B) ; — I like jazz; my brother prefers rock.
List two instances where a colon could be used.
to introduce a list, to introduce explanations or examples, to separate titles or subtitles, after an independent clause for emphasis
What is theme?
The main idea, moral, or lesson of the story.
Identify and remove redundancy: She returned back to the store.
She returned to the store.
What is a noun?
A person, place, thing, or idea
Choose the best revision: Because it was raining we canceled the game.
A) Because it was raining we canceled the game. B) Because it was raining, we canceled the game. C) Because, it was raining we canceled the game. D) Because it was raining we, canceled the game.
B) Because it was raining, we canceled the game.
Identify and fix capitalization errors: dr. Alvarez spoke at central high school about the renaissance.
Dr. Alvarez spoke at Central High School about the Renaissance.
Fix the error: Its a relief to finish the test on time.
It's a relief to finish the test on time.
(Its = possessive; It's = it is)
Combine the two independent clauses correctly: The bell rang the class hurried outside.
The bell rang; the class hurried outside.
Revise this sentence for proper colon use before a formal statement:
The sign read please note all lights will be turned off at midnight.
The sign read: "Please note: all lights will be turned off at midnight." (Or: The sign read, "Please note that all lights will be turned off at midnight.")
What is dramatic irony?
When the audience (reader) knows something the characters do not.
Choose the best concise revision: He repeated again that he would arrive on time.
A) He repeated that he would arrive on time.
B) He repeated again that he would arrive on time.
C) He would arrive on time, he said again.
A) He repeated that he would arrive on time.
What is a verb?
An action word
Revise this sentence for correct comma usage with an introductory phrase:
After months of training the athlete finally ran the marathon.
After months of training, the athlete finally ran the marathon.
Revise this sentence to correct capitalization for titles and proper nouns:
The play hamlet is often studied in english class.
The play Hamlet is often studied in English class.
Rewrite correctly: The two childrens toys were left outside.
The two children's toys were left outside.
Revise this sentence: Tom reads often, Mary prefers to watch movies.
Tom reads often; Mary prefers to watch movies.
Use a colon to introduce a quotation in this sentence: The coach told the team this always believe in yourselves.
The coach told the team: "Always believe in yourselves."
What is an oxymoron?
A figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposite meanings
Edit for redundancy: In my opinion, I think that the plan is feasible.
I think the plan is feasible. (Or simply: The plan is feasible.)
What is an adjective?
A descriptive word
Identify the error and correct it:
The committee, which meets monthly decided to postpone the vote.
The committee, which meets monthly, decided to postpone the vote.
Explain and correct capitalization in the following:
my favorite author is george r. r. martin because i love fantasy.
My favorite author is George R. R. Martin because I love fantasy.
Decide which is correct for plural possessive: The (students' / student's) essays were graded and returned.
The students' essays were graded and returned. (plural students possessive)
Edit for proper use of semicolons in a complex list: The speakers were Maria a historian, Jamal an artist, and Lin a biologist.
The speakers were Maria, a historian; Jamal, an artist; and Lin, a biologist.
Correct the punctuation: The results are as follows, three students scored perfect, five improved, and two failed.
The results are as follows: three students scored perfect, five improved, and two failed.
What is characterization?
How an author develops a character
Revise to remove redundant pairs: The project was planned in advance and scheduled earlier than expected.
The project was planned and scheduled. (Or: The project was scheduled earlier than expected.)
What is an adverb?
Edit this complex sentence for correct commas:
The novelist whose early work I admired wrote a new book which critics praised as daring and inventive about families, memory and identity.
The novelist, whose early work I admired, wrote a new book, which critics praised as daring and inventive about families, memory, and identity.
Edit this passage for capitalization consistency:
yesterday, senator parker and governor lee attended a meeting with the mayor of dallas, texas.
Yesterday, Senator Parker and Governor Lee attended a meeting with the mayor of Dallas, Texas.
Revise for correct possessive and clarity: The writers union rules affected the authors decision to accept the contract.
The writers' union rules affected the author's decision to accept the contract.
Explanation: If referring to a union of multiple writers, use writers' (plural possessive). The author's (singular) decision — if referring to one author — uses author's. If meaning multiple authors' decision, revise to authors' decision.
Improve this sentence by choosing between semicolon and comma usage and explain your choice: He failed to submit the assignment, he missed the deadline.
Correct revision: He failed to submit the assignment; he missed the deadline.
Explanation: Two closely related independent clauses joined by a semicolon; a comma would create a run-on.
Edit for correct colon use in a sentence that introduces an explanation: She avoided the party because of one reason she was exhausted.
She avoided the party for one reason: she was exhausted.
Explanation: Use a colon to introduce an explanation or a list; ensure the clause before the colon is independent.
Describe the difference between mood and tone.
Mood is how the author makes us feel, while tone is how the author feels
Combine and condense this sentence to remove redundancy while preserving meaning:
The final summary at the end of the report recapped the main points and conclusions that had already been mentioned earlier in the document.
Condensed: The final summary recapped the main points and conclusions already mentioned in the report.
What is a conjunction?
A part of speech that acts as a connector, joining words, phrases, or clauses together within a sentence (FANBOYS)