Punctuation, Grammar, and Usage Exam Review

1
Punctuation, Grammar, and Usage Exam Review
2
Fatima prefers to walk to market, while I would
rather go by helicopter.
3
Fatima prefers to walk to market, while I would
rather go by helicopter.

• CORRECT.
• 32a Use a comma before a coordinating
  conjunction joining two independent clauses.

4
James Earl Jones has starred in many movies, and
also done voiceover work in many more.
5
James Earl Jones has starred in many movies, and
also done voiceover work in many more.

• INCORRECT.
• 32a second clause has no subject and is
  therefore a dependent clause.

6
In the rear of the plane Anita and James chatted
while waiting for the lavatory.
7
In the rear of the plane Anita and James chatted
while waiting for the lavatory.

• INCORRECT.
• 32b Use a comma after an introductory clause or
  phrase.

8
We love baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and
Chevrolet.
9
We love baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and
Chevrolet.

• INCORRECT.
• 32c Use a comma between all items in a series.

10
The recipe called for both onions and chocolate.
11
The recipe called for both onions and chocolate.

• CORRECT.
• 32c A series must have at least three elements.

12
Today I need to do laundry, pay bills, scrub and
mop the floor, and shave the cat.
13
Today I need to do laundry, pay bills, scrub and
mop the floor, and shave the cat.

• CORRECT.
• Might include a comma after Today, per 32g, but
  not required, per first example in 33h (in 6th
  edition sorry if earlier versions dont have the
  same example).

14
Jeans that are washable can be traded for soggy
peanuts.
15
Jeans that are washable can be traded for soggy
peanuts.

• CORRECT.
• 32e Restrictive elementno commas.

16
Jeans which are washable can be traded for soggy
peanuts.
17
Jeans which are washable can be traded for soggy
peanuts.

• AMBIGUOUScan be either restrictive or
  non-restrictive, depending on how the emphasis is
  placed.

18
My mother, who is 172 years old, is very wrinkly.
19
My mother, who is 172 years old, is very wrinkly.

• CORRECT.
• 32e Non-restrictive phrase who is 172 years old
  is not vital information, so add commas.

20
George Eliots novel, Middlemarch, contains
graphic textuality.
21
George Eliots novel, Middlemarch, contains
graphic textuality.

• INCORRECT.
• 32e Restrictive (and also an appositive)

22
George Eliots longest novel, Middlemarch,
contains graphic textuality.
23
George Eliots longest novel, Middlemarch,
contains graphic textuality.

• CORRECT.
• 32e Non-restrictive (non-vital) information,
  since longest already identifies the proper novel.

24
It rained all day, however, I stayed dry because
I didnt go outside.
25
It rained all day, however, I stayed dry because
I didnt go outside.

• INCORRECT.
• 32f Transitional expression (however) that
  shifts direction of the sentence.

26
It rained all day, however, so we cancelled our
picnic.
27
It rained all day, however, so we cancelled our
picnic.

• CORRECT.
• 32f - Transitional expression (however) that does
  not shift direction of the sentence.

28
The loveliest socks in the world, in case you
were wondering, are in Detroit.
29
The loveliest socks in the world, in case you
were wondering, are in Detroit.

• CORRECT.
• 32f Use commas to set off parenthetical
  expressions.

30
Nietzsche initially claimed, That which does not
kill us only makes us taller.
31
Nietzsche initially claimed, That which does not
kill us only makes us taller.

• CORRECT.
• 32fh Use a comma to introduce a quote.

32

• unless . . .

33
Nietzsche initially claimed that, That which
does not kill us only makes us taller.
34
Nietzsche initially claimed that, That which
does not kill us only makes us taller.

• INCORRECT.
• 32fh Use a comma to introduce a quote unless
  using a coordinating conjunction (that).

35
On May 15, 2016 we will finally finish covering
grammar.
36
On May 15, 2016 we will finally finish covering
grammar.

• INCORRECT.
• 32i In dates, the year is set off with commas.

37
My aunt Mathilda lives at 42 Cupcake Street, Toad
Suck, AR 72032.
38
My aunt Mathilda lives at 42 Cupcake Street, Toad
Suck, AR 72032.

• CORRECT.
• 32i In an address, separate all elements except
  the zip code with commas.

39
Hugh McSnooty, Esq. fell in the mud.
40
Hugh McSnooty, Esq. fell in the mud.

• INCORRECT.
• 32i Separate titles using commas.

41
Jennifer Aniston may be pretty but, John Stamos
is prettier.
42
Jennifer Aniston may be pretty but, John Stamos
is prettier.

• INCORRECT.
• 33h (Almost) Always use a comma before a
  coordinating conjunction.

43
We found the alien spaceship and, strangely, it
was filled with gooey pudding.
44
We found the alien spaceship and, strangely, it
was filled with gooey pudding.

• CORRECT.
• 32f Strangely is a parenthetical expression
  thus, separate it with commas.
• (Optionally, can add a comma after spaceship.)

45
Alex was so drunk that he almost vomited,
(projectile fashion) but managed to keep it all
in.
46
Alex was so drunk that he almost vomited,
(projectile fashion) but managed to keep it all
in.

• INCORRECT.
• 33h Commas always follow, never precede,
  parentheses.

47
Yesterday I was sad today I am still sad, but at
least I am 3.00 richer.
48
Yesterday I was sad today I am still sad, but at
least I am 3.00 richer.

• CORRECT.
• 34a Use a semicolon (no hyphen in semicolon)
  between closely related independent clauses not
  joined by a coordinating conjunction. Also have
  option to place commas after both Yesterday and
  today (see slide 13).

49
The lunch menu included a lettuce, tomato, and
gerbil salad, koala bear on toast with aoli,
cheese, and figs, and for dessert, sugared
spiders.
50
The lunch menu included a lettuce, tomato, and
gerbil salad koala bear on toast with aoli,
cheese, and figs and for dessert, sugared
spiders.

• INCORRECT.
• 43c Use a semicolon between items in a series
  containing internal punctuation (above version is
  correctly punctuated).

51
The trip included visits to Paris, Berlin,
Madrid, and Mazomanie.
52
The trip included visits to Paris, Berlin,
Madrid, and Mazomanie.

• INCORRECT.
• 35a Use a colon after a complete independent
  clause to direct attention to a list The trip
  included visits to the following Paris, Berlin,
  Madrid, and Mazomanie.

53
Our new house consists of three bedrooms, two
bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and an
Olympic-sized pool.
54
Our new house consists of three bedrooms, two
bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and an
Olympic-sized pool.

• INCORRECT.
• 35d Do not use a colon between a preposition
  and its object. (HAH!)

55
I hate everyone, including George Clooney,
Beyonce, and Stephen Hawking.
56
I hate everyone, including George Clooney,
Beyonce, and Stephen Hawking.

• INCORRECT.
• 35d Dont use a colon after such as, including,
  or for example. It simply isnt done.

57
Jims dog bit me in the ear.
58
Jims dog bit me in the ear.

• INCORRECT.
• 36a Use an apostrophe to show possession.

59
That briefcase is Penelopes.
60
That briefcase is Penelopes.

• CORRECT.
• 36a Use an apostrophe to show possession, even
  if the noun being possessed precedes the subject.

61
Tommy Lee Jones new movie is due out in seven
minutes.
62
Tommy Lee Jones new movie is due out in seven
minutes.

• CORRECT.
• 36a For possessive nouns ending in S, add an
  apostrophe. Can also add s Tommy Lee Joness
  new movie is due out in seven minutes.

63
All the cheerleaders uniforms were stolen by the
team mascot.
64
All the cheerleaders uniforms were stolen by the
team mascot.

• Ambiguous.
• 36a To denote plural possessive, add an
  apostrophe. Period. In the plural sense, all of
  the uniforms of all of the cheerleaders were
  stolen.
• ButOne might also argue that there is but one
  cheerleader who had all of her uniforms stolen,
  in which case the sentence is punctuated
  correctly.

65
Jack and Jills troubles all began with that evil
pail.
66
Jack and Jills troubles all began with that evil
pail.

• CORRECT.
• 36a To show joint possession (both parties
  share the troubles), add an apostrophe S only to
  the last noun.

67
Cory and Coras dogs each looked like Jack
Nicholson.
68
Cory and Coras dogs each looked like Jack
Nicholson.

• INCORRECT.
• 36a To show individual possession (Cory and
  Cora each have their own dog), add an apostrophe
  S to each noun.

69
People sure dressed strangely back in the 60s.
70
People sure dressed strangely back in the 60s.

• INCORRECT.
• 36a and 36c Sixties is not possessive further,
  sentence refers to the 1960s, so we need an
  apostrophe to indicate that 19 has been ellipsed
  60s.

71
Its time to eat.
72
Its time to eat.

• INCORRECT.
• 36e Its it is.

73
Its time was at an end.
74
Its time was at an end.

• CORRECT.
• 36e - Its it is and nothing else.

75
Whos going to sort out whos sandwiches belong
to whom?
76
Whos going to sort out whos sandwiches belong
to whom?

• INCORRECT.
• 36e - Whos who is and nothing else.

77
That blue airplane over there is hers.
78
That blue airplane over there is hers.

• INCORRECT.
• 36e - Certain pronouns are already possessive.

79
When Thoreau advises us to question authority,
he didnt mean teachers.
80
When Thoreau advises us to question authority,
he didnt mean teachers.

• INCORRECT.
• 37a - Always question your teachers. Except when
  they say that soft punctuation goes inside the
  quotation marks.

81
Thoreau advises us to question authority
surely he didnt mean teachers!
82
Thoreau advises us to question authority
surely he didnt mean teachers!

• CORRECT.
• 37a Hard punctuation goes outside the quotation
  marks (except for a period at the end of a
  sentence).

83
I want you to question authority, as Thoreau
advises, said Bernie.
84
I want you to question authority, as Thoreau
advises, said Bernie.

• INCORRECT.
• 37c - Quotes within quotes use single quotation
  marks.

85
I want you to question authority.
86
I want you to question authority.

• CORRECT.
• 37f A period is the one bit of hard punctuation
  that goes inside the quotation marks.

87
Who are you, I asked?
88
Who are you, I asked?

• INCORRECT.
• 37f Question mark pertains only to the phrase
  inside the quotation marks sentence as a whole
  is a declarative sentence.

89
What the Brewers need is a big-time clutch
hitter.
90
What the Brewers need is a big-time clutch
hitter.

• INCORRECT.
• 37g Do not use quotation marks to draw
  attention to familiar slang, to disown or
  highlight trite expressions, or to justify an
  attempt at humor.

91
I was wondering if youre getting sleepy yet?
92
I was wondering if youre getting sleepy yet?

• INCORRECT.
• 38a b Differentiate between an actual
  question and a question couched in a declarative
  sentence.

93
Ben Jonson said of Shakespeare that He
(Shakespeare) was not of an age, but for all
time.
94
Ben Jonson said of Shakespeare that He
(Shakespeare) was not of an age, but for all
time.

• INCORRECT.
• 39c Use brackets to indicate changes or
  additions within a direct quote.

95
Aristotle writes, Love is . . . a single soul
inhabiting two bodies.
96
Aristotle writes, Love is . . . a single soul
inhabiting two bodies.

• CORRECT.
• 39d Though it can get pretty crowded in there.
  But use ellipses only when ellipsing material
  from the middle of a quotenot at the beginning
  or the end. And a space before and after every
  dot.

97
Max is a world-class sprinter.
98
Max is a world-class sprinter.

• CORRECT.
• 44 Use a hyphen to connect two or more words
  functioning together as an adjective before a
  noun.

99
As a sprinter, Max is world-class.
100
As a sprinter, Max is world-class.

• INCORRECT.
• 44 Use a hyphen to connect two or more words
  functioning together as an adjective before a
  noun.

101
We offer both short- and long-term disability.
102
We offer both short- and long-term disability.

• CORRECT.
• Not in the book, but this is how you do it.

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