ACE’s Writing Center: Punctuation Quiz

1. ACE’s Writing Center:Punctuation Quiz Improve punctuation with this quiz.

2. Welcome to the Punctuation Quiz! • Follow the prompts and answer the questions provided. • Keep track of your incorrect answers—at the end of the quiz are links for your continued improvement. • Good luck!

3. Punctuation Quizchoose a question block Click here to end the quiz

4. Semicolon for $100 • Which of the sentences is correct? • The meeting ran long, so I missed dinner; and the movie. • The Skittles were colorful; and yummy! • The snow accumulated quickly; it won’t be fun shoveling it all. • None of the above

5. Semicolon for $200 • Which of the sentences is correct? • We visited San Diego, CA; Boston, MA; and Orlando, FL. • We traveled to Boston in the fall; beautiful leaves! • Our next stop is Green Bay, WI and; we hope that it won’t be too cold. • All of the above

6. Semicolon for $300 • Which of the sentences is not correct? • The science lab was closed for cleaning; I wonder when it will reopen. • Julie is sick; will you visit her? • Rob sent his grades to the university; however, he hasn’t heard back yet. • All are correct

7. Semicolon for $400 • Which of the sentences is not correct? • Theo ran the party; his sister was the guest of honor. • Ginny burned dinner however; everyone still ate it. • Ben coached his team to a victory; afterward, they partied at Pizza Hut. • All are correct

8. Semicolon for $500 • Which of the sentences is correct? • Our respective birth days are June 20, 1993; August 25, 1995; and March 5, 1988. • Between the two of us, I voted for Ruth; she didn’t win, however. • Both A and B are correct • Neither are correct

9. Comma for $100 • Which of the following is NOT a comma rule? • Use commas between geographical names (locations) • Use commas between back-to-back adjectives • Use commas with direct address • Use commas when separating two complete thoughts without using a conjunction.

10. Comma for $200 • Which of the following uses a comma properly? • Uncle Bill please pass, the gravy. • On January 9, 2011 I began a new semester. • The fragile red antique Grecian urn caught my attention. • It was raining, not flurrying, last Thursday.

11. Comma for $300 • Which of the following is a comma splice? • The new grocery store sells pickled beets, and pickled sausage. • I was astonished, but I worked through the amazement. • The next convention is in New Orleans, Lousiana, in April. • Shirley, Kara, and Mike planned the vacation.

12. Comma for $400 • Which of the following is a run-on sentence, misusing the comma? • Monday and Tuesday are my busiest days of the week. • Prof. Banner taught chemistry before his physics class. • The friends decided on a game, however, no one was willing to go first. • None of the above

13. Comma for $500 • Which of the following is NOT a comma rule? • Use a comma when listing items of three or more. • Use a comma when directly contradicting or contrasting something. • Use commas in place of parenthesis sometimes. • None of the above

14. Quotation Marks for $100 • Which of the following is a rule for proper quotation mark usage? • Use quotation marks when naming a short story title. • Use quotation marks when naming a novel title. • Use quotation marks when naming a drama (play) title. • None of the above

15. Quotation Marks for $200 • Which of the following uses quotation marks correctly? • Dan sailed on “The Dauntless” when he visited England. • Our class read “The Scarlet Letter” in a week. • “Khaki Dreams” is the latest hit from the band Unanimous. • None of the above

16. Quotation Marks for $300 • Which of the following uses quotation marks and punctuation correctly? • Jefferson wrote that “all men are created equal”. • “The war ended on June 5, 1330”. (David 45) • “Reach for the stars,” she said, “and don’t let go when you get one.” • None of the above

17. Quotation Marks for $400 • Which of the following uses quotation marks correctly? • “The Cask of Amontillado,” by Poe, is one of my favorites. • William Blake’s “Tyger” is quoted in CBS’s show The Mentalist. • Donald ran through the “field and into the barn.” • All of the above

18. Quotation Marks for $500 • Which of the following is not a rule for using quotation marks? • Use quotation marks when naming a poem. • Use quotation marks when naming a boat. • Use quotation marks when quoting, word for word. • None of the above

19. Parentheses for $100 • Which of the following uses parentheses correctly? • Tonya (asked) Johnny about the homework. • Ruth said (The longest lab exam I’ve had took 3 hours!) • Edna tutored (and taught) chemistry for a few months. • All of the above

20. Parentheses for $200 • Which of the following uses parentheses correctly? • Grandma shared her (experience) with the group. • The football team (known for hard tackles) won the game. • Success is a journey, (not) a destination. • None of the above

21. Parentheses for $300 • Which of the following uses parentheses incorrectly? • Suzy’s brother (Sean) is mistaken for her twin. • After the fieldtrip (in May), I realized my love for Monticello. • Define the word first; (then) you can understand it. • All of the above

22. Parentheses for $400 • Which of the following uses parentheses and punctuationcorrectly in the in-text citation? • “Live and let die” (McCartney, 83). • Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. (Johnson 12) • Time stands still; I guess it always will (Lewis 65). • All of the above

23. Parentheses for $500 • Which of the following uses parentheses incorrectly? • To Kill a Mockingbird was a blockbuster release in (1962). • It is better to give (or so they say) than to receive. • My (lame) cell phone drops service in the parking lot. • All of the above

24. Colon for $100 • Which of the following uses the colon correctly? • I enjoy only one type of music: jazz. • For the trip, pack: Gatorade, trail mix, chocolate bars, water, and a deck of cards. • Store employees could use some advice: smile more! • All of the above

25. Colon for $200 • Which of the following uses the colon correctly? • Polly always scores higher than Janet: yet Janet practices every day. • When the phone rang: the tone almost lulled me to sleep. • Technology should be more efficient: my computer crashes too often. • None of the above

26. Colon for $300 • Which of the following uses the colon incorrectly? • The test was horrific: I failed even though I studied. • Jim’s computer froze: and he was in the middle of an assignment. • Malinda should bring: tissues. • All of the above

27. Colon for $400 • Which of the following uses the colon incorrectly? • Here is the question: to be or not to be? • Arthur’s discovery changed aerodynamics: he is a genius! • Zach has lived in: Montreal, Canada; Dallas, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; and Winchester, Virginia. • None of the above

28. Colon for $500 • Which of the following uses the colon correctly? • Being humble does not mean that you think less of yourself: it means that you think of yourself less. • Be who you are, because those you mind don’t matter: and those who matter don’t mind. • Both of the above • Neither of the above

29. Various Punctuation for $100 • Which of the following correctly uses a question mark? • I wonder when the next phone will be released? • I am thinking that the trip might be cancelled due to rain? • Duncan said what? • None of the above

30. Various Punctuation for $200 • Which of the following correctly uses a dash? • Too much rain causes floods—too little rain causes drought. • Give this to the lady—at the desk. • Hail forms in different sizes—and shapes. • None of the above

31. Various Punctuation for $300 • Which of the following correctly uses an exclamation point? • Egyptians mummified their deceased! • When will the deadline be set! • I won the trophy! • None of the above

32. Various Punctuation for $400 • Which of the following correctly uses italics? • We sailed the Sloop John B. • Look to the left; that is my monamie. • Clancy’s novel, Patriot Games, was turned into a movie. • All of the above

33. Various Punctuation for $500 • Which of the following correctly uses italics? • The poem Chicago, by Carl Sandburg, is a classic. • He has a certain je ne sais quoi about him. • The “Queen Mum,” a British fleet ship, is retiring in May. • None of the above

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35. Sorry—Try Again… Click here to return to the question

36. Results • Count your errors; click on the area in which you made the most mistakes? • Semicolon • Comma • Quotation Marks • Parentheses • Colon • Various Punctuation