Title: Grammar Essentials
Course: Question Banks

Q: What is the correct end punctuation for the following sentence?

- When I got the photos developed, I couldn’t help but wonder where my daughter’s eyes were
- A question mark because this is a direct question. (Incorrect. This is actually an indirect question, which does not require a question mark.)
- A period and a question mark because this is an indirect question. (Incorrect. This is an indirect question, but there is never a situation in which a period and a question mark would both be used correctly.)
- An exclamation point and question mark because this indicates excitement. (Incorrect. An exclamation point and question mark together is used to convey extreme emotions like protest or astonishment, which would be overdoing it for a simple statement such as this one.)
- A period because this is an indirect question. (Correct! This is an indirect question, which means that it should have a period at the end, even though the sentence is conveying uncertainty or lack of knowledge.)
A: A period because this is an indirect question.

Q: You want to improve your use of exclamation points in your English essay. What should you do?
- Try to use as many as you can! They show your instructor that you care about your topic. (Incorrect. Exclamation points are more appropriate to informal writing settings, and should only be used with caution.)
- You should use italics as often as you use exclamation marks, since they both show emphasis. (Incorrect. Exclamation points and italics should be used sparingly in order to give full emphasis to whatever you actually want to emphasize. Overuse will dilute the power they give.)
- You might need more exclamation points to get your opinions across more clearly. (Incorrect. Exclamation points are not necessary to get information across, and should only be used with caution, in informal settings, or when following an exclamation or an imperative.)
- You should remove them, because using a lot of them is generally a mark of poor writing. (Correct! Exclamation points should only be used when the situation truly calls for them and avoided in most academic settings.)
A: You should remove them, because using a lot of them is generally a mark of poor writing.

Q: Choose the correct end punctuation for this sentence: “She loved everything in print: books, magazines, newspapers, etc”
- etc..” (Incorrect. When an abbreviation ends a sentence, you do not need to add an extra period after the abbreviation.)
- etc.!” (Incorrect. The period and the exclamation point together look awkward and do not work together, even after following an abbreviation.)
- etc”. . . (Incorrect. The use of an ellipsis after the abbreviation etc. is unnecessary in this sentence and is not being used appropriately.)
- etc.” (Correct! When an abbreviation ends a sentence, you need only use one period.)
A: etc.”

Q: What’s the best way, if any, to revise this sentence?

Even after all that time, I still had to fight the emotion in my voice; I told her, “Can’t we make it work this time?”.
- Change the semicolon to a comma, since the phrase before it is a dependent clause. (Incorrect. Both parts of the sentence (on either side of the semicolon) are independent clauses, and therefore a semicolon is the correct punctuation mark that should be used there.)
- Remove the quotation marks and turn the quote into an indirect sentence. (Incorrect. The quotation marks are necessary to indicate that the words are being spoken by someone.)
- The sentence is correct as written. (Incorrect: The punctuation cluster at the end of the sentence needs to be revised because it is unnecessary to have a question mark and a period in the same place.)
- Remove the period, since the question mark is the only end punctuation needed. (Correct! When there is a question mark at the end of a sentence, no period is needed, even though it is part of a larger sentence.)
A: Remove the period, since the question mark is the only end punctuation needed.

Q: Would you use a hyphen or dash in the space in the following sentence? Why?

- This mechanism’s high__temperature performance is significantly worse than during normal temperatures.
- A dash because the words that follow the space redefine the words that come before it. (Incorrect. The dash does not work to redefine words or to connect individual words.)
- A hyphen because the sentence denotes a range between high and temperature. (Incorrect. An en-dash would be used to denote a range, but that is usually between numbers and not other nouns.)
- A dash to emphasize the words that follow it. (Incorrect. “High-temperature” is actually being used to qualify “performance” instead of emphasize it.)
- A hyphen because high and temperature act as a single unit. (Correct! The hyphen connects the two words and shows that they are meant to go together to describe the following word “performance.”)
A: A hyphen because high and temperature act as a single unit.

Q: How do you know that the term “high-velocity fan” requires a hyphen?
- Because “high” and “velocity” are both adverbs. (Incorrect. The hyphen is joining this adjective and noun to create a unit that describes the fan in this sentence.)
- Because “high” is a prefix. (Incorrect. High is not being used as a prefix. The hyphen is joining this adjective and noun to create a unit that describes the fan in this sentence.)
- Because “high-velocity” is working as an adverb in this sentence. (Incorrect. “High-velocity” is actually working as a unit to describe the type of fan being used in this sentence.)
- Because “velocity fan” doesn’t make sense on its own. (Correct! A hyphen joining two words creates a single unit that describes the word fan. It is creating a new word with a single meaning. If you take away one of those words in the unit to describe the fan, it will not make any sense.)
A: Because “velocity fan” doesn’t make sense on its own.

Q: What does a dash do?
- It joins phrases together, like prefixes to root words. An example is “pre-medical.” (Incorrect. Instead of a dash, a hyphen is used to join words or prefixes to root words.)
- It works in much the same way as a period, in that it joins two complete sentences together. (Incorrect. Dashes are used to indicate a pause and then add emphasis to the information following the pause. They are not used to join two complete sentences together.)
- It works like a comma, to show the readers when to pause as they read. (Incorrect. Dashes can sometimes be placed in the same place where you would have a comma, but only when you are trying to add extra emphasis to what follows the dash. It would not be appropriate to use dashes instead of commas in every situation.)
- It works like a colon—it adds to the information that comes before, with emphasis. (Correct! Dashes indicate a strong pause, and then give extra emphasis to information following the pause.)
A: It works like a colon—it adds to the information that comes before, with emphasis.

Q: Your classmate Celine wrote this passage. What is the best suggestion for how she should revise this draft?

When he was five-years-old, Mozart wrote his first concerto, a piece that he performed at age six to great acclaim. Other well known composers and musical artists were consumed with jealousy—as the movie Amadeus portrays—because, as one contemporary wrote, “he truly seems touched by God, while the rest of us must scrounge the crumbs of his talent.”
- There should be a hyphen in age six. (Incorrect. The hyphen would not be needed to join these two words because they are not being used to describe something else, or to create a separate word with a different meaning.)
- There should be spaces on either side of the dashes. (Incorrect. You should never include spaces around dashes.)
- There should only be one dash after “jealousy,” and the second dash should be removed. (Incorrect. The dashes in this sentence are being used appropriately. The pair of dashes is being used to frame and emphasize this parenthetical comment in between them.)
- There should not be hyphens in five-years-old. (Correct! There would only be hyphens in between the phrase “five-year-old” if it was being used as an adjective phrase (for example: “The five-year-old Mozart surprised everyone”). When simply writing five years old as a phrase, no hyphens are needed.)
A: There should not be hyphens in five-years-old.

Q: Determine if the parentheses have been used correctly in the following sentence.

- She has long believed (and I have never contradicted her) that malaria really is caused by “bad air.”
- No, this is contradictory information that should go inside brackets. (Incorrect. Brackets are mostly used to clarify quotes, not contain contradictory information. Parentheses are more appropriate here.)
- No, this is too long of a phrase to go inside parentheses. (Incorrect. It doesn’t matter how long the phrase or clause is within the parentheses; in fact, whole sentences or paragraphs can go within the parentheses as long as it is extra information that is not essential to the meaning of the rest of the paragraph or sentence.)
- Yes, because parentheses are used to contain the most important information in the sentence. (Incorrect. Parentheses are used to set aside information in a sentence that is important but not really a part of the main message. This information is more of a brief aside that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.)
- Yes, this is a brief aside that can go inside parentheses. (Correct! Parentheses are used to set aside information in a sentence that is important but not really a part of the main message, and the information inside these parentheses fits that description.)
A: Yes, this is a brief aside that can go inside parentheses.

Q: Which sentence uses parentheses correctly?
- Most researchers now believe that Merlin the wizard is actually a combination of three real, historical men; (This theory cannot be proven, though). (Incorrect. The parentheses does not need a semicolon before it, and the words inside it should not start with a capital letter unless it contains a complete sentence.)
- In the U.S. alone, as many as (fifteen!) people a day are killed by bees. (Incorrect. This information is not extra or unimportant to the meaning of the sentence, because if the number fifteen were removed, the sentence would not make any sense. Parentheses should only be used to surround information that is not needed to sustain the overall meaning of the sentence.)
- Jenny is always interested in opportunities to do charity (although she only likes charities that support animals.) (Incorrect. The parenthetical information within these parentheses is only a part of the sentence, so the period should go outside of the parentheses.)
- In over fifty clinical trials, people with poor sleep habits reported higher levels of depression (Cooper et al., 2009). (Correct! When the parentheses contain a citation at the end of the sentence, the period goes outside of the parentheses.)
A: In over fifty clinical trials, people with poor sleep habits reported higher levels of depression (Cooper et al., 2009).

Q: Which sentence below correctly uses parentheses for a citation?
- In a study comparing different soil types, researchers discovered that vegetables grew better with higher levels of potassium and sodium in the soil (Graham 151.) (Incorrect. When parentheses are used to indicate a citation at the end of a sentence, the sentence punctuation comes after the closing parentheses.)
- In a study comparing different soil types, researchers discovered that vegetables grew better with higher levels of potassium and sodium in the soil (Graham 151.). (Incorrect. When parentheses are used to indicate a citation at the end of a sentence, the sentence punctuation comes after the closing parentheses, and there is no need to include an extra period within the parentheses.)
- In a study comparing different soil types, researchers discovered that vegetables grew better with higher levels of potassium and sodium in the soil Graham 151. (Incorrect. The citation must be included within parentheses, before the end punctuation for the sentence.)
- In a study comparing different soil types, researchers discovered that vegetables grew better with higher levels of potassium and sodium in the soil (Graham 151). (Correct! When parentheses are used to indicate a citation at the end of a sentence, the sentence punctuation comes after the closing parentheses.)
A: In a study comparing different soil types, researchers discovered that vegetables grew better with higher levels of potassium and sodium in the soil (Graham 151).

Q: In this sentence, decide whether or not the brackets are used correctly, and why.

- I went to high school with the guy who is now my dog’s vet [we played on the basketball team together].
- Yes, because this is extra information that can be taken out without changing the meaning of the sentence. (Incorrect. This type of extra, additional information is actually meant to be enclosed by parentheses; brackets are used to modify quotations and show what information was removed or implied.)
- No, because that phrase should be enclosed by semicolons. (Incorrect. Semicolons would not be used to enclose any type of information. This type of extra, additional information is actually meant to be enclosed by parentheses.)
- Yes, because brackets are meant to enclose information that is important to the overall meaning of the sentence. (Incorrect. Brackets are actually used to modify quotations and show what information was removed or implied.)
- No, because that phrase should be enclosed in parentheses. (Correct! Extra, additional information that can be taken out without changing the meaning of the sentence is meant to be within parentheses, not brackets.)
A: No, because that phrase should be enclosed in parentheses.

Q: In this sentence, decide whether or not the brackets are used correctly, and why.

- The scholar said that “despite enormous effort, [he] couldn’t replicate the study.”
- Yes, because it correctly emphasizes the word he, meaning that someone else may have been able to replicate that study. (Incorrect. Brackets are not used to emphasize words, but to show when they have been modified or replaced from the original quote.)
- No, because the word he should be enclosed in parentheses. (Incorrect. The word “he” is surrounded by brackets to indicate that it has been changed from the original wording of the quote, and parentheses would not indicate the same thing.)
- No, because the word he should be surrounded by dashes instead. (Incorrect. Dashes would be used to emphasize or set off the words, and the brackets here are indicating that the word “he” has been changed from the original wording of the quote.)
- Yes, because they are clarifying a quote and making it work in that sentence. (Correct! Because the quote was probably in the first person, the writer had to change the wording from “I” to “he” in order to make it work in the sentence, and brackets are the only way to do that appropriately.)
A: Yes, because they are clarifying a quote and making it work in that sentence.

Q: Your classmate wants to use brackets, but can’t remember how. What should you tell him?
- Use them to insert your own opinion in a quotation. (Incorrect. Brackets should not be used to change a quotation in any way.)
- Use them in your thesis statement as an in-text citation. (Incorrect. Brackets are not necessary for citations (parentheses should be used there) or in thesis statements.)
- Use them if you would like to change the meaning of a quote or paraphrase slightly. (Incorrect. Brackets should not be used to change a quotation in any way, especially intentionally.)
- Use them to clarify the meaning of a quote. (Correct! Brackets are most often used to include information that clarifies a quote.)
A: Use them to clarify the meaning of a quote.

Q: In which sentence below are the brackets used correctly?
- Clara told me that she [never once] believed in Santa. (Incorrect. Adding the words “never once” in brackets changes the meaning of the original quote significantly, and brackets should never be used to alter the meaning of a quote.)
- Franklin D. Roosevelt [the D stands for Delano] was a powerful historical figure. (Incorrect. Brackets should not be used to add additional or extra information to a sentence. Parentheses would be more appropriate here.)
- She told me she was very [very, very, very] upset with him. (Incorrect. Brackets are not used to add emphasis to a sentence or to add additional information that is not a part of the original quote.)
- The newspaper quoted her as being “much to [sic] tired to help.” (Correct! The brackets are being used to show when there was a spelling or informational error in the original quote. This quote has used the wrong form of “to,” and the writer is using [sic] to show that the spelling of “to” was original to the quote and not her own error.)
A: The newspaper quoted her as being “much to [sic] tired to help.”

Q: Your classmate Cynthia wants to include some quoted material in her paper, but she wants to cut the quote’s length down by removing the middle of one sentence. What should you tell her to help her solve her problem?
- You can include all the material, but use italics to emphasize the parts you want your readers to notice. (Incorrect. You can include all the material, but using italics to emphasize parts is unnecessary. A better solution is to use an ellipsis to remove any unnecessary information.)
- Include it all, but indent it ten spaces from the left to indicate that it’s a long quote. (Incorrect. Block quotes should be indented, but it is better to cut out parts of the quote that are unnecessary using an ellipsis, so that your audience only has to read the information that is actually useful to them.)
- Just take out whatever parts you want; nobody will check to see if you’ve included everything. (Incorrect. It is unethical to remove sections of a quote without indicating that sections have been removed with an ellipsis.)
- Use ellipses to cut out the parts you don’t want. Since the words will be removed from the middle of a sentence, use three dots. (Correct! Ellipses are used to indicate that words have been taken out of a quote. This allows her to take out any unnecessary parts of the quote in an ethical way.)
A: Use ellipses to cut out the parts you don’t want. Since the words will be removed from the middle of a sentence, use three dots.

Q: Which punctuation mark lets you ethically leave out the part of a quotation that you don’t need?
- he colon (Incorrect. Colons are used to indicate a list or to add emphasis to what follows.)
- the dash (Incorrect. Dashes are used to add emphasis to what follows.)
- brackets (Incorrect. Brackets are used to modify or clarify a quotation instead of removing words altogether.)
- the ellipsis (Correct! Ellipses are used to leave out a part of a quotation that you don’t need by indicating that something has been removed for your audience.)
A: the ellipsis

Q: Read an original passage from Mark Twain (A), and then read a student’s excerpt from an essay about it (B). Is the student’s excerpt written correctly? Which following piece of feedback is correct?

1. Now when I had mastered the language of this water and had come to know every trifling feature that bordered the great river as familiarly as I knew the letters of the alphabet, I had made a valuable acquisition. But I had lost something too. I had lost something which could never be restored to me while I lived. All the grace, the beauty, the poetry, had gone out of the majestic river!
2. Twain [in his later years] said that “when (he) had mastered the language of this water….(he) had made a valuable acquisition. But (he) had lost something too….All the grace, the beauty, the poetry had gone out of the majestic river!
- Your use of brackets is correct, but you use parentheses incorrectly. (The brackets and parentheses are actually being used in place of each other. Each parentheses should be changed to brackets, because brackets are used to modify the original wording of quotes, and they are changing the first person to third person here. Additionally, the ellipses are incorrect.)
- Your ellipses are correct, but your parentheses and bracket usage is incorrect. (Incorrect. The brackets should be replaced with parentheses, and the parentheses should all be replaced with brackets to show that they are modifying the original quote. Additionally, the first ellipsis is incorrect, because it is not following a period there and does not need an additional fourth period.)
- You don’t need as many ellipses, as long as you only remove a couple of words. (Incorrect. The ellipses are necessary no matter how many words are removed from each sentence.)
- Your use of parentheses, ellipses, and brackets is incorrect. (The brackets and parentheses are being used in place of each other. Each parentheses should be changed to brackets, because brackets are used to modify the original wording of quotes, and they are changing the first person to third person here. Additionally, the first ellipsis is incorrect, because it is not following a period there and does not need an additional fourth period.)
A: Your use of parentheses, ellipses, and brackets is incorrect.

Q: Which sentence demonstrates standard use of an apostrophe to show possession?
- MaeBelle sister is coming to town on Tuesday to meet with the preacher. (Incorrect. MayBelle is possessive and needs an apostrophe.)
- MaeBelles' sister is coming to town on Tuesday to meet with the preacher. (Incorrect. MayBelle is singular possessive and requires an apostrophe before the S.)
- MaeBelles sister is coming to town on Tuesday to meet with the preacher. (Incorrect. MayBelle is possessive and needs an apostrophe instead of just adding an S.)
- MaeBelle's sister is coming to town on Tuesday to meet with the preacher. (Correct. The sister of MayBelle is coming to town on Tuesday.)
A: MaeBelle's sister is coming to town on Tuesday to meet with the preacher.

Q: Which passage demonstrates standard uses of apostrophes?
- Dean's mama makes the best Brunswick Stew in the county. Its only a little different from Bob Jenkins' recipe, but it's flavor is pretty distinct. In fact, her stew won the VFW's barbeque contest back in ‘97. (Incorrect. “It’s” here is the contraction form of the word, and when used as a contraction, "it is" should be "it's." The possessive form of "it" is "its.")
- Dean's mama makes the best Brunswick Stew in the county. It's only a little different from Bob Jenkins recipe, but its flavor is pretty distinct. In fact, her stew won the VFW's barbeque contest back in ‘97. (Incorrect. Bob Jenkins is in possession of the recipe, so Jenkins should take an apostrophe (even though the word ends in an S).)
- Dean's mama makes the best Brunswick Stew in the county. It's only a little different from Bob Jenkins' recipe, but its flavor is pretty distinct. In fact, her stew won the VFW's barbeque contest back in 97. (Incorrect. Apostrophes are also used to show omitted numbers, such as when numbers are omitted from a year. The ‘97 would be correct.)
- Dean's mama makes the best Brunswick Stew in the county. It's only a little different from Bob Jenkins' recipe, but its flavor is pretty distinct. In fact, her stew won the VFW's barbeque contest back in ‘97. (Correct. This passage correctly uses apostrophes to show singular and plural possession, contractions, number abbreviations, and possession by acronyms.)
A: Dean's mama makes the best Brunswick Stew in the county. It's only a little different from Bob Jenkins' recipe, but its flavor is pretty distinct. In fact, her stew won the VFW's barbeque contest back in ‘97.

Q: Does this sentence demonstrate standard use of an apostrophe to show possession?

We went to the childrens’ section of the library to find some picture books for my nephews.
- No, because apostrophes should always come before the S, whether they are singular or plural. (Incorrect. Apostrophes do not always come before the S; when a noun is plural and ends with an S, you just add an apostrophe following that S to make it possessive.)
- Yes, because a plural possessive should always have S followed by an apostrophe. (Incorrect. Plural possessives are not always followed by an S and an apostrophe. That rule only applies for plurals that end with an S. When a noun is plural and doesn’t end in an S, such as “children,” it does not follow the standard plural possessive form of S plus an apostrophe. It should be followed by an apostrophe + an S.)
- Yes, because a singular possessive should be followed by S + an apostrophe. (Incorrect. Singular possessives are usually followed by an apostrophe + an S. However, that rule does not apply here because “children” is a plural noun.)
- No, because a plural that doesn’t end in an S (such as “children”) should be followed by an apostrophe + an S. (Correct! When a noun is plural and doesn’t end in an S, such as “children,” it does not follow the standard plural possessive form of S plus an apostrophe. It should be followed by an apostrophe + an S.)
A: No, because a plural that doesn’t end in an S (such as “children”) should be followed by an apostrophe + an S.

Q: Choose the correct words to fill in the blanks in this sentence, and explain your choice.

- ________never a mistake to try your hardest, but ________ still painful when you fail.
- It’s, its because the first one is possessive and the second one is a contraction for “it is.” (Incorrect. Both of these words are actually contractions of “it is” so they both need an apostrophe.)
- Its, it’s because the first one is a contraction for “you are” and the second one is possessive. (Incorrect. Both of these words are actually contractions of “it is” so they both need an apostrophe.)
- Its, its because they are both possessives. (Incorrect. Neither of these words are actually possessive; they are both contractions of “it is,” so they both need an apostrophe.)
- It’s, it’s because both blanks need the contraction for “it is.” (Correct! Both of these words are contractions for “it is,” and the correct use of a contraction is with an apostrophe.)
A: It’s, it’s because both blanks need the contraction for “it is.”

Q: What is the difference between “its” and “it’s”?
- “Its” is possessive, and “it’s” is rarely used anymore. (Incorrect. “Its” is possessive, but “it’s” is the correct form for a contraction of “it is.”)
- “Its” is the direct object, and “it’s” is the subject. (Incorrect. These words don’t have anything to do with the object or subject of a sentence. “Its” is possessive, and “it’s” is the correct form for a contraction of “it is.”)
- “It’s” is short for “it is,” and “its” is never correct because it is not actually a word. (Incorrect. “Its” is a word, meaning the possessive form of it.)
- “Its” is possessive, and “it’s” is short for “it is.” (Correct! Those are the exact definitions of “its” and “it’s.”)
A: “Its” is possessive, and “it’s” is short for “it is.”

Q: Which sentence demonstrates the standard use of an apostrophe in a contraction?
- The Barkers are moving to the coast. Their' having a yard sale. (Incorrect. “Their” is actually the possessive form for “they,” and doesn’t have an apostrophe.)
- The Barkers are moving to the coast. Theyre' having a yard sale. (Incorrect. The apostrophe in a contraction should be in the place where the missing letters are, not after the entire word.)
- The Barkers are moving to the coast. Theyr’e having a yard sale. (Incorrect. The apostrophe in a contraction should be in the place where the missing letters are, not in the middle of the included letters.)
- The Barkers are moving to the coast. They're having a yard sale. (Correct! “They’re” is a contraction meaning “They are” and is appropriately used here.)
A: The Barkers are moving to the coast. They're having a yard sale.

Q: Samuel wrote this passage. Where is there a missing apostrophe?

If you're preparing for a three-week backpacking trip, don't forget your most important item: socks. Yes, really! It has been proven that socks can be life-saving. Ross Grubers, a backpacker who summited 10 of the world's tallest peaks, agrees. It has been reported that Grubers socks are "the best that money can buy." His backpack even has its own little space for them.
- This passage is correct: no additional apostrophes are necessary (Incorrect. "Grubers" is in possession of "socks," so an apostrophe is required (Grubers').)
- "Ross Grubers, a backpacker who summited 10 of the world's tallest peaks…" should read "Ross Grubers', a backpacker who summited 10 of the world's tallest peaks…" (Incorrect. In this sentence, Grubers is not in possession of anything.)
- “His backpack even has its own little space for them” should read “His backpack even has it’s own little space for them.” (Incorrect. The “its” in this sentence is already possessive and does not need an additional apostrophe. In fact, the apostrophe being added to this sentence makes the “its” a contraction.)
- "It has been reported that Grubers socks..." should read "It has been reported that Grubers' socks..." (Correct. "Grubers" is in possession of "socks," so an apostrophe is required (Grubers').)
A: "It has been reported that Grubers socks..." should read "It has been reported that Grubers' socks..."

Q: In the following sentence, choose whether the quotation marks are used and placed correctly and why.

- The Arabic phrase that I use all the time is yalla, habibi, which means, “come on, friends”!
- Yes, because you are giving the meaning of the foreign phrase; the exclamation point belongs outside because the full sentence is an exclamation. (Incorrect. The quotation marks do belong around the meaning of the foreign phrase, but the exclamation point is incorrectly placed. Punctuation should go inside the quote if it is a part of the original quote or phrase.)
- No, because those are scare quotes, which should be removed entirely. (Incorrect. Scare quotes are appropriate in some places to indicate that the word is being used in an ironic or non-standard way. However, these quotation marks are not being used as scare quotes here.)
- No, because there should be a period inside of the quotation marks in addition to the exclamation point after them. (Incorrect. It is unnecessary to add multiple end punctuation marks, even if the exclamation point does not seem to be meant for the whole sentence. Only one punctuation mark is necessary.)
- No, because the exclamation point at the end should come inside the quotation marks; it is a part of the saying, not a part of the sentence as a whole. (Correct! Punctuation such as exclamation points or question marks should go inside the quote if it is a part of the original quote or phrase, as is the case here.)
A: No, because the exclamation point at the end should come inside the quotation marks; it is a part of the saying, not a part of the sentence as a whole.

Q: Which statement below is punctuated correctly?
- They should be used to spelling “,Kyrgyzstan,” by now. (Incorrect. There should not be a comma at the beginning of a set of quotation marks, although the comma at the end is correctly placed within the quotation marks.)
- “But no matter how hard I try”, he said, “I can’t seem to remember it”. (Incorrect. The comma and period should always go within the quotation marks.)
- The article said, “The president was quoted as saying he “refuses to give up after all of this hard work.”” (Incorrect. When you have a quote within a quote, you use a single quotation mark. So this sentence should actually appear like this: The article said, “The president was quoted as saying he ‘refuses to give up after all of this hard work.’”)
- Did you really mean to say “I’ve never had better food than this?” (Correct! The quotation marks go around the statement, and the punctuation mark goes within the quotation marks.)
A: Did you really mean to say “I’ve never had better food than this?”

Q: Which statement below should not have quotation marks?
- The only thing she had to say was, “I’ve never loved you.” (Incorrect. This is a direct quotation of the words spoken, and therefore requires quotation marks.)
- “There was a huge storm last night,” complained Jacques. (Incorrect. This is a direct quotation of the words spoken, and therefore requires quotation marks.)
- How many times did you hear him say, “Put your shoes away”? (Incorrect. This is a direct quotation of the words spoken, and therefore requires quotation marks. This sentence is punctuated correctly, because the question mark should be outside of the quotation marks because it does not belong to the quotation itself, but to the sentence as a whole.)
- Bianca said she “hated the cold and loved the summer.” (Correct! This is an indirect quote, which means that it is only paraphrasing what Bianca said. Indirect quotes do not require quotation marks.)
A: Bianca said she “hated the cold and loved the summer.”

Q: What can you tell your struggling classmate about comma placement?
- Insert a comma every five to ten words. (Incorrect. Commas should not be added randomly to sentences, but should be placed where they will help to separate elements like transition words or descriptive phrases.)
- Insert a comma whenever you want your reader to stop and think about what you’ve said. (Incorrect. Commas do not just indicate that the reader should stop reading and take a breath.)
- Insert a comma only in front of words that indicate a change in subject, like “however” or “therefore.” (Incorrect. Transition words such as “however” and “therefore” do often require commas before and after the word, but commas are also needed in other places, like around descriptive phrases or in between adjacent items like a city and state name (Chicago, Illinois).)
- Insert a comma wherever you have elements that need to be separated. (Correct! Commas work best to separate elements that need to be separated, like transition words such as “however,” or descriptive elements that can be deleted without changing the sentence’s basic structure and meaning.)
A: Insert a comma wherever you have elements that need to be separated.

Q: Which of the following comma rules is true?
- Commas only need to go after a transition word (such as “however”) that appears at the beginning of a sentence. (Incorrect. Transition words can appear at the beginning or middle of sentences, and commas could be needed before or after those words, depending on their location.)
- There’s no such thing as comma overuse. (Incorrect. If commas are used too liberally, it can be confusing to readers and break up important elements in a sentence, like going in between a subject and verb. It is important that commas are only used in the appropriate places to prevent confusion.)
- Always use commas around descriptive phrases to separate them from things they describe. (Incorrect. Some descriptive phrases should have commas around them, if they can be removed from the sentence without destroying the sentence’s basic structure and meaning. However, if they cannot be easily removed from the sentence, they should not have commas around them.)
- Transition words usually require a comma before and after them. (Correct! Transition words, such as “however” and “therefore,” can appear at the beginning or middle of sentences, and commas could be needed before or after those words, depending on their location.)
A: Transition words usually require a comma before and after them.

Q: Which sentence does NOT require commas around the descriptive phrase?
- Brown, the principal at my school, wears a suit and tie every day. (Incorrect. The descriptive phrase “the principal at my school” does require commas around it because it is not necessary to the structure or meaning of the sentence. If that information was not there, we would still understand that Mr. Brown wears a suit and tie every day.)
- My aunt, who is a nurse, gave me a ride to school the other day. (Incorrect. The descriptive phrase “who is a nurse” does not add necessary information to the meaning of the sentence, and can be taken out without disrupting the sentence’s meaning. It should have commas around it.)
- Snowball, my sister’s puppy, is the cutest dog I’ve ever seen. (Incorrect. The descriptive phrase “my sister’s puppy” does not add necessary information to the meaning of the sentence, and can be taken out without disrupting the sentence’s meaning. It should have commas around it.)
- The boy, who painted this picture, is in my class at school. (Correct! The descriptive phrase “who painted this picture” clarifies who “the boy” is. If the descriptive phrase were not in this sentence, it would simply say “the boy is in my class at school,” and the basic meaning of the sentence would not make sense. Therefore, it should not have commas around it but should read “The boy who painted this picture is in my class at school.”)
A: The boy, who painted this picture, is in my class at school.

Q: In the following sentence, choose whether the semicolon and the comma are correct.

- The loss; therefore, was hard to take.
- They are correct because the first part of the sentence is a complete thought. (Incorrect. The first part of the sentence is not a complete thought, and therefore requires a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence instead of a semicolon.)
- They should switch places because the last part of the sentence is a complete thought. (Incorrect. The last part of the sentence is not a complete thought without the first part. It should be a comma in order to continue the sentence instead of creating a separation between the phrases.)
- They should both be semicolons because therefore is a transition word and that requires additional emphasis. (Incorrect. Transition words do not require semicolons unless they are coming at the beginning or end of an independent clause, or a complete sentence. This is not the case here, as it is in the middle of a continuing independent clause and not in between two different independent clauses.)
- They should both be commas because therefore is a transition word. (Correct! Transition words require commas to separate them from the sentence they are describing. You only need a semicolon if the transition word is between two complete thoughts or independent clauses, which is not the case here.)
A: They should both be commas because therefore is a transition word.

Q: Identify the comma error in the following sentence by selecting the correct response:

In addition to running in marathons on four continents, Debbie also has participated in rowing, hiking, and climbing events.
- There should be no comma after "continents." (Incorrect. The comma after "continents" is necessary because it follows a descriptive phrase that sets up the rest of the sentence.)
- There should be no commas in the sentence. (Incorrect. The first comma in the sentence follows a descriptive phrase, while the second and third commas separate items in a list.)
- There should be no commas after "rowing" and "hiking." (Incorrect. The commas after "rowing" and "hiking" separate items in a list and are necessary.)
- The sentence is correct as is. (That's correct. The first comma in the sentence follows a descriptive phrase, while the second and third commas separate items in a list.)
A: The sentence is correct as is.

Q: Identify the comma error in the following sentence by selecting the correct response:

After August 4 2017, the Cleveland Indians will be on the road for almost two weeks, playing series in Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Seattle, Washington.
- The sentence is correct as is. (Incorrect. A comma is necessary after "August 4" to separate adjacent items.)
- There should be no comma after "weeks." (Incorrect. The comma after "weeks" is necessary because it sets up a descriptive phrase that isn't essential information to the sentence.)
- There should be no comma after "Seattle." (Incorrect. The comma after Seattle separates adjacent items and is necessary.)
- A comma should be after "August 4." (That's correct. A comma is necessary after "August 4" to separate adjacent items.)
A: A comma should be after "August 4."

Q: Choose which sentence does not need a comma before the coordinating conjunction.
- We are always excited to watch our team play, yet we were so worried that they were not going to do well. (Incorrect. Commas are required before coordinating conjunctions when they are joining two complete ideas or independent clauses. “Yet” is the coordinating conjunction in this sentence combining two independent clauses, so the comma is necessary.)
- She brought a big bag of her own popcorn to the movie theater, for she was not interested in paying the theater prices. (Incorrect. Commas are required before coordinating conjunctions when they are joining two complete ideas or independent clauses. “For” is the coordinating conjunction in this sentence combining two independent clauses, so the comma is necessary.)
- Enrique didn’t have any idea where he was going, nor did he have any way to get there. (Incorrect. Commas are required before coordinating conjunctions when they are joining two complete ideas or independent clauses. “Nor” is the coordinating conjunction in this sentence combining two independent clauses, so the comma is necessary.)
- Angelica brought her library books, but didn’t want to return them. (Correct! A comma is not required before a coordinating conjunction that is only joining words or phrases. “But” is the coordinating conjunction here that is joining the phrase following it to the rest of the sentence, and a comma is not needed before it.)
A: Angelica brought her library books, but didn’t want to return them.

Q: Which comma in the following sentence is the serial comma, and is it being used correctly in this sentence?

Rachael Ray, a cooking TV show host, always surprises her viewers with her hilarious sayings, and occasionally with her strong opinions about cooking, her family, and her dog.
- The comma after “Rachael Ray” is the serial comma, but it is not being used correctly because you don't need a comma before a descriptive phrase. (Incorrect. The comma after "Rachael Ray" is not a serial comma, but it is a comma separating a descriptive phrase from the noun it’s describing (which is a necessary comma). The serial comma is the last comma in a list or series of items, directly before the coordinating conjunction, and can provide clarity in many situations.)
- The comma after "sayings" is the serial comma, and it is being used correctly because it is before a coordinating conjunction. (Incorrect. The comma after “sayings” is not a serial comma. It comes just before a coordinating conjunction separating two clauses. The serial comma is the last comma in a list or series of items, directly before the coordinating conjunction, and can provide clarity in many situations.)
- The comma after "cooking" is the serial comma, and it is being used correctly because it is after the first item in a list or series of items. (Incorrect. The comma after "cooking" is not the serial comma. The serial comma is the last comma in a list or series of items, directly before the coordinating conjunction, and can provide clarity in many situations.)
- The comma after "family" is the serial comma, and it is being used correctly because is the last comma in a series of items, and is helping to avoid any confusion. (Correct! The comma after “family” is the serial comma, or the last one in a list, and it is being used correctly.)
A: The comma after "family" is the serial comma, and it is being used correctly because is the last comma in a series of items, and is helping to avoid any confusion.

Q: Your classmate Ivory wrote this passage. Are there changes needed? If so, what punctuation mark should she work on the most?

While it had been a long time coming, he now realized that his friends, long-time residents of this small town, did not care about what he did; living in another country had changed more than his speaking habits. He silently catalogued their qualities that drove him crazy: they had no ambition, they complained about the poor residents of their town, and they took nothing seriously.
- She needs to focus on comma usage. (Incorrect. All commas here have been used correctly, after an introductory phrase, around a descriptive phrase, and in between items in a list.)
- She needs to focus on semicolon usage. (Incorrect. The semicolon is separating two independent clauses and is being used correctly here.)
- She needs to change her colon usage. (Incorrect. The colon is introducing a list, which is an appropriate use for a colon.)
- This passage is correct as written. (Correct! All punctuation marks are being used correctly, including the commas, semicolon, and colon.)
A: This passage is correct as written.

Q: Identify where the comma or commas should appear in the sentence below:

Therefore all persons taking part in the classes beginning in 2017 need to have proof of insurance to stay on the rosters.
- The sentence is correct as is. (Incorrect. Commas should be used after transition words when they are the first word of the sentence.)
- There should be commas after "Therefore" and "2017." (Incorrect. The comma after "Therefore" is necessary, but remember that a comma isn't always necessary after any number.)
- There should be a comma after "2017." (Incorrect. Remember that a comma isn't always necessary after any number.)
- There should be a comma after "Therefore." (Correct. Commas should be used after transition words when they are the first word of the sentence.)
A: There should be a comma after "Therefore."

Q: Identify where the comma or commas should appear in the sentence below:

The premise that smoking may cause cancer which seems obvious in modern times has only been accepted by the majority of American people for a couple of generations.
- There should be a comma after "cancer." (Incorrect. Remember that commas must be on both ends of a descriptive, non-essential phrase in the middle of a sentence, so a comma is also necessary after "times.")
- The sentence is correct as is. (Incorrect. Commas after "cancer" and "times" set off a descriptive phrase which isn't essential information to the sentence.)
- There should be a comma after "times." (Incorrect. Remember that commas must be on both ends of a descriptive, non-essential phrase in the middle of a sentence, so a comma is also necessary after "cancer.")
- There should be commas after "cancer" and "times." (Correct. Commas after "cancer" and "times" set off a descriptive phrase which isn't essential information to the sentence.)
A: There should be commas after "cancer" and "times."

Q: Identify where the comma or commas should appear in the sentence below:

You and the kids need to put all of the beach towels in the car and get going before the sun sets.
- There should be a comma after "You" and "car." (Incorrect. Neither of the uses of "and" in this sentence are as a coordinating conjunction, so no commas are required.)
- There should be a comma after "car." (Incorrect. The use of "and" after "car" is not as a coordinating conjunction, so no comma is required.)
- There should be a comma after "You" and "kids." (Incorrect. "You and the kids" is not a descriptive phrase or a transition, so no comma is required.)
- The sentence is correct as is. (That's correct. No commas are required in this sentence.)
A: The sentence is correct as is.

Q: In the following sentence, choose whether the semicolon is used correctly or not.

- Although they kept playing games; I had to leave and say goodnight.
- Yes, it is correct because a semicolon separates two complete ideas. (Incorrect. A semicolon does separate two complete ideas, but “Although they kept playing games” is not a complete idea.)
- No, it should be a period because these two items need a more concrete separation. (Incorrect. “Although they kept playing games” could not stand on its own as a separate sentence, so it could not be separated with a period.)
- No, it should be a colon because it is summarizing what comes next. (Incorrect. “Although they kept playing games” is a dependent clause that is more descriptive, and is not summarizing what comes next. A colon would not be used here.)
- No, it should be a comma because “Although they kept playing games” is not a complete idea. (Correct! A semicolon would be appropriate to separate two independent clauses, but “Although they kept playing games” cannot stand on its own.)
A: No, it should be a comma because “Although they kept playing games” is not a complete idea.

Q: Which of these sentences needs a semicolon (;) in the blank space?
- While we considered our dinner options____Trent joined us, looking hungry. (Incorrect. A comma would be appropriate here because it is joining an incomplete thought to the independent clause of the sentence.)
- We didn’t let him help us decide what to eat____though, because he has strange taste in food. (Incorrect. A comma would be appropriate here, because it is coming before a transition word (“though”).)
- We decided to go for Mexican food____and everyone was happy with that choice. (Incorrect. A semicolon could not be used here because of the coordinating conjunction “and” that is joining the two independent clauses. If “and” were not there, the semicolon could join them, but with “and,” a comma should be used.)
- He rarely eats dinner____he tends to be too impatient to sit still. (Correct! The semicolon would work here to join two complete thoughts that could both stand alone as their own sentences.)
A: He rarely eats dinner____he tends to be too impatient to sit still.

Q: Which punctuation mark should be used after "hull" in the following sentence?

The mechanism was recovered from the ship's hull this location suggests the mechanism was highly protected and valued.
- A colon should be used after "hull." (Incorrect. Colons are used as signposts to show important information ahead. In this case, the information in the second complete idea is related to, but not more important than, the information in the first complete idea.)
- A comma should be used after “hull.” (Incorrect. A comma cannot join two complete ideas or independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. If a comma was used here, it would make a comma splice or run-on sentence.)
- No punctuation mark should be used after "hull." (Incorrect. This sentence has two complete ideas (each with a subject and verb) so punctuation must be used to separate the two ideas.)
- A semicolon should be used after "hull." (Correct. Semicolons can join two complete ideas (each with a subject and verb) that are related to each other.)
A: A semicolon should be used after "hull."

Q: Identify where the semicolon(s) should be used in the sentence below:

Sea tulips come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, yellow, orange, and purple, note that the coloration of sea tulips depends upon their association with a symbiotic sponge that covers their surface.
- Semicolons should replace the commas between the colors in the list. (Incorrect. Semicolons are used rather than commas in a list only when the list contains items with embedded commas.)
- No semicolons should be used in this sentence. (Incorrect. This sentence contains two independent ideas (each containing a subject and verb) so punctuation is needed.)
- A semicolon should replace the comma after “colors.” (Incorrect. The comma after “colors” is not separating two independent clauses and should not be replaced by a semicolon.)
- A semicolon should replace the comma after "purple." (Correct. The semicolon joins two independent ideas (each containing a subject and verb) that are related to each other.)
A: A semicolon should replace the comma after "purple."

Q: Identify where the semicolon(s) should be used in the sentence below.

You may spot this phenomenon in ocean waters near Sydney, Australia, Vancouver, Canada, and Acapulco, Mexico.
- Semicolons should replace the commas after "Sydney," "Vancouver," and "Acapulco." (Incorrect. Commas are used to separate cities from countries. Consider how semicolons are used in lists with embedded commas.)
- No semicolons should be used in this sentence. (Incorrect. Semicolons are used in lists with embedded commas.)
- Semicolons should be used to replace each comma in the list. (Incorrect. Commas are used to separate cities from countries, and semicolons are used to separate items in a list that is filled with other commas, so they should only go in between the separate locations.)
- Semicolons should replace the commas after "Australia" and "Canada." (Correct. Semicolons are used in lists with embedded commas.)
A: Semicolons should replace the commas after "Australia" and "Canada."

Q: In the following sentence, choose whether the colon is used correctly or not.

- Lydia is definitely my best friend: she has a wicked sense of humor, she makes me chocolate cookies, and she knows all my secrets.
- No, it should be a semicolon because it’s joining two complete thoughts. (Incorrect. This is introducing a list instead of an independent thought, and a semicolon would not be best here.)
- No, it should be a comma, to show that the two sections of the sentence are closely related. (Incorrect. A comma does not introduce a list, and if a comma were being used here, it would create a comma splice or run-on sentence.)
- No, there should be no punctuation there. (Incorrect. If there were no punctuation here, it would cause a run-on sentence.)
- Yes, it is correct because it introduces a list. (Correct! Colons are used to introduce lists and to go in between independent clauses as here.)
A: Yes, it is correct because it introduces a list.

Q: You should add colons (:) to your essays to accomplish which of the following?
- To modify verbs or give emphasis to important nouns. (Incorrect. Colons are not used to modify verbs, but have more to do with the sentence as a whole.)
- To fix run-on sentences. (Incorrect. Colons could possibly be used to fix a run-on sentence, but they are not solely used for that. The main point of using colons. They should be used to introduce material that explains or summarizes what has preceded it.)
- To include extra information that is not essential to the sentence. (Incorrect. Extra information that is not essential to the sentence should be enclosed within parentheses instead of using a colon.)
- To introduce material that explains or summarizes the part of the sentence before it. (Correct! Colons are used to explain or summarize what comes before.)
A: To introduce material that explains or summarizes the part of the sentence before it.

Q: Which punctuation mark should be used after "purposes" in the following sentence?

The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient analogue computer likely used for several purposes predicting astronomical positions, anticipating eclipses, and calculating Olympiads.
- A semicolon should be used after "purposes." (Incorrect. Semicolons do not introduce lists.)
- No punctuation mark should be used after "purposes." (Incorrect. One of the uses of the colon is to introduce lists.)
- A comma should be used after “purposes.” (Incorrect. A comma is not used to introduce lists like the one in this sentence.)
- A colon should be used after "purposes." (Correct. Colons are used to introduce lists.)
A: A colon should be used after "purposes."

Q: Identify where the colon(s) should be used in the sentence below.

There are three methods of attracting earthworms from the ground worm charming, worm grunting, and worm fiddling.
- Colons should be used after "charming" and "grunting." (Incorrect. Colons are used to introduce a list, not to separate items in a list.)
- No colons should be used in this sentence. (Incorrect. Remember that colons are used to introduce a list.)
- A colon should be used after “earthworms.” (Incorrect. The colon should come directly before the list instead of before the prepositional phrase.)
- The colon should be used after "ground." (Correct. The colon is used to introduce a list.)
A: The colon should be used after "ground."

Q: Identify where the colon(s) should be used in the sentence below.

I participate in an exceedingly dangerous sport I am a snake charmer.
- The colon should be used after "exceedingly." (Incorrect. Remember that colons join two independent ideas (each with a subject and verb) when the writer wants to emphasize the second idea.)
- No colon should be used in this sentence. (Incorrect. Remember that colons join two independent ideas (each with a subject and verb) when the writer wants to emphasize the second idea.)
- The colon should be used after “participate.” (Incorrect. Remember that colons join two independent ideas (each with a subject and verb) when the writer wants to emphasize the second idea, so find where the two independent clauses come together.)
- The colon should be used after "sport." (Correct. Remember that colons join two independent ideas (each with a subject and verb) when the writer wants to emphasize the second idea.)
A: The colon should be used after "sport."

Q: Identify where the colon should be used in the sentence below.

Snake charming the sport that is underloved.
- The colon should be used after "is." (Incorrect. Think about the use of a colon for emphasis.)
- No colon should be used in this sentence. (Incorrect. A colon can be used after an introductory phrase to explain it.)
- The colon should be used after “sport.” (Incorrect. A colon should be used after an introductory phrase to explain it.)
- The colon should be used after "charming." (Correct. A colon can be used after an introductory phrase to explain it.)
A: The colon should be used after "charming."

Q: Is the following a sentence fragment, a run-on sentence, or a correct sentence?

- Even though the dog was small enough to fit in her pants pocket.
- This is a run-on sentence because it needs a comma. (Incorrect. This sentence does not require a comma, but it does have another issue with it.)
- This is a complete correct sentence. (Incorrect. This sentence is not complete and should not stand on its own.)
- This is a sentence fragment because it is a dependent clause. (Correct. The sentence starts with “even though,” which turns this clause into a dependent clause and makes it so that it cannot stand on its own. That makes this a sentence fragment.)
A: This is a sentence fragment because it is a dependent clause.

Q: Which of these three examples is a sentence fragment?
- I used to like flying. (Incorrect. This is a correct sentence because it has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own.)
- Then one day, I experienced a panic attack, which frightened me. (Incorrect. This is a correct sentence because it has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own.)
- I had a hard time trying again. (Incorrect. Although this sentence is short, it still has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own, so it is a correct sentence.)
- Because, even though I knew I was safe, it still felt like I couldn’t breathe. (Correct. This sentence begins with “because,” which turns this sentence into a dependent clause and makes it so that it cannot stand on its own without being attached to another independent clause.)
A: Because, even though I knew I was safe, it still felt like I couldn’t breathe.

Q: A sentence fragment is:
- A complete sentence that’s really short. (Incorrect. Length does not determine whether a sentence is a fragment or a run-on, but whether it is punctuated and written grammatically.)
- A shorter sentence following a really long one, used for sentence variety. (Incorrect. Sentence variety is a great idea, but sentence fragments are grammatically incorrect, not just short sentences.)
- A part of a longer sentence. (Incorrect. You may be thinking of a clause or a phrase, which are usually parts of sentences.)
- A phrase or dependent clause that is not a complete sentence. (Correct. A sentence fragment is grammatically incorrect and should not stand on their own, and should be revised to work as a part of another sentence or to stand on their own as a correct and complete sentence.)
A: A phrase or dependent clause that is not a complete sentence.

Q: Is the following a sentence fragment, a run-on sentence, or a complete sentence?

Whereas his mother, Jocelyn, held the title of Indiana Corn Princess for three years when she was a teen.
- This is a run-on sentence because of its length. (Incorrect. The length of a sentence does not automatically make it a run-on sentence. Consider whether this example expresses a complete idea.)
- This is a complete sentence. (Incorrect. Consider whether this example expresses a complete idea.)
- This is a sentence fragment because it is a dependent clause and does not convey a complete idea. (Correct. The word “whereas” turns this into a dependent clause and makes it so that it must be attached to another independent clause.)
A: This is a sentence fragment because it is a dependent clause and does not convey a complete idea.

Q: Which of these examples is a sentence fragment?
- My boss, a famous art inspector, was asked to look at a supposed Picasso. (Incorrect. This sentence expresses a complete idea so it is not a fragment.)
- She said that it was a fake. (Incorrect. This sentence expresses a complete idea so it is not a fragment.)
- Because she is so skilled, she was able to tell immediately. (Incorrect. This sentence expresses a complete idea so it is not a fragment.)
- Which, they were lucky to have her come help. (Correct. This is a sentence fragment because it is a dependent clause and does not convey a complete idea.)
A: Which, they were lucky to have her come help.

Q: Which of these examples is a sentence fragment?
- Because she knew what happened, she apologized. (Incorrect. This sentence expresses a complete idea, so it is not a fragment.)
- It was just too high. (Incorrect. This sentence expresses a complete idea, so it is not a fragment.)
- Don’t count your eggs before they hatch. (Incorrect. This is a command sentence, which is not a fragment, despite not having a subject. It expresses a complete idea and the subject is implied.)
- Because of the rain and snow. (Correct. This is a sentence fragment because it is a dependent clause and does not convey a complete idea.)
A: Because of the rain and snow.

Q: Priya has written this passage. What does she need to change? (The sentences have been numbered to make answering easier.)

(1)Weary to my core, and shuffling upstairs from my parents’ basement. (2)I tried not to think. (3)Almost forty, and living with my parents while my husband tried to find a job in this post-crash economy. (4)More than that was awful, though. (5)My old, frayed pajamas; my inability to afford new ones; and the fact the pancakes I was smelling were ones my mom had made me. (6)And I’m thirty-nine years old, I thought. (7)An age when I’m supposed to be providing for myself.
- Sentences 1, 2, and 4 are actually sentence fragments. (Incorrect. Several of those sentences actually are correct, even if they are short.)
- Sentences 2, 4, and 6 are actually sentence fragments. (Incorrect. All of these sentences are actually complete sentences, even if they are short. They all have express a complete thought and have a subject and a verb.)
- This passage is correct as written. (Incorrect. Several of the sentences are fragments and cannot stand alone because they do not express a complete idea with a subject and a verb.)
- Sentences 1, 3, 5, and 7 are actually sentence fragments. (Correct. Each of these sentences are missing a crucial element to make it a standalone sentence, either a subject or a verb.)
A: Sentences 1, 3, 5, and 7 are actually sentence fragments.

Q: Which of the options below would most effectively revise the following sentence fragment?

Other symptoms to watch for would include changes in her mood. Such as sadness or irritability.
- There are other symptoms to watch for would include changes in her mood. Such as sadness or irritability. (Incorrect. The first sentence is a complete idea so it does not need additional introductory words.)
- Other symptoms to watch for would include changes in her mood; such as sadness or irritability. (Incorrect. You are on the right track, but the semicolon is not the correct punctuation mark.)
- Other symptoms to watch for, would include changes, in her mood, such as sadness, or irritability. (Incorrect. A comma in between the dependent clause and the rest of the sentence is correct, but adding the extra commas does not help.)
- Other symptoms to watch for would include changes in her mood, such as sadness or irritability. (Correct. The comma correctly joins the dependent clause to the rest of the sentence.)
A: Other symptoms to watch for would include changes in her mood, such as sadness or irritability.

Q: Evaluate the following sentences for fragments. Which option is best?

Low self-esteem, depression, bullying. These are four issues adolescent girls may face.
- Low self-esteem; depression; bullying. These are four issues adolescent girls may face. (Incorrect. Replacing the commas with semicolons doesn't solve the problem. Remember that a complete sentence expresses a complete idea (with a subject and verb).)
- The sentences are correct as written and no fragment appears. (Incorrect. Remember that a complete sentence expresses a complete idea (with a subject and verb), so the first sentence does not count as a sentence without a subject and a verb.)
- Low self-esteem, depression, bullying, these are four issues adolescent girls may face. (Incorrect. This is now a run-on sentence which is not punctuated correctly either.)
- Low self-esteem, depression, and bullying are four issues adolescent girls may face. (Correct. Rewriting the sentence makes it now work better.)
A: Low self-esteem, depression, and bullying are four issues adolescent girls may face.

Q: Evaluate the following sentences for fragments. Which option is best?

Many girls don't seek help. Which is a big part of the problem.
- Many girls don't seek help; which is a big part of the problem. (Incorrect. You are on the right track, but a semicolon is not correct here. Semicolons are used to join two independent clauses that can stand on their own, and “which is a big part of the problem” is not an independent clause.)
- The sentences are correct as written and no fragment appears. (Incorrect. Remember that a complete sentence expresses a complete idea (with a subject and verb).)
- Many girls don't seek help: which is a big part of the problem. (Incorrect. A colon is not appropriate to join a dependent clause to the rest of the sentence.)
- Many girls don't seek help, which is a big part of the problem. (Correct. The comma is the best punctuation mark to join the dependent clause to the rest of the sentence.)
A: Many girls don't seek help, which is a big part of the problem.

Q: Which of the following is a run-on sentence?
- I’ve noticed a pattern, though; this lack of focus tends to happen late at night. (Incorrect. This sentence is correctly punctuated; the semicolon is separating the two independent clauses.)
- Many times, stopping to get a snack, grab a drink of water, or play a quick game on my phone can get me back to work. (Incorrect. This sentence is correctly punctuated. The commas are separating items in a list and there is a coordinating conjunction before the end of the list.)
- I definitely work harder after taking a break, and I think this is something everyone should think about doing if they get stuck too. (Incorrect. This sentence is correctly punctuated, with a comma and a coordinating conjunction separating the two independent clauses.)
- Sometimes, my brain just can’t focus, it’s a good idea to take a break and listen to music. (Correct. This sentence is a comma splice, because a comma is separating two independent clauses that could stand on their own. The comma after “focus” should be changed to a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction should be added after the comma.)
A: Sometimes, my brain just can’t focus, it’s a good idea to take a break and listen to music.

Q: Is the following a run-on sentence? Why or why not?

- In the long run, we will have to choose which path to take, we won’t have time to hike everywhere.
- This is a correct sentence because the commas come after introductory or transitional phrases. (Incorrect. This is actually a run-on sentence because it has two independent clauses being joined by only a comma. This is incorrect and needs to be revised.)
- This is a run-on sentence because the first comma needs to be a semicolon. (Incorrect. The first comma is coming after an introductory phrase, which should be followed by a comma.)
- This is a run-on sentence because the second comma needs to be a colon. (Incorrect. The second comma is separating two independent clauses, and at times, a colon can be used to do that. However, a colon is used in this situation only when the two clauses are very closely related and the second one is explaining or clarifying the first. This is not the case in this sentence. A semicolon would be more appropriate.)
- This is a run-on sentence because the second comma needs to be semicolon. (Correct. The second comma is separating two independent clauses, and a semicolon would be an appropriate punctuation mark to place here.)
A: This is a run-on sentence because the second comma needs to be semicolon.

Q: Is the following a run-on sentence? Why or why not?

I thought I was a pretty savvy traveler, however, that was before I met some of my colleagues.
- This is a correct sentence because a comma comes before and after a transition word. (Incorrect. The word "however" is acting as a conjunctive adverb in this sentence, so it needs to be preceded by a semicolon.)
- This is a run-on sentence because the second comma needs to be semicolon. (Incorrect. Semicolons come before conjunctive adverbs, like "however,” and should be used to join two complete thoughts or independent clauses.)
- This is a run-on sentence because this sentence should be divided into two sentences. (Incorrect. This sentence could work as one sentence if punctuated correctly, although right now it does have two independent clauses joined together inappropriately.)
- This is a run-on sentence because the first comma needs to be a semicolon. (Correct. The semicolon would come between the two independent clauses, or complete thoughts, that can stand alone. “I thought I was a pretty savvy traveler” can stand by itself, and so can “however, that was before I met some of my colleagues,” so joining them with just a comma creates a run-on sentence.)
A: This is a run-on sentence because the first comma needs to be a semicolon.

Q: Is the following a run-on sentence? Why, or why not?

Jake had to make a rest stop, and Elaine had to return home to retrieve her cell phone, but we still got to the doctor's office on time and had the prescription refilled.
- This is a run-on because there should be a semicolon in place of the first comma. (Incorrect. The first comma in combination with the coordinating conjunction "and" is correct.)
- This is a run-on because there should be a semicolon in place of the second comma. (Incorrect. The second comma in combination with the coordinating conjunction "but" is correct.)
- This is a run-on because there are too many clauses combined in this sentence and it is too long. (Incorrect. Run-on sentences do not depend on length. It is more important to determine how the clauses are joined rather than how many there are or how long they are; if they are using proper punctuation, sentences can go on for a very long time.)
- This is not a run-on sentence because commas and coordinating conjunctions are joining the independent clauses. (Correct. Each of the clauses are being joined appropriately with commas and coordinating conjunctions, and that prevents a run-on sentence.)
A: This is not a run-on sentence because commas and coordinating conjunctions are joining the independent clauses.

Q: Kendra has written this passage. What does she need to change? (The sentences have been numbered to make answering easier.)

(1) The Jumeirah Beachcomber is my favorite restaurant in Dubai, it sits right on the beach, next to the iconic Burj al-Arab—the world’s only seven-star hotel—built right out in the Arabian Gulf. (2) The restaurant catches the breezes off the water; the salt smell mingles with scents of sandalwood and frankincense. (3) When we last stayed, the food—an expansive buffet of Thai and southern Indian delicacies—stretched out before us. (4) My son got his usual: dragon fruit, chicken tikka masala, and beef with saffron, he headed to the restaurant’s game room. (5) Here, he could play Mario Brothers on the Wii while we talked and laughed with friends: the perfect evening.
- Sentences 3 and 5 are sentence fragments. (Incorrect. Both of these sentences are complete sentences and are punctuated correctly.)
- Sentence 2 uses a semicolon incorrectly. (Incorrect. The semicolon in sentence 2 is coming in between two independent clauses. “The restaurant catches the breezes off the water” can stand on its own, and so can “the salt smell mingles with the scents of sandalwood and frankincense,” so a semicolon is appropriate to place in between them.)
- Sentences 4 and 5 use colons incorrectly. (Incorrect. Both of these colons are being used correctly. In sentence 4, the colon is introducing a list; in sentence 5, the colon is being used to provide emphasis to what follows.)
- Sentences 1 and 4 are run-on sentences. (Correct. Both of these sentences combine two independent clauses inappropriately, using commas instead of stronger punctuation makers like semicolons. These both require revision.)
A: Sentences 1 and 4 are run-on sentences.

Q: Which of the following options would most effectively revise the following run-on sentence?

Walking my bike across the street is safer and it only takes a few seconds longer than riding.
- Walking my bike across the street is safer: and it only takes a few seconds longer. (Incorrect. A colon would not be appropriate here because it is not introducing or emphasizing anything. Consider which punctuation mark should appear before "and.")
- Walking my bike, across the street is safer and it only takes a few seconds longer. (Incorrect. "Walking my bike across the street is safer" is a correct independent clause that does not need an additional comma. Consider which punctuation mark should appear before "and.")
- Walking my bike across the street is safer; and it only takes a few seconds longer than riding. (Incorrect. A semicolon is not used before a coordinating conjunction.)
- Walking my bike across the street is safer, and it only takes a few seconds longer than riding. (Correct. Adding the comma before the coordinating conjunction eliminates the comma splice.)
A: Walking my bike across the street is safer, and it only takes a few seconds longer than riding.

Q: Which of the following options would most effectively revise the following run-on sentence?

The Jumeirah Beachcomber is my favorite restaurant in Dubai, it sits right on the beach, next to the iconic Burj al-Arab—the world's only seven-star hotel—built right out in the Arabian Gulf.
- The Jumeirah Beachcomber is my favorite restaurant in Dubai, it sits right on the beach. Next to the iconic Burj al-Arab—the world's only seven-star hotel—built right out in the Arabian Gulf. (Incorrect. Replacing the comma after "beach" with a period does not resolve the run-on sentence error. Think about the separate ideas the sentence is trying to convey.)
- The Jumeirah Beachcomber is my favorite restaurant in Dubai, it sits right on the beach. The restaurant is next to the iconic Burj al-Arab—the world's only seven-star hotel—built right out in the Arabian Gulf. (Incorrect. Replacing the comma after "beach" with a period and adding "The restaurant" does not resolve the run-on sentence error. Think about the separate ideas the sentence is trying to convey.)
- The Jumeirah Beachcomber is my favorite restaurant in Dubai, it sits right on the beach; next to the iconic Burj al-Arab—the world's only seven-star hotel—built right out in the Arabian Gulf. (Incorrect. The semicolon placed after “beach” does not come in between the two independent clauses, and is not revising the run-on sentence error.)
- The Jumeirah Beachcomber is my favorite restaurant in Dubai; it sits right on the beach, next to the iconic Burj al-Arab—the world's only seven-star hotel—built right out in the Arabian Gulf. (Correct. The semicolon is replacing the comma in the middle of the two independent clauses.)
A: The Jumeirah Beachcomber is my favorite restaurant in Dubai; it sits right on the beach, next to the iconic Burj al-Arab—the world's only seven-star hotel—built right out in the Arabian Gulf.

Q: Which of the following options would most effectively revise the following run-on sentence?

My son ordered his usual: dragon fruit, chicken tikka masala, and beef with saffron, he headed to the restaurant's game room.
- My son ordered his usual: dragon fruit, chicken tikka masala, and beef with saffron, however he headed to the restaurant's game room. (Incorrect. The addition of the conjunctive adverb "however" without a preceding semicolon does not repair the run-on sentence.)
- My son ordered his usual: dragon fruit; chicken tikka masala; and beef with saffron, he headed to the restaurant's game room. (Incorrect. Replacing the first and second commas with semicolons is incorrect. Think about the two separate ideas the run-on sentence is trying to convey and how to join them with better punctuation.)
- My son ordered his usual: (dragon fruit, chicken tikka masala, and beef with saffron) he headed to the restaurant's game room. (Incorrect. While you could put the foods within parentheses, this still leaves the rest of the sentence a run-on and does not repair the original problem of combining two independent clauses in appropriately.)
- My son ordered his usual: dragon fruit, chicken tikka masala, and beef with saffron. Then, he headed to the restaurant's game room. (Correct. This separates the two independent clauses into two sentences and breaks them up to stand on their own.)
A: My son ordered his usual: dragon fruit, chicken tikka masala, and beef with saffron. Then, he headed to the restaurant's game room.