Punctuation
True or false
This is correctly punctuated:
Jackie wondered where her keys were?
False
Indirect questions do not use a question mark.
Correct:
Jackie wondered where her keys were.
Is this sentence punctuated correctly?
I love classical music, it makes me feel joyful.
No.
Correct:
I love classical music. It makes me feel joyful.
or
I love classical music; it makes me feel joyful.
Find the fragment:
I have been playing tennis ever since I was little. I like all kinds of sports. For example: baseball, basketball, and pickle ball.
For example: baseball, basketball, and pickle ball.
Fix the issue with parallel structure:
I like swimming and to roller skate.
I like swimming and roller skating.
Make the statement more concise:
She opened the envelope, which contained a confidential document inside.
She opened the envelope, which contained a confidential document.
Where do the commas go in these sentences:
After going home I decided to have snack.
Sabina an unusual name is often thought to be a misspelling of "Sabrina".
After going home, I decided to have snack.
Sabina, an unusual name, is often thought to be a misspelling of "Sabrina".
Punctuate this sentence correctly.
My favorite band is in town they are performing now.
My favorite band is in town. They are performing now.
or
My favorite band is in town, and they are performing now.
Find the fragment:
You should never go to the circus if animals are performing because they don't have a good life there. Which is sad. I think so, anyway.
You should never go to the circus if animals are performing because they don't have a good life there. Which is sad. I think so, anyway.
Fix the issue with parallel structure:
The blue sky, the cows are always wandering in the fields, and grandma's home cooking are what I like best about visiting the farm.
The blue sky, the cows wandering in the fields, and grandma's home cooking are what I like best about visiting the farm.
The union that consists of two people (namely you and I) would probably be improved by its dissolution.
DAILY DOUBLE (Worth double points!)
Put this in very basic English: 4 words.
We should break up.
Which of the following sentences needs a comma and why?
A. They had been to Guatemala before but never to Haiti.
B. I was planning to go to the Boston Symphony concert but then I got a call that there was an emergency situation at home.
A. They had been to Guatemala before but never to Haiti.
B. I was planning to go to the Boston Symphony concert, but then I got a call that there was an emergency situation at home.
A. does not need a comma because after the conjunction there's a dependent clause.
Fix the run on by adding one of these subordinating conjunctions along with a comma.
after, although, as, as if, because, before, even though, if, in order that, rather than, since, so that
I like drawing I haven't made a picture in a long time.
Although I like drawing, I haven't made a picture in a long time.
Fix the following:
I always end up buying more than I intend to. Whenever I go to the store. I should probably just keep to my list.
Whenever I go to the store, I always end up buying more than I intend to. I should probably just keep to my list.
Fix:
He warned me to revise my essay, and that I should pay close attention to parallel structures.
He warned me to revise my essay and to pay close attention to parallel structures.
Which two phrases are redundant?
After reading it with close scrutiny, she discovered it was written in the exact same handwriting as the mysterious note she’d received before.
After reading it with close scrutiny, she discovered it was written in the exact same handwriting as the mysterious note she’d received before.
What punctuation is needed at the (X)?
I told him that he shouldn’t buy art supplies in the following situations (X) (1) when he gets a random urge to buy more, (2) when he wants to get supplies he doesn’t need to complete a set, (3) when he gets supplies he won’t use “just in case” he ever needs them.
The colon
I told him that he shouldn’t buy art supplies in the following situations : (1) when he gets a random urge to buy more, (2) when he wants to get supplies he doesn’t need to complete a set, (3) when he gets supplies he won’t use “just in case” he ever needs them.
Fix this sentence in three different ways.
Margaret Atwood is known for her poems her essays and novels are also worth reading.
Margaret Atwood is known for her poems. Her essays and novels are also worth reading.
Margaret Atwood is known for her poems, but her essays and novels are also worth reading.
Although Margaret Atwood is known for her poems, her essays and novels are also worth reading.
Identify and fix the fragment:
Shaken and afraid of the ceaseless howling they could hear in the night. The children did not sleep at all. They were very tired the next morning.
Shaken and afraid of the ceaseless howling they could hear in the night, the children did not sleep at all. They were very tired the next morning.
Fix:
My first-year philosophy professor was informative, lively, and a source of inspiration.
My first-year philosophy professor was informative, lively, and inspiring.
How could you simplify this to 7 words:
The best teachers help each student become a better student by helping them to grow academically.
The best teachers help students grow academically.
Punctuate the following sentences:
Create two correct versions of this sentence:
The life of a farmer is a lonely one his opportunities to socialize are limited because of the constant attention he must give to the things he cultivates.
The life of a farmer is a lonely one. His opportunities to socialize are limited because of the constant attention he must give to the things he cultivates.
The life of a farmer is a lonely one; his opportunities to socialize are limited because of the constant attention he must give to the things he cultivates.
Identify the fragment and fix it:
When I came home two hours after curfew, my mother was furious. She was yelling before I even got out of the car. Before parking even!
When I came home two hours after curfew, my mother was furious. She was yelling before I even got out of the car. Before parking even!
She started yelling even before I parked the car.
Fix. (Simplify if you need to.)
The coach advised that I should eat healthily, exercise regularly, and that joining a gym would make this easier.
The coach advised that I should eat healthily, exercise regularly, and join a gym.
At this point in time, it is very impossible for us to consider thinking about whether you may or may not be hired by us at some future point in the future because we are not at the present moment taking on new hires.
DAILY DOUBLE (Reduce this to five words.)
Currently, we are not hiring.