Mystery Marks
You have a list with commas in it. What can you add to show categories of information in the sentence?
semicolons
Before the final bell rang the loud impatient crowd surged toward the exits without waiting for the announcement.
Before the final bell rang, the loud, impatient crowd surged toward the exits without waiting for the announcement.
The lab was cold and uninviting the lights flickered constantly the equipment was outdated.
The lab was cold and uninviting; the lights flickered constantly; the equipment was outdated.
Its important that the teachers expectations are clear by the semesters start.
It’s important that the teacher’s expectations are clear by the semester’s start.
The editors note explained the articles goals its structure and the journals submission guidelines.
The editor’s note explained the article’s goals, its structure, and the journal’s submission guidelines.
You're connecting two related but independent clauses with no coordinating conjunction. What punctuation should you use?
semicolons
The museum which recently opened its new interactive exhibit features artifacts from ancient Greece medieval Europe and early Mesopotamia.
The museum, which recently opened its new interactive exhibit, features artifacts from ancient Greece, medieval Europe, and early Mesopotamia.
He revised the proposal several times to clarify his points address the committee’s concerns and strengthen his conclusion however the final draft was still rejected without explanation.
He revised the proposal several times to clarify his points, address the committee’s concerns, and strengthen his conclusion; however, the final draft was still rejected without explanation
The students essays reflected each ones interpretation of the authors message tone and style.
The students' essays reflected each one's interpretation of the author's message, tone, and style.
He couldnt attend Mondays seminar he had a doctors appointment a meeting with the deans assistant and two of his professors assignments due.
He couldn’t attend Monday’s seminar; he had a doctor’s appointment, a meeting with the dean’s assistant, and two of his professors’ assignments due.
You have a quotation that is interrupted by "Matt said." What punctuation surrounds that phrase?
commas
Tired and anxious from the long hike and drenched from the sudden unexpected storm the hikers who had started before dawn reached the shelter just before nightfall.
Tired and anxious from the long hike and drenched from the sudden, unexpected storm, the hikers, who had started before dawn, reached the shelter just before nightfall.
The volunteers organized the materials for distribution labeled each box by category and packed everything for delivery by noon the truck however arrived two hours late.
The volunteers organized the materials for distribution, labeled each box by category, and packed everything for delivery by noon; the truck, however, arrived two hours late.
They couldnt remember whether the rooms window had been left open or if someone elses key had unlocked the apartments door.
They couldn’t remember whether the room’s window had been left open or if someone else’s key had unlocked the apartment’s door.
My roommates printer jammed halfway through my essay I borrowed my brothers instead but it wouldnt connect to my laptops wireless settings.
My roommate’s printer jammed halfway through my essay; I borrowed my brother’s instead, but it wouldn’t connect to my laptop’s wireless settings.
You want to show possession of a plural noun. What do you do? e.g. The students school.
apostrophe after the last "s" in "students"
The scholar known for her bold innovative theories delivered a concise clear and well-supported argument that directly and forcefully challenged outdated long-held assumptions about the region’s political economic and social history.
The scholar, known for her bold, innovative theories, delivered a concise, clear, and well-supported argument that directly and forcefully challenged outdated, long-held assumptions about the region’s political, economic, and social history.
The guests included Dr Chen a neuroscientist from Singapore Dr Morales a linguist from Peru and Dr Anders an ethicist from Norway they each offered a unique perspective responded thoughtfully to questions and framed their arguments with clarity and precision.
The guests included Dr. Chen, a neuroscientist from Singapore; Dr. Morales, a linguist from Peru; and Dr. Anders, an ethicist from Norway; they each offered a unique perspective, responded thoughtfully to questions, and framed their arguments with clarity and precision.
Julians hypothesis challenged the previous decades assumptions about humans genetic memory but the theories complexity and the datas ambiguity made peer review difficult.
Julian’s hypothesis challenged the previous decade’s assumptions about humans’ genetic memory, but the theory’s complexity and the data’s ambiguity made peer review difficult.
After reviewing last semesters grades the students applications and the committees recommendations the counselors decision was final however the students parents disagreed with the schools ruling.
After reviewing last semester’s grades, the students’ applications, and the committee’s recommendations, the counselor’s decision was final; however, the students’ parents disagreed with the school’s ruling.
How many pieces of punctuation are needed in this sentence EXCLUDING the period.
Although the committee’s proposal was thorough, innovative, and well-researched, the board rejected it; they felt it didn’t align with the organization’s goals; however, the director’s response left room for future negotiations.
10
In her long detailed thoughtful letter which she sent after weeks of silence she explained her personal deliberate decision to withdraw from the rigorous fast-paced highly competitive program that had consumed her time energy and motivation.
In her long, detailed, thoughtful letter, which she sent after weeks of silence, she explained her personal, deliberate decision to withdraw from the rigorous, fast-paced, highly competitive program that had consumed her time, energy, and motivation.
The keynote speakers included Dr Sandoval who examined climate migration in South America Dr Kwan who explored public health policy in Southeast Asia and Dr Patel who presented on urban equity in postcolonial Africa each offered compelling data thoughtful analysis and provocative recommendations their talks generated spirited debate which continued into the evening session.
The keynote speakers included Dr. Sandoval, who examined climate migration in South America; Dr. Kwan, who explored public health policy in Southeast Asia; and Dr. Patel, who presented on urban equity in postcolonial Africa; each offered compelling data, thoughtful analysis, and provocative recommendations; their talks generated spirited debate, which continued into the evening session.
The researchers findings though debated by their peers supported the articles conclusion about the cells reaction to the medications effect on the subjects immune systems.
The researchers’ findings, though debated by their peers, supported the article’s conclusion about the cell’s reaction to the medication’s effect on the subjects’ immune systems.
The authors arguments were clear compelling and well supported however the manuscripts structure lacked coherence its footnotes were inconsistent and the reviewers comments questioned the journals standards and the editors credibility.
The author’s arguments were clear, compelling, and well-supported; however, the manuscript’s structure lacked coherence, its footnotes were inconsistent, and the reviewers’/reviewer's comments questioned the journal’s standards and the editor’s credibility.