Deck 16: Other Punctuation and Mechanics

Question 1

Which of the following is not a primary use for a colon?

A) It can mark a formal appositive (nonessential describing word or phrase) at the end of a sentence.
B) It can be used to introduce an indirect quote.
C) It can begin a formal list.
D) It can separate closely related main clauses (as does the semicolon).

Answer 1

It can be used to introduce an indirect quote.

Question 2

___________ are used primarily to enclose the exact words someone spoke or wrote.

A) Parentheses
B) Dashes
C) Question marks
D) Quotation marks

Answer 2

Quotation marks

Question 3

Which of the following should not be capitalized?

A) the first word of a sentence
B) proper nouns
C) prepositions and coordinating conjunctions in the middle of a title
D) names of days, months, and holidays

Answer 3

prepositions and coordinating conjunctions in the middle of a title

Question 4

Identify which revision of the following sentences has no punctuation or mechanics errors: John asked Where have you been? You left over forty-five minutes ago.

A) John asked, "Where have you been? you left over forty five minutes ago."
B) John asked, Where have you been? You left over forty five minutes ago.
C) John asked, "Where have you been? You left over forty-five minutes ago."
D) There are no errors.

Question 5

Identify which revision of the following sentence has no punctuation or mechanics errors: We need the following tools: a saw, a drill, and a standard screwdriver.

A) We need the following tools: a saw a drill and a standard screwdriver.
B) We need the following tools; a saw, a drill, and a standard screwdriver.
C) We need the following tools-a saw, a drill, and, a standard screwdriver.
D) There are no errors.

Question 6

Identify which revision of the following sentence has no punctuation or mechanics errors:
The student's who studied made excellent grades on their tests, the one's who did not study were not pleased with their scores.

A) The students who studied made excellent grades on their tests; the ones who did not study were not pleased with their scores.
B) The students, who studied, made excellent grades on their tests: the ones, who did not study, were not pleased with their scores.
C) The students (who studied) made excellent grades on their tests the ones (who did not study) were not pleased with their scores.
D) There are no errors.

Question 7

Identify which revision of the following sentence has no punctuation or mechanics errors: Peters point is that there's no way to determine if she's receiving enough benefits.

A) Peter's point is that there's no way to determine if she's receiving enough benefits.
B) Peters point is that there's no way to determine if she's receiving enough benefits.
C) Peters' point is: that there's no way to determine if she's receiving enough benefit's.
D) There are no errors.

Question 8

Identify which revision of the following sentence has no punctuation or mechanics errors: Since the weather's not cooperating tonights game has been canceled.

A) Since the weather is not cooperating; tonight's game has been canceled.
B) Since the weather's not cooperating, tonight's game has been canceled.
C) Since the weather is not cooperating, tonights' game has been canceled.
D) There are no errors.

Question 9

Identify which revision of the following sentence has no punctuation or mechanics errors: mr. campbell is such a know it all, jan complained.

A) "Mr. Campbell is such a know-it-all, Jan complained."
B) Mr. Campbell is such a know it all, Jan complained.
C) "Mr. Campbell is such a know-it-all," Jan complained.
D) There are no errors.

Question 10

Which of the following is not a contraction.

A) its
B) won't
C) you're
D) who's

Question 11

Which of the following do not use italics.

A) short poems
B) periodicals
C) movies
D) books

Question 12

Contractions are used to show possession.

Question 13

Although semicolons are most often used to divide main clauses, they can also be used to separate items in a series that have commas within them.

Question 14

The dash is a versatile punctuation mark that can help writers in several ways: to set off a series that begins a sentence, to indicate an abrupt break in thought within a sentence, or to emphasize a word or word group at the end of a sentence.

Question 15

When enclosing nonessential information in a sentence, commas and parentheses are often interchangeable.

Question 16

Apostrophes have two main functions: to mark the omission of letters in contractions and to show ownership.

Question 17

Hyphens should be used only at the end of a line of text to divide a word between syllables. Hyphens have no other use in a sentence.

Question 18

When using numbers in a sentence, you should always use numerals instead of words.

Question 19

Underlining and italicizing can be used either for emphasis or for certain types of titles.

Question 20

Semicolons have less power than a period to end a main clause.

Question 21

The second clause following a semicolon continues without a capital letter.