Apostrophes
This seat is mine; that seat is her’s.
This seat is mine; that seat is hers.
I found a good book about Virginia Woolf written by her husband Leonard at a garage sale.
I found a good book about Virginia Woolf, written by her husband Leonard, at a garage sale.
Many students in high school (are, is) planning to go to college.
Many students in high school are planning to go to college.
Although Mary has been my best friend.
Fragment
Jared carefully scanned his essay for any errors. However, he forgot to look for redundancy and repetition so he left several mistakes on the page.
A. No change
B. Redundant or repeated phrases
C. Redundant phrases
D. Phrases
C. Redundant phrases
Mr. Smiths dog’s are in the backyard.
Mr. Smith’s dogs are in the backyard.
While wrapping the gifts, Murphy, my pet terrier, kept trying to untie the bows.
Correct
The prices of some items of clothing (look, looks) high to me.
The prices of some items of clothing look high to me.
I have a hard time understanding her lectures, when I talk to her one-on-one, I understand her fine.
Run-on
Michael did his best to find an equitable way to fairly divide the four burritos among his six friends.
A. No change
B. Justly split
C. Split in a fair way
D. Delete the italicized portions.
D. Delete it
Nobodys’ house was damaged by the flood last week.
Nobody’s house was damaged by the flood last week.
Louise projected the photographs on a large screen that she had taken at the zoo.
Louise projected the photographs that she had taken at the zoo on a large screen.
The bag of books next to the stairs (is, are) for the yard sale.
The bag of books next to the stairs is for the yard sale.
No one I know watches that TV show, I can’t believe it.
Comma splice
Weaker hurricanes can sometimes do more damage than their more powerful counterparts. Because the location of the landfall is just as significant as the strengths of the storm.
A. No change
B. Some weaker hurricanes with less strength
C. Occasionally, weaker hurricanes
D. Some
A. No change
The children’s room’s were surprisingly tidy.
The children’s rooms were surprisingly tidy.
By exploring the problem thoroughly, a solution will undoubtedly be found.
By exploring the problem thoroughly, Drew will undoubtedly find a solution.
That plaid jacket of red, yellow, and black (looks, look) good with your black pants.
That plaid jacket of red, yellow, and black looks good with your black pants.
Although she has studied very hard, she is still worried about the midterm exam.
Complete sentence
For ten years my primary source of income has been my thriving snake-racing business, which provides the majority of my income.
A. No change
B. Business, which has been quite successful.
C. Business over the last decade.
D. Business.
D. Business
Those candidates’s speeches were brief.
Those candidates’ speeches were brief.
Innovative product designers found the material perfect for their needs, easily molded and shaped.
Innovative product designers found the easily molded and shaped material perfect for their needs.
The singing of the blue jays and the cardinals (create, creates) a happy mood.
The singing of the blue jays and the cardinals creates a happy mood.
One of the best ways to improve your writing. Is to read and analyze what you have read.
Sentence fragment
Working by itself, the small charity has little chance of stopping the large corporation’s plans to buy the land without outside help.
A. No change
B. Without help
C. Without help from someone else
C. Delete the underlined phrase.
D. Delete it.