Show:
Dashes
Semicolons
Apostrophes
Parentheses, Brackets, & Slashes
Colons
100
Which sentence has the correct punctuation? a. In a study by Stacy, Newcomb, and Bentler (1991) b. In a study by Stacy, Newcomb and Bentler (1991)
a. In a study by Stacy, Newcomb, and Bentler (1991)
100
The Semicolon is used for these clauses when not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
independent clauses- clauses that can form a sentence on their own
100
Which is correct? a. Thank you for refunding the children’s money. b. Thank you for refunding the childrens’ money.
a. Thank you for refunding the children’s money. Add -’s if the noun does not end in -s
100
Parentheses should be used for all of the following EXCEPT… a. to set off structurally independent elements b. to set off in-text citations c. to introduce abbreviations d. to enclose material within other parentheses e. to enclose statistical values
d. to enclose material within other parentheses Brackets should be used to enclose material within other parentheses. Parentheses can also be used to (a) set off letters that identify items in a series within a sentence or paragraph, (b) to group mathematical expressions, (c) to enclose the citation or page number of a direct quotation, (d) to enclose numbers that identify displayed formulas and equations, and (e) to enclose degrees of freedom.
100
Where does the colon need to be placed in the following sentence? At 230, we will do the following wash the dishes, dry them, and put them away
At 2:30, we will do the following wash the dishes, dry them, and put them away.
200
Does the following sentence need a comma? Cedar shavings covered the floor and paper was available for shredding
yes Needed to separate two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (and, but, or)
200
This sentence requires one of the three listed punctuation marks listed in the parentheses below: We all assumed that the thief was Jean's boyfriend ( , / ; ) even though we had seen him only from the back.
What is the comma?
200
Which is correct? a. Have you seen Joyce’s and Greg’s new dog? b. Have you seen Joyce and Gregs’ new dog? c. Have you seen Joyce and Greg’s new dog?
c. Have you seen Joyce and Greg’s new dog? To show joint possession, use -’s (or -s’) with the last noun only.
200
Which of the following demonstrates correct usage of a slash? a. Each child handed the ball to her mother/guardian. b. Freud (1923/1961) c. test/retest reliability d. nmol/hr/mg
b. Freud (1923/1961) Options a and c are incorrect because they are uses for parentheses. Option b is an example of how brackets should NOT be used.
200
Which is correct? a. Each child handed the ball to her mother or guardian. b. Each child handed the ball to her mother/guardian.
a. Each child handed the ball to her mother or guardian. do not use a slash when a phrase would be clearer.
300
Does this sentence need a comma? Why or why not? Sentence: We found an old maroon hat.
No. This sentence has cumulative adjectives that can not be joined using and without changing the meaning of the noun
300
A colon can be placed after a salutation in a business letter, after an explanation, or before this...
What is a series or list?
300
Which is correct? a. Each area has it’s own conference room. b. Each area has its own conference room.
b. Each area has its own conference room. It’s means “it is.” The possessive pronoun its contains no apostrophe despite the fact that it is possessive.
300
Which of the following demonstrates correct usage of a slash? a. Each child handed the ball to her mother/guardian. b. Freud (1923/1961) c. test/retest reliability d. nmol/hr/mg
b. Freud (1923/1961) The slash can be used between dates in a citation to indicate republication of an original work. It should not be used in the first option, because the phrase can be clearer by using or. The third option is a simple comparison and should thus use a hyphen or short dash. The last option creates ambiguity, and centered dots and parentheses should be used instead.
300
Use a _________ to introduce a list of items.
What is a colon?
400
Explain the use of commas with restrictive and nonrestrictive phrases. How can we know the difference?
A restrictive element defines or limits the meaning of the word it modifies; it is therefore essential to the meaning of the sentence and is not set off with commas. A nonrestrictive element describes a word whose meaning already is clear. Because it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence it is set off with commas. (pg 181 HS)
400
Which answer has both a conjunctive adverb and a transitional phrase, in that order? a) accordingly, at any rate b) after all, as a matter of fact c) for instance, certainly d) and, in other words
a. accordingly, at any rate Conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases are often used with a semi-colon to connect two independent clauses.
400
Which is correct? a. According to Cole (1999), “The instruments of science have vastly extended our senses (p. 53)”. b. According to Cole (1999), “The instruments of science have vastly extended our senses (p. 53).” c. According to Cole (1999), “The instruments of science have vastly extended our senses.” (p. 53) d. According to Cole (1999), “The instruments of science have vastly extended our senses” (p. 53).
d. According to Cole (1999), “The instruments of science have vastly extended our senses” (p. 53). In parenthetical in-text citations, the period follows the citation in parentheses.
400
Which of the following correctly utilizes the punctuation? a. luminance is measured in candelas/square meter b. was statistically significant [F(I, 32) = 4.37, p = .045] c. (The results [n = 8] are presented in Figure 2.)
c In option a, there is no numerical value, thus per should be used, not the slash. In b, no brackets should be used where the statistics already include parentheses. Option c is correct because brackets are used to enclose parenthetical material that is already within parentheses.
400
which is the correct form? a. Harmon (2011) noted, “During hibernation, heart rate would drop to nine beats per minute between breaths . . . and then speed up with each inhale.” b. Harmon (2011) noted, “During hibernation, heart rate would drop to nine beats per minute between breaths -- and then speed up with each inhale.” c. Harmon (2011) noted, “During hibernation, heart rate would drop to nine beats per minute between breaths, and then speed up with each inhale.” d. Harmon (2011) noted, “During hibernation, heart rate would drop to nine beats per minute between breaths; and then speed up with each inhale.”
a. Harmon (2011) noted, “During hibernation, heart rate would drop to nine beats per minute between breaths . . . and then speed up with each inhale.” use an ellipsis mark, three spaced periods, to indicate that you have deleted material from an otherwise word-for-word quotation.
500
Name at least three misuses of the comma
1. After such as or like 2. After cumulative adjectives 3. Before parenthesis 4. to set off an indirect (reported) Quotation
500
When two independent clauses are connected with a comma but no coordinating conjunction, what is this error called?
comma splice
500
Which is the correct sentence about a short story? a. The story ‘Pushcart Man’ is by Langston Hughes. b. The story “Pushcart Man” is by Langston Hughes. c. The story, ‘Pushcart Man’ is by Langston Hughes. d. The story, “Pushcart Man” is by Langston Hughes.
b. The story “Pushcart Man” is by Langston Hughes.
500
Which of the following incorrectly utilizes the punctuation? a. (as lmai [1990] later concluded) b. (e.g., defensive pessimism; Norem & Cantor, 1986) c. the classification/similarity-judgment condition
a. (as lmai [1990] later concluded) Brackets are not to be used if the material can be set off easily with commas without confounding meaning.
500
Which is the correct form? a. Kiere took a few steps back, came running full speed, kicked a mighty kick, and missed the ball. b. Kiere took a few steps back, came running full speed, kicked a mighty kick -- and missed the ball.
b. Kiere took a few steps back, came running full speed, kicked a mighty kick -- and missed the ball. Dashes are used to introduce a list, a restatement, and amplification, or a striking shift in tone or thought.