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 don’t 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 element—no commas.

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

17. Jeans which are washable can be traded for soggy peanuts. AMBIGUOUS—can 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 Eliot’s novel, Middlemarch, contains graphic textuality.

21. George Eliot’s novel, Middlemarch, contains graphic textuality. INCORRECT. 32e – Restrictive (and also an appositive)

22. George Eliot’s longest novel, Middlemarch, contains graphic textuality.

23. George Eliot’s 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 didn’t go outside.

25. It rained all day, however, I stayed dry because I didn’t 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).