Update: 2009-05-24 04:54 PM +0800
c03Punct.htm
A compilation by U Kyaw Tun and staff of TIL (Tun Institute of Learning, http://www.tuninst.net ). Not for sale.
In the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks regardless of logic.
In the United Kingdom, Canada, and islands under the influence of British education, punctuation around quotation marks is more apt to follow logic. In American style, then, you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design." But in England you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design".
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TIL-Gram-indx
03.01. Comma
03.01.01. Comma Usage
03.01.02. Superfluous Commas
03.02. Semicolon
03.03. Colon
03.03.01. When to Use a Colon
03.03.02. When Not to Use a Colon
03.04. End Punctuation
03.05. Quotation Marks
03.05.01. Quotations Marks with Other Punctuation
03.05.02.Quotation Marks - English and American styles
03.05.03. Double Punctuation with Quotations
03.05.04. Single Quotation Marks
03.06. Apostrophe
03.07. Dash
03.rev.01. Review: Comma
03.rev.02. Review:
Identifying Punctuation Errors
03.rev.03.
Review: Adding Punctuation
Comma usage is in some respects a question of personal writing style: some writers use commas liberally, while others prefer to use them sparingly. Most modern North American style guides now recommend using fewer commas rather than more, so when faced with the option of using a comma or not, you may find it wise to refrain.
For instance, the use of a comma before the "and" in a series is usually optional, and many writers choose to eliminate it, provided there is no danger of misreading:
We bought scarves, mittens and sweaters before leaving for Iceland. (comma unnecessary before "and'')
We ate apples, plums, and strawberry and kiwi compote. (comma needed before "and" for clarity)
1. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins independent clauses (unless the independent clauses are very short):
I wrapped the fresh fish in three layers of newspaper, but my van still smelled like trout for the next week. (commas with two independent clauses)
She invited him to her party and he accepted. (comma unnecessary with short clauses)
2. Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause and, often, after an introductory phrase (unless the phrase is very short):
After the hospital had completed its fund-raising campaign, an anonymous donor contributed an additional $10,000. (after introductory adverb clause)
From the east wall to the west, her cottage measures twenty feet. (after introductory prepositional phrase)
In the bottom drawer you will find some pink spandex tights. (no comma with short, closely related phrase)
3. Use a comma to separate items in a series:
Playing in a band can be exciting, but many people do not realize the hardships involved: constant rehearsals, playing until 2 a.m., handling drunken audience members, and transporting heavy equipment to and from gigs. (the comma preceding "and" is optional unless needed to prevent misreading)
4. Use commas to set off non-restrictive elements and other parenthetical elements. A non-restrictive modifier is a phrase or clause that does not restrict or limit the meaning of the word it is modifying. It is, in a sense, interrupting material that adds extra information to a sentence. Even though removing the non-restrictive element would result in some loss of meaning, the sentence would still make sense without it. You should usually set off non-restrictive elements with commas:
The people of Haiti, who for decades have lived with grinding poverty and mind-numbing violence, are unfamiliar with the workings of a true democracy.
5. A restrictive modifier is a phrase or clause that limits the meaning of what it modifies and is essential to the basic idea expressed in the sentence. You should not set off restrictive elements with commas:
Those residents of Ottawa who do not hold secure, well-paying jobs must resent the common portrayal of the city as a land of opportunity.
Note that you can use two other punctuation marks to set off non-restrictive elements or other parenthetical information: parentheses and dashes. Enclosing parenthetical information in parentheses reduces the importance of that information:
Mr. Grundy's driving record (with one small exception) was exemplary.
Placing parenthetical information between dashes has the opposite effect: it emphasises (Am sp - emphasizes) the material:
Mr. Grundy's driving record -- with one exception -- was exemplary.
Nevertheless, you should usually set off parenthetical information with commas.
Equally important in understanding how to use commas effectively is knowing when not to use them. While this decision is sometimes a matter of personal taste, there are certain instances when you should definitely avoid a comma.
1. Do not use a comma to separate the subject from its predicate:
[WRONG] Registering for our fitness programs before September 15, will save you thirty percent of the membership cost.
[RIGHT] Registering for our fitness programs before September 15 will save you thirty percent of the membership cost.
2. Do not use a comma to separate a verb from its object or its subject complement, or a preposition from its object:
[WRONG] I hope to mail to you before Christmas, a current snapshot of my dog Benji.
[RIGHT] I hope to mail to you before Christmas a current snapshot of my dog Benji.[WRONG] She travelled (Am sp - traveled) around the world with, a small backpack, a bedroll, a pup tent and a camera.
[RIGHT] She travelled (Am sp - traveled) around the world with a small backpack, a bedroll, a pup tent and a camera.
3. Do not misuse a comma after a coordinating conjunction:
[WRONG] Sleet fell heavily on the tin roof but, the family was used to the noise and paid it no attention.
[RIGHT] Sleet fell heavily on the tin roof, but the family was used to the noise and paid it no attention.
4. Do not use commas to set off words and short phrases (especially introductory ones) that are not parenthetical or that are very slightly so:
[WRONG] After dinner, we will play badminton.
[RIGHT] After dinner we will play badminton.
5. Do not use commas to set off restrictive elements:
[WRONG] The fingers, on his left hand, are bigger than those on his right.
[RIGHT] The fingers on his left hand are bigger than those on his right.
6. Do not use a comma before the first item or after the last item of a series:
[WRONG] The treasure chest contained, three wigs, some costume jewellery and five thousand dollars in Monopoly money.
[RIGHT] The treasure chest contained three wigs, some costume jewellery and five thousand dollars in Monopoly money.[WRONG] You should practice your punches, kicks and foot sweeps, if you want to improve in the martial arts.
[RIGHT] You should practice your punches, kicks and foot sweeps if you want to improve in the martial arts.
You will usually use the semicolon to link independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction. Semicolons should join only those independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.
Abdominal exercises help prevent back pain; proper posture is also important.
The auditors made six recommendations; however, only one has been adopted so far.
Do not use a semicolon to link a dependent clause or a phrase to an independent clause.
[WRONG] Although gaining and maintaining a high level of physical fitness takes a good deal of time; the effort pays off in the long run.
[RIGHT] Although gaining and maintaining a high level of physical fitness takes a good deal of time, the effort pays off in the long run.
Generally, you should not place a semicolon before a coordinating conjunction that links two independent clauses. The only exception to this guideline is if the two independent clauses are very long and already contain a number of commas.
[WRONG] The economy has been sluggish for four years now; but some signs of improvement are finally beginning to show.
[RIGHT] The economy has been sluggish for four years now, but some signs of improvement are finally beginning to show.
Rule of Thumb: It may be useful to remember that, for the most part, you should use a semicolon only where you could also use a period.
There is one exception to this guideline. When punctuating a list or series of elements in which one or more of the elements contains an internal comma, you should use semicolons instead of commas to separate the elements from one another:
Henry's mother believes three things: that every situation, no matter how grim, will be happily resolved; that no one knows more about human nature than she; and that Henry, who is thirty-five years old, will never be able to do his own laundry.
Writers often confuse the colon with the semicolon, but their uses are entirely different.
The colon focuses the reader's attention on what is to follow, and as a result, you should use it to introduce a list, a summation, or an idea that somehow completes the introductory idea. You may use the colon in this way, however, only after an independent clause:
He visited three cities during his stay in the Maritimes: Halifax, Saint John and Moncton.
Their lobbying efforts were ultimately useless: the bill was soundly defeated.
My mother gave me one good piece of advice: to avoid wasting time and energy worrying about things I cannot change.
You should not place a colon between a verb and its object or subject complement, or between a preposition and its object:
[WRONG] His neighbour (Am sp - neighbor) lent him: a pup-tent, a wooden canoe, and a slightly battered Coleman stove. (colon between verb and objects)
[RIGHT] His neighbour (Am sp - neighbor) lent him a pup-tent, a wooden canoe, and a slightly battered Coleman stove.[WRONG] Her three goals are: to improve her public speaking skills, to increase her self-confidence and to sharpen her sales techniques. (colon between verb and subject complement)
[RIGHT] Her three goals are to improve her public speaking skills, to increase her self-confidence and to sharpen her sales techniques.[WRONG] We travelled (traveled) to: London, Wales and Scotland. (colon between preposition and objects)
[RIGHT] We travelled (traveled) to London, Wales and Scotland.
The punctuation marks that signal the end of a sentence are the period, the question mark and the exclamation mark.
You use the period, by far the most common of the end punctuation marks, to terminate a sentence that makes a statement. You may also use periods with imperative sentences that have no sense of urgency or excitement attached:
Without a doubt, Lady Emily was much happier after her divorce.
Turn right at the stop sign.
Bring me a cup of coffee and a cheese danish.
When you want to express a sense of urgency or very strong emotion, you may end your imperative sentences and statements with an exclamation mark:
Look out below!
Leave this house at once!
I hate him!
Exclamation marks are, however, rare in formal writing. Use them sparingly, if at all.
You should use the question mark at the end of a direct question:
Who's on first?
Where is my flowered cape?
Be careful not to use a question mark at the end of an indirect question. Indirect questions are simply statements, and therefore end with a period:
I wonder who was chosen as Harvest King in the county fair.
She asked if she could play pinball.
The teacher asked who was chewing gum.
There are two traditions on the usage of quotation marks. In this chapter, I have given both traditions: American and British. For a Myanmar, you are at liberty to choose any style noting fully well that if you are taking an exam set in Britain you have to follow the British style and if you are taking an exam set in the United States of America you are to follow the American style.
From
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm
In the United States, periods and commas go inside
quotation marks regardless of logic.
In the United Kingdom, Canada, and islands under the
influence of British education, punctuation around quotation marks is more apt
to follow logic. In American style, then, you would write: My favorite poem is
Robert Frost's "Design." But in England you would write: My favorite poem is
Robert Frost's "Design".
The exact rules for quotation marks vary greatly from language to language and even from country to country within the English-speaking world. In North American usage, you should place double quotation marks (") before and after directly quoted material and words of dialogue:
One critic ended his glowing review with this superlative: "It is simply the best film ever made about potato farming."
May replied, "This is the last cookie.''
You also use quotation marks to set off certain titles, usually those of minor or short works -- essays, short stories, short poems, songs, articles in periodicals, etc. For titles of longer works and separate publications, you should use italics (or underlined, if italics are not available). Use italics for titles of books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, films, plays, long poems, long musical works, and television and radio programs.
Once when I was sick, my father read me a story called "The Happy Flower", which was later made into a movie entitled Flower Child, starring Tiny Tim.
Sometimes, you will use quotation marks to set off words specifically referred to as terms, though some publishers prefer italics:
I know you like the word "unique", but do you really have to use it ten times in one essay?
"Well" is sometimes a noun, sometimes an adverb, sometimes an adjective and sometimes a verb.
University of Ottawa HyperGrammar seems to following the American usage instead of the Canadian usage. I have left this section as was given by HyperGrammar but elsewhere I have followed the Canadian and British tradition.
One question that frequently arises with quotation marks is where to place other punctuation marks in relation to them. Again, these rules vary from region to region, but North American usage is quite simple:
1.Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks.
I know you are fond of the story "Children of the Corn," but is it an appropriate subject for your essay?
"At last," said the old woman, "I can say I am truly happy."
2. Semicolons and colons always go outside the quotation marks.
She never liked the poem "Dover Beach"; in fact, it was her least favourite (Am sp - favorite) piece of Victorian literature.
He clearly states his opinion in the article "Of Human Bondage": he believes that television has enslaved and diminished an entire generation.
3. Question marks, exclamation marks, and dashes go inside quotation marks when they are part of the quotation, and outside when they do not.
Where is your copy of ``The Raven''?
"How cold is it outside?'' my mother asked.
Note that in North American usage, you should use single quotation marks (') only to set off quoted material (or a minor title) inside a quotation.
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm
Use quotation marks [ “ . . . ” ] to set off material that represents quoted or spoken language. Quotation marks also set off the titles of things that do not normally stand by themselves: short stories, poems, and articles. Usually, a quotation is set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma; however, the typography of quoted material can become quite complicated. Here is one simple rule to remember:
In the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks regardless of logic.
In the United Kingdom, Canada, and islands under the influence of British education, punctuation around quotation marks is more apt to follow logic. In American style, then, you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design." But in England you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design". The placement of marks other than periods and commas follows the logic that quotation marks should accompany (be right next to) the text being quoted or set apart as a title. Thus, you would write (on either side of the Atlantic):
What do you think of Robert Frost's "Design"?
I love "Design"; however, my favorite poem was written by Emily Dickinson.
Further, punctuation around quoted speech or phrases depends on how it fits into the rest of your text. If a quoted word or phrase fits into the flow of your sentence without a break or pause, then a comma may not be necessary:
The phrase "lovely, dark and deep" begins to suggest ominous overtones.
Following a form of to say, however, you'll almost always need a comma:
My father always said, "Be careful what you wish for."
If the quoted speech follows an independent clause yet could be part of the same sentence, use a colon to set off the quoted language:
My mother's favorite quote was from Shakespeare: "This above all, to thine own self be true."
When an attribution of speech comes in the middle of quoted language, set it apart as you would any parenthetical element:
"I don't care," she said, "what you think about it."
Be careful, though, to begin a new sentence after the attribution if sense calls for it:
"I don't care," she said. "What do you think?"
Convention normally insists that a new paragraph begins with each change of speaker:
• "I don't care what you think anymore," she
said, jauntily tossing back her hair and looking askance at Edward.
• "What do you mean?" he replied.
• "What do you mean, ' What do I mean?' " Alberta sniffed. She was becoming
impatient and wished that she were elsewhere.
• "You know darn well what I mean!" Edward huffed.
• "Have it your way," Alberta added, "if that's how you feel."
In proofreading and editing your writing, remember that quotation marks always travel in pairs! Well, almost always. When quoted dialogue carries from one paragraph to another (and to another and another), the closing quotation mark does not appear until the quoted language finally ends (although there is a beginning quotation mark at the start of each new quoted paragraph to remind the reader that this is quoted language). Also, in parenthetical documentation (see the Guide to Writing Research Papers), the period comes after the parenthetical citation which comes after the quotation mark" (Darling 553).
In reporting "silent speech" — noting that language is "said," but internally and not spoken out loud — writers are on their own. Writers can put quotation marks around it or not:
Oh, what a beautiful morning, Curly said to himself.
"Oh, what a beautiful morning!" Curly said to himself.
Some writers will set such unspoken language in italics or indent it in order to set it off from other "regular" language. That's probably not a good idea if there is a lot of it because the indents can be confusing and italics can become tiresome to read after a while. The decision will probably depend on the amount of silent speech within the text. Probably the best way to handle silent speech is to find an author whom you like who does a lot of this — Graham Swift in his novel Last Orders, for instance — and copy that author's style. Consistency, of course, is very important.
Some interesting things can happen with verb tenses when we report action in indirect or reported speech ("The president said that he was going to Egypt tomorrow"). For help with this issue, we would refer to you Professor Mary Nell Sorensen's Web site at the University of Washington.
Be careful not to use quotation marks in an attempt to emphasize a word (the kind of thing you see in grocery store windows — Big "Sale" Today!). Underline or italicize that word instead. (The quotation marks will suggest to some people that you are using that word in a special or peculiar way and that you really mean something else — or that your sale is entirely bogus.)
The American Medical Association Manual of Style (9th ed, 1998) calls misused quotation marks like this Apologetic Quotation Marks and says:
Quotation marks used around words to give special effect or to indicate irony are usually unnecessary. When irony or special effect is intended, skillful preparation can take the place of using these quotes. Resort to apologetic quotation marks or quotation marks used to express irony only after such attempts have failed, keeping in mind that the best writing does not rely on apologetic quotation marks. (p 220)
Refer to Capital's Guide for Writing Research Papers and, especially, the English faculty's Suggestions for Writing Papers for Literature Courses for further help in handling quotations.
We do not enclose indirect quotations in quotation marks. An indirect quotation reports what someone says but not in the exact, original language. Indirect quotations are not heard in the same way that quoted language is heard.
The President said that NAFTA would eventually be a boon to small businesses in both countries.
Professor Villa told her students the textbooks were not yet in the bookstore.
Occasionally — very occasionally, we hope — we come across a sentence that seems to demand one kind of punctuation mark within quotation marks and another kind of punctuation mark outside the quotation marks. A kind of pecking order of punctuation marks takes over: other marks are stronger than a period and an exclamation mark is usually stronger than a question mark. If a statement ends in a quoted question, allow the question mark within the quotation marks suffice to end the sentence
Malcolm X had the courage to ask the younger generation of American blacks, "What did we do, who preceded you?"
On the other hand, if a question ends with a quoted statement that is not a question, the question mark will go outside the closing quotation mark.
Who said, "Fame means when your computer modem is broken, the repair guy comes out to your house a little faster"?
If a question ends with a quotation containing an exclamation mark, the exclamation mark will supersede the question and suffice to end the sentence.
Wasn't it Malcolm X who declared, "Why, that's the most hypocritical government since the world began!"
A single question mark will suffice to end a quoted question within a question:
"Didn't he ask, 'What did we do, who preceded you?'" queried Johnson.
Authority for this section: New York Public Library Writer's Guide to Style and Usage HarperCollins: New York. 1994. 277. Cited with permission, examples our own. - http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm
From: http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm
In the United States, we use single quotation marks [‘ . . . ’ ] to enclose quoted material (or the titles of poems, stories, articles) within other quoted material.
"'Design' is my favorite poem," he said."Did she ask, "What's going on?' "
Ralph Ellison recalls the Golden Age of Jazz this way: "It was itself a texture of fragments, repetitive, nervous, not fully formed; its melodic lines underground, secret and taunting; its riffs jeering — 'Salt peanuts! Salt peanuts!'"
British practice, again, is quite different. In fact, single-quote marks and double-quote marks are apt to be reversed in usage. Instructors in the U.S. should probably take this into account when reading papers submitted by students who have gone to school in other parts of the globe.
In newspapers, single quotation marks are used in headlines where double quotation marks would otherwise appear.
Congress Cries 'Shame!'
One further use, according to the Chicago Manual of Style: in philosophical discourse, key concepts may be set apart with single-quote marks. When such concepts are set off in this way, periods and commas go outside the single-quote marks:
Sartre's treatment of 'being', as opposed to his treatment of 'non-being', has been thoroughly described in Kaufmann's book.
UKT note: Visit
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm to see:
Quizzes on Punctuation Marks
period
|| question mark
|| exclamation mark
|| colon
|| semicolon
|| hyphen
|| dash
parentheses
|| brackets
|| ellipsis
|| apostrophe
|| comma
|| slash
The apostrophe and the single quote (as opposed to the double quote) are indistinguishable. As noted by http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm, "The quotation marks will suggest to some people that you are using that word in a special or peculiar way and that you really mean something else". In this chapter to get away from the problem of how to use quotation marks, I've made bold the letters which had appeared in between quotation marks in HyperGrammar.
You should use an apostrophe to form the possessive case of a noun or to show that you have left out letters in a contraction. Note that you should not generally use contractions in formal, academic writing.
The convertible's engine has finally died. (The noun convertible's is in the possessive case)
I haven't seen my roommate for two weeks. (The verb haven't is a contraction of have not )
To form the possessive of a plural noun ending in s, simply place an apostrophe after the s.
He has his three sons' futures in mind.
In many suburbs, the houses' designs are too much alike.
Possessive pronouns -- for example, hers, yours, and theirs -- do not take apostrophes. This is the case for the possessive pronoun its as well: when you write it's with an apostrophe, you are writing a contraction for it is.
The spaceship landed hard, damaging its radar receiver. ( its is the possessive pronoun)
It's your mother on the phone. ( it's is the contraction of it is )
Typographically there are three kinds of dash on the computer: hyphen, en-dash and em-dash. The keystrokes are: ( - ) - , (Alt+0150) – and (Alt+0151) — respectively for both Arial and Times New Roman fonts.
As noted in the section on commas, you can use a dash at the beginning and end of parenthetical information. Usually, you will use dashes when you want to emphasise (Am sp - emphasize) the information, but you might also use them if the parenthetical information is too long or abrupt to be set off with commas.
I think you would look fine wearing either the silk blouse -- the one with the blue pattern -- or the angora sweater. (abrupt interruption)
The idea of returning to the basics in the classroom -- a notion which, incidentally, has been quietly supported for years by many respected teachers -- is finally gaining some currency with school administrators. (lengthy interruption containing internal commas)
You can use a dash to conclude a list of elements, focusing them all toward one point.
Chocolate, cream, honey and peanut butter -- all go into this fabulously rich dessert.
Dashes also mark sharp turns in thought.
We pored over exotic, mouth-watering menus from Nemo Catering, Menu du Jour, Taste Temptations, and three other reputable caterers -- and rejected them all.
UKT: Review sections reformatted: questions, answers, and explanations.
Question: Using a separate sheet of paper, rewrite each sentence to correct the comma usage, then compare your answer with the one provided.
Q01.
The town of Wolfville boasts spectacular tidal flats an annual apple-blossom
festival, and the beautiful campus, of Acadia University.
Ans: The town of Wolfville boasts spectacular tidal flats, an annual
apple-blossom festival, and the beautiful campus of Acadia University.
Exp: You need a comma after "flats" to end this element in the
series. The comma after "festival'' is optional. You should not use a comma
after "campus" because the
phrase that follows is
restrictive.
Q02.
The university gave, the two top scholars Janet and him,
gold medals and framed certificates of merit.
Ans:
The university gave the two top scholars, Janet and him,
gold medals and framed certificates of merit.
Exp: The comma after "gave"
in the original sentence incorrectly separates the
verb from its
object. You need a pair of commas around "Janet and him", because the element is
non-restrictive.
Q03.
Everyone, with tickets to the seven o'clock showing of the
Rolling Stones movie, should move to the front of the line.
Ans: Everyone with tickets to the seven o'clock showing of the Rolling
Stones movie should move to the front of the line.
Exp: There should be no comma after "everyone" because what
follows is restrictive information. Do not keep the comma between "movie" and
"should"; doing so incorrectly separates the subject from the verb.
Q04.
Stacey who was usually quite decisive faced a true dilemma in her last year of university.
Ans: Everyone with tickets to the seven o'clock showing of the Rolling
Stones movie should move to the front of the line.
Exp: There should be no comma after "everyone" because what
follows is restrictive information. Do not keep the comma between "movie" and
"should"; doing so incorrectly separates the subject from the verb.
Q05.The ring, on his finger, is solid gold.
Ans: The ring on his finger is solid gold.
Exp: The phrase "on his finger" is restrictive, so you should not
set it off with commas.
In the United States, periods and commas go inside
quotation marks regardless of logic.
In the United Kingdom, Canada, and islands under the influence of British
education, punctuation around quotation marks is more apt to follow logic. In
American style, then, you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's
"Design." But in England you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's
"Design".
Question: Indicate whether each sentence is punctuated correctly or incorrectly.
Q01.
I wrote letters to: my aunt, the cable company,
and my close friend Bernice who moved to Boston four years ago.
Ans: The answer Incorrect is correct.
Exp: You should have punctuated the sentence as follows:
I wrote letters to my aunt, the cable company,
and my close friend Bernice, who moved to Boston four years ago.
You should never use a
colon between a
preposition and its
objects. The
comma after "company" is optional, but you need the comma after
"Bernice" because the material that follows is
non-restrictive.
Q02.
"Can working with a computer really improve one's writing?" they asked.
Ans: The answer Correct is correct.
Exp: The material inside the quotation marks is dialogue and is a
question; therefore, the question mark must fall inside the final quotation marks.
Q03.
They read they studied and they reviewed, yet they could not define the term
'onomatopoeia' on the English exam.
Ans: The answer Incorrect is correct.
Exp: You should punctuate the sentence as follows:
They read, they studied, and they
reviewed, yet they could not define the term ``onomatopoeia''
on the English exam.
You need the comma after ``read'' to separate the items in the list.
The comma after "studied" is optional.
In North American usage, you should use double
quotation marks around "onomatopoeia", but in British usage the single
quotation marks are correct.
Q04.
Children sometimes knock at the Wilsons' door, as if taunting the couple to
show themselves, but neither the old man nor his sister ever answers.
Ans: The answer Correct is correct.
Exp: "Wilsons' " is the correct
possessive form of the
plural
noun "Wilsons". You need the first comma before the
parenthetical
phrase "as if taunting the couple to show themselves",
and you need the second before the
co-ordinating conjunction "but", which links the two
independent clauses
Q05.
We cancelled our subscription to the magazine after it ran a homophobic
article; likewise, a number of our friends boycotted the publication.
Ans: The answer Correct is correct.
Exp: The
semicolon correctly joins the two independent clauses,
and the comma is necessary after the
conjunctive adverb "likewise".
Q06.
My sister's skin used to be as smooth as a childs.
Ans: The answer Incorrect is correct.
Exp: You should punctuate the sentence as follows
My sister's skin used to be as smooth as a child's.
You need the second
apostrophe to indicate that the noun " child's " is possessive
Q07.
Aaron asked the counsellor if there were many job opportunities for music
teachers and if he would have to leave the province to get a good position?
Ans: The answer Incorrect is correct.
Exp: You should punctuate the sentence as follows:
Aaron asked the counsellor if there were many
job opportunities for music teachers and if he would have to leave the province
to get a good position.
The sentence is an
indirect question and therefore needs a
period at the end, not a
question mark.
Q08.
They wanted very badly to see Peter Weirs new film,
but fate in the form of the year's worst snowstorm intruded.
Ans: The answer Incorrect is correct.
Exp: You should punctuate the sentence as follows:
They wanted very badly to see Peter Weir's new
film, but fate, in the form of the year's worst snowstorm, intruded.
OR
They wanted very badly to see Peter Weir's new
film, but fate -- in the form of the year's worst snowstorm -- intruded.
You need the apostrophe in " Weir's " to indicate the possessive (if you thought
that his name was "Peter Weirs", then " Weirs' " or "
Weirs's " would also be correct). The phrase "in the form of the year's
worst snowstorm" is non-restrictive, or parenthetical, and you must set it off in
some fashion. Most writers would use commas, but you could use
dashes if you wished to emphasise the parenthetical information.
Q09.
How could the rent review administrators have made such a decision,
and how will your landlord live with himself?
Ans: The answer Correct is correct.
Exp: You need the comma before the co-ordinating conjunction
"and", which joins two independent clauses,
and you need the question mark because this is a
direct question.
Q10.
"Take me with you," she said. "This little town and it's little people are
more than I can bear, but I know everything will be different in New York".
Ans: The answer Incorrect is correct.
Exp: You should punctuate the sentence as follows:
"Take me with you," she said.
"This little town and its little people are more than I can bear,
but I know everything will be different in New York."
The original sentence contained only two mistakes:
(1) "its" is the possessive case and therefore is spelled
without the apostrophe, and (2) the period belongs
inside the closing quotation marks.
Question: Using a separate sheet of paper, punctuate each sentence, then compare your answer to the one provided.
Q01.
Last Tuesday the committee agreed on its guest speakers for the coming year.
Ans: This sentence requires no
punctuation.
Exp: You could place a
comma after "Tuesday,'' but omitting it is better because the introductory
phrase is short and only slightly parenthetical.
Q02.
I really enjoyed Lost Ground the new short story by William Trevor said Samuel.
Ans: "I really enjoyed 'Lost Ground', the new short story by William
Trevor," said Samuel.
Exp: If you are following North American usage, you need double
quotation marks around the words spoken by Samuel and single quotation marks
around the title of the short story, because it is a minor title and is already
inside double quotation marks (in British usage you write the single quotation
marks by default). The comma after "Ground" is necessary because the phrase that follows is
non-restrictive, and the comma must fall inside the single quotation mark.
The comma after "Trevor" is required to introduce "said Samuel"
(this is a convention of dialogue), and the comma must fall inside the double quotation marks.
Q03.
Guido who is my fathers cousin was born in Naples.
Ans: Guido, who is my father's cousin, was born in Naples.
Exp: You need commas around the non-restrictive clause "
who is my father's cousin", and you need the
apostrophe in "father's" is needed to indicate the
possessive.
Q04.
His form was excellent his dive was superior to his other competitors attempts.
Ans: Guido, who is my father's cousin, was born in Naples.
Exp: You need commas around the non-restrictive clause "
who is my father's cousin", and you need the
apostrophe in " father's " is needed to indicate the
possessive.
Q05.
My sisters favourite foods are as follows pepperoni pizza applesauce and strawberries.
Ans: My sister's favourite foods are as follows: pepperoni pizza,
applesauce, and strawberries.
Exp: You need the apostrophe in " sister's "
to show that the noun is possessive, the
colon after "follows" because the
clause preceding the colon is independent and introduces a list, and the
comma after "pizza" because it is an element in the list. The comma after
"applesauce" is optional.
End of TIL file