Hyphens
Apostrophes
Commas
Capitalization
Potpourri
100
When you take some Spam from the foil-covered casserole dish, please (recover / re-cover) it.
What is "re-cover"? Rule: Use the hyphen to distinguish the meaning of different words spelled the same way (recover = to return to a normal state vs. re-cover = cover again).
100
I love the (80s / 80's / '80s)!
What is "'80s"? Rule: Use an apostrophe to indicate omission of figures.
100
If you want to survive in the wild, you'll need (a knife, a water purifier and a blanket / a knife, a water purifier, and a blanket).
What is "a knife, a water purifier and a blanket"? Rule: Do not put a comma before a conjunction in a simple series.
100
The next (winter Olympics / Winter Olympics) will be held in Sochi, Russia.
What is "Winter Olympics"? Rule: Capitalize seasons when part of a formal name. Otherwise, lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter and derivatives such as springtime.
100
The first line of the press release read, (New York: Allison+Partners sweeps the Silver Anvil Awards / New York -- Allison+Partners sweeps the Silver Anvil Awards)
What is "New York -- Allison+Partners sweeps the Silver Anvil Awards"? Rule: Use dashes in datelines.
200
He's an (overly confident / overly-confident) man.
What is "overly confident"? Hyphenate compound modifiers, with the exception of -ly words.
200
Fred has a set of encyclopedias and Sylvia owns 200 dictionaries. If combined, (Fred and Sylvia's / Fred's and Sylvia's) books would take up two bookshelves.
What is "Fred's and Sylvia's"? Rule: Use a possessive form after both words if the objects are individually owned.
200
Matt gave an (informative, well-organized / informative well-organized) presentation.
What is "informative, well-organized"? Rule: Use a comma to separate adjectives of equal weight.
200
Read (chapter two / Chapter 2 / chapter 2) to prepare for the test.
What is "Chapter 2"? Rule: Capitalize chapter, room, highway, etc., when followed by a number (or letter). Use figures in these contexts.
200
For effective time management, you should "swallow the frog" (e.g. / i.e., / e.g., / i.e.) do your hardest task first).
What is "i.e.,"? Rule: I.e. means "in other words," while e.g., means "for example." Use a comma after each.
300
You'd better (follow up / follow-up) with your boss to avoid a (mix up / mix-up).
What is "follow up" and "mix-up"? Rule: Don't hyphenate these words when used as verbs. Do hyphenate them when used as nouns or adjectives (e.g., a follow-up call).
300
The Oakland (As / A's) are playing tonight, and they expect lots of (VIPs / VIP's) in attendance.
What is A's and VIPs? Rules: Use an apostrophe with single letters but not with multiple letters.
300
Mitt Romney put his foot in his mouth when he said (he's "not concerned about the very poor." / he's, "not concerned about the very poor.")
What is he's "not concerned about the very poor."? Rule: Do not use a comma at the start of a partial quotation.
300
Is there anything one can do with a (bachelor's degree in psychology / Bachelor's Degree in psychology / bachelor's degree in Psychology)?
What is "bachelor's degree in psychology"? Rules: Capitalize "Bachelor of Arts" but not "bachelor's degree." Academic majors are lowercase except proper nouns (e.g., English).
300
(IPads / iPads) are made in China.
What is "IPad"? Rule: Capitalize the "I" when it begins a sentence.
400
Jill's (40 year old /40-year-old) husband acts more like a (20 year old / 20-year-old), and she's (65 years old / 65-years-old)!
What is "40-year-old," "20-year-old" and "65 years old"? Rules: Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun.
400
The (Diners Club / Diners' Club) card is not accepted at (Caesars Palace / Caesar's Palace).
What is Diners Club and Caesars Palace? Rule: Follow an organization's practice, however incorrect it may be.
400
Writing Wednesday is happening (today, and / today and) all the sticklers have come out to play.
What is "today, and?" Rule: When a conjunction links two clauses that could stand alone, use a comma.
400
The Democratic and Republican (parties / Parties) will host conventions this year, and (presidents / Presidents) Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will be in attendance.
What is "parties" and "Presidents"? Rules: Lowercase the common noun elements of names in plural uses (e.g., Main and State streets, lakes Erie and Ontario). Exception: plurals of formal titles with full names are capitalized.
400
The best qualities of a PR intern(, attention to detail, enthusiasm, good writing and the ability to multitask, / -- attention to detail, enthusiasm, good writing and the ability to multitask -- ) can be cultivated in many academic majors.
What is "-- attention to detail, enthusiasm, good writing and the ability to multitask -- "? Rule: Use dashes when interruptions contain commas to enhance readability.
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