Commas
When dogs run the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race they generally wear booties to protect their paws.
Where should the comma(s) go?
When dogs run the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, they generally wear booties to protect their paws.
(after Race)
"Our deeds determine us" remarked the writer George Eliot, "as much as we determine our deeds."
What correction(s) should be made to this quote?
"Our deeds determine us," remarked the writer George Eliot, "as much as we determine our deeds."
(comma after us)
You should ask Latrell for directions; he knows his way around well/better/best than I do.
Which underlined word is correct?
better
In Canada, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the second monday of october.
Which word(s) should be capitalized or lowercased?
In Canada, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the second Monday of October.
Jessica, Julia, Erica, and I/me went shopping for dresses to wear to the dance.
Which underlined word is correct?
I
Jessica, Julia, Erica, and I went shopping for dresses to wear to the dance.
After Hurricane Sandy struck Liberty Island the world-famous Statue of Liberty took over eight months to open to visitors.
Where should the comma(s) go?
After Hurricane Sandy struck Liberty Island, the world-famous Statue of Liberty took over eight months to open to visitors.
(after Island)
"I regret that we cannot publish your article", wrote the editor-in-chief after I sent in my manuscript.
What correction(s) should be made to this quote?
"I regret that we cannot publish your article," wrote the editor-in-chief after I sent in my manuscript.
(comma after article should be before the quotation marks)
Of all the jeans I've tried on, this pair fits the worse/worst.
Which underlined word is correct?
worst
Next friday i'm going to los Angeles to audition for a part in a television commercial.
Which word(s) should be capitalized or lowercased?
Next Friday I'm going to Los Angeles for a part in a television commercial.
Flight data recorders, also known as black boxes, are required on all commercial flights. Their/There/They're main purpose is to record important flight information that can be used to investigate crashes.
Which underlined word is correct?
Their
Flight data recorders, also known as black boxes, are required on all commercial flights. Their main purpose is to record important flight information that can be used to investigate crashes.
While lost at sea the fisherman survived on turtles fish and birds that he caught by hand.
Where should the comma(s) go?
While lost at sea, the fisherman survived on turtles, fish, and birds that he caught by hand.
(after sea, after turtles, and after fish)
Promise you'll write to me as soon as you get there", implored Joseph
What correction(s) should be made to this quote?
"Promise you'll write to me as soon as you get there," implored Joseph.
(quotations before Promise, comma after there before quotations, period after Joseph)
Which underlined word is correct?
better
Which word(s) should be capitalized or lowercased?
Civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois was born in Massachusetts but became a citizen of Ghana in 1961.
In the winter, grocery stores charge too much for strawberries.
Charge (charj) v. - 1. to give orders. 2. to set as a price. 3. to fill completely. 4. to rush forward.
Which meaning of charge is used in the sentence above?
2. to set as a price
In the winter, grocery stores charge too much for strawberries.
In the book Catch-22, written by the modern American author Joseph Heller, WWII airmen face an absurd frustrating contradiction: only the insane can opt out of the dangerous flights, yet trying to opt out is viewed as proof of sanity.
Where should the comma(s) go?
In the book Catch-22, written by the modern American author Joseph Heller, WWII airmen face an absurd, frustrating contradiction: only the insane can opt out of the dangerous flights, yet trying to opt out is viewed as proof of sanity.
(after absurd)
"Nothing is particularly hard", declared Henry Ford, "If you divide it into small jobs".
"Nothing is particularly hard," declared Henry Ford, "if you divide it into small jobs."
(comma after hard before quotations, lowercase "i" in If, period after jobs before quotations)
Mrs. Espinoza gave Donald the solo because he sang it the well/better/best of everyone who auditioned.
Which underlined word is correct?
best
Harriet tubman is known for her efforts to help slaves escape the hardships of life on a plantation. She was a key figure on the underground railroad, and she helped slaves travel to canada, where they were free.
Which word(s) should be capitalized or lowercased?
Harriet Tubman is known for her efforts to help slaves escape the hardships of life on a plantation. She was a key figure on the Underground Railroad, and she helped slaves travel to Canada, where they were free.
Her cheerful smile and positive attitude help get people to agree with her ideas.
Which of the following words would replace get to be more specific?
cause - bring - assure - persuade - change
persuade
Her cheerful smile and positive attitude help persuade people to agree with her ideas.
Although many corporations benefit considerably from the stretchy multifunctional invention known as the rubber band the U.S. Postal Service is the largest consumer worldwide, annually purchasing millions of pounds of the unusual elastic item.
Where should the comma(s) go?
Although many corporations benefit considerably from the stretchy multifunctional invention known as the rubber band, the U.S. Postal Service is the largest consumer worldwide, annually purchasing millions of pounds of the unusual, elastic item.
(after band and after unusual)
You gain strength, courage, and confidence claimed Eleanor Roosevelt by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence," declared Eleanor Roosevelt, "by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."
(quotations before You, comma after confidence, quotations after the comma, comma after Roosevelt, quotations before by, period after face, quotations after the period)
Of all the regions of the country, the Southwest was hit bad/worse/worst by the drought.
worst
This animal is on the endangered species list. There are a few of these animals located in Zoos around the country, most notably in san diego and washington, D.C. The animals eat bamboo. Although they start off small, they can grow up to weigh over 200 pounds.
Which word(s) should be capitalized or lowercased?
This animal is on the endangered species list. There are a few of these animals located in zoos around the country, most notably in San Diego and Washington, D.C. The animals eat bamboo. Although they start off small, they can grow up to weigh over 200 pounds.
A unique orchestra has even recorded compact discs of music played most exclusively on gourds.
In this sentence, how is most exclusively written correctly?
exclusively - more exclusively - much more exclusively - as it is
exclusively
A unique orchestra has even recorded compact discs of music played exclusively on gourds.