U.S. English Punctuation and Mechanics Test
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
The
daisies were yellow(A) a color Daphne detested(B) and refused to accept.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank spaces in the following sentence.
The
well___known opera singer___whose ego was as big as her voice___refused to sing
at any venue that wasn't well___known among the opera crowd.
a. None
/ dash / dash / hyphen
b. Hyphen
/ dash / dash / none
c. Hyphen
/ none / none / dash
d. No
punctuation needed
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
Sheila
used to be the CEO(A) of a major financial company(B) but now she spends most
of her time raising money for various charities.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
Our
daughter has always been a bit rebellious(A) constantly thinking up ways to
assert her independence(B) and stand out from the crowd.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Which
of the following sentences reflects the correct use of the mechanics of
writing?
a. We
could not believe that our dr., Millicent Howard, refused to see us before
December
b. We
could not believe that our Doctor, Millicent Howard, refused to see us before
Dec.
c. We
could not believe that our Dr., Millicent Howard, refused to see us before
December.
d. We
could not believe that our doctor, Millicent Howard, refused to see us before
December.
Complete
the following sentence by selecting the option that correctly uses double
and/or single quotation marks.
_________________
announced our host at the racetrack.
a. The
third race has been postponed until five o'clock,
b. 'The
third race has been postponed until five o'clock',
c. "The
third race has been postponed until five o'clock,"
d. "The
third race has been postponed until five o'clock,
Indicate
the end punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence.
The
manager asked if he could take an extra day off for the holiday___
a. Exclamation
point
b. Period
c. Question
mark
d. No
punctuation needed
Which
of the following sentences uses commas correctly?
a. After
all, our candidate has nothing to worry about in the election according to the
latest polls.
b. After
all, our candidate has nothing to worry about in the election, according to the
latest polls.
c. After
all our candidate has nothing to worry about in the election, according to the
latest polls.
d. After
all our candidate has nothing to worry about, in the election, according to the
latest polls.
Which
of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?
a. "Quiet
down!" screamed Agatha. I'm trying to decide whether the drapes are too
long, too heavy, too dark, or just too ugly.
b. 'Quiet
down!' screamed Agatha. "I'm trying to decide whether the drapes are too
long, too heavy, too dark, or just too ugly."
c. "Quiet
down!" screamed Agatha. "I'm trying to decide whether the drapes are
too long, too heavy, too dark, or just too ugly."
d. "Quiet
down!", screamed Agatha, "I'm trying to decide whether the drapes are
too long, too heavy, too dark, or just too ugly."
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank spaces in the following sentence.
The
so___called forensics expert offered biased testimony___testimony that may have
cost the prosecution the trial.
a. None
/ dash
b. Hyphen
/ dash
c. Hyphen
/ semi-colon
d. Dash
/ hyphen
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
Our
neighbors(A) are both helpful(B) to us when we need them(C) and genuinely
friendly.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (C)
d. No
commas needed
Which
of the following sentences correctly uses parentheses and/or brackets?
a. Bertha
announced that anyone who likes chocolate [and who doesn't like chocolate?]
would be welcome to visit her candy shop for a free sample.
b. Bertha
announced that anyone (who likes chocolate) [and who doesn't like chocolate?]
would be welcome to visit her candy shop for a free sample.
c. Bertha
announced that anyone who likes chocolate (and who doesn't like chocolate?)
would be welcome to visit her candy shop for a free sample.
d. Bertha
announced that anyone who likes chocolate (and who doesn't like chocolate?)
would be welcome to visit her candy shop (for a free sample.)
Indicate
the end punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence.
Have
the Smiths decided to name their son Harold Smith, Jr._____
a. Question
mark
b. Second
period
c. Exclamation
point
d. No
punctuation needed
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence.
For
the camping trip, the Girl Scouts brought___ three tents, an electric stove,
and plenty of insect repellent.
a. Colon
b. Comma
c. Semi-colon
d. No
punctuation needed
Indicate
the end punctuation needed in the blank spaces in the following sentence.
Alison
wondered, "Will the lemur bite me___ ___
a. Period
/ quotation mark
b. Quotation
mark / exclamation point
c. Question
mark / quotation mark
d. Comma
/ quotation mark
Which
of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?
a. Mrs.
Lambert always monopolized the copy machine, which did nothing to endear her,
to her fellow teachers.
b. Mrs.
Lambert always monopolized the copy machine; which did nothing to endear her to
her fellow teachers.
c. Mrs.
Lambert always monopolized the copy machine, which did nothing to endear her to
her fellow teachers.
d. Mrs.
Lambert always "monopolized" the copy machine which did nothing to
endear her (to her fellow teachers).
Which
of the following sentences uses commas correctly?
a. Most
of the editors agreed that the new manuscript, "was a vast improvement
over the author's first attempt," even though some still thought that
nothing could top the original.
b. Most
of the editors agreed that the new manuscript "was a vast improvement over
the author's first attempt," even though some still thought that nothing
could top the original.
c. Most
of the editors agreed that the new manuscript "was a vast improvement over
the author's first attempt" even though some still thought that nothing
could top the original.
d. Most
of the editors agreed, that the new manuscript "was a vast improvement
over the author's first attempt" even though, some still thought that
nothing could top the original.
Select
the option that correctly completes the following sentence.
__________
not likely that the maple tree will lose all __________ leaves in August.
a. It's
/ its
b. It's
/ it's
c. Its
/ it's
d. Its
/ its
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence.
Edwina
found it very frustrating that Edward would only travel to English___speaking
countries.
a. Dash
b. Hyphen
c. Ellipses
d. No
punctuation needed
Indicate
the end punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence.
Ask
the boss when this presentation is due___
a. Question
mark
b. Period
c. Exclamation
point
d. No
punctuation needed
Which
of the following sentences correctly uses hyphens and/or dashes?
a. The
famous sixteenth-century painter apparently suffered from low self-esteem, but
experts who studied his work in the seventeenth century saw only confidence in
his brushstrokes.
b. The
famous sixteenth-century painter apparently suffered from low self-esteem, but
experts who studied his work in the seventeenth-century saw only confidence in
his brush-strokes.
c. The
famous sixteenth-century painter apparently suffered from low selfesteem, but
experts who studied his work in the seventeenth century saw only confidence in
his brush-strokes.
d. The
famous sixteenth century painter apparently suffered from low self-esteem, but
experts who studied his work in the seventeenth-century saw only confidence in
his brushstrokes.
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
One
of Shakespeare's greatest comedies(A) Much Ado About Nothing(B) features the
wonderful witty war between Beatrice and Benedick.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
The
book is the second(A) of a series(B) and has enjoyed immense success abroad.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Complete
the following sentence by selecting the option that makes correct use of the
mechanics of writing.
How
many times has she attempted to recreate Van Gogh's painting ______________?
a. Starry
Night
b. "Starry
Night"
c. Starry
Night
d. Starry
Night
e. Both
b (quotes) and d (underlining) are acceptable.
f. Both
c (italics) and d (underlining) are acceptable.
Complete
the following sentence by selecting the option that correctly uses double
and/or single quotation marks.
Sylvia
Plath's poem _____________ is one of my all-time favorites!
a. 'Daddy'
b. Daddy
c. "Daddy"
d. "Daddy,"
Indicate
the end punctuation needed in the blank spaces in the following sentence.
The
man at the gas station said, "Stay on the highway for another eighty
miles___ ___
a. Period
/ quotation mark
b. Question
mark / quotation mark
c. Period
/ none
d. Quotation
mark / question mark
Complete
the following sentence by selecting the option that correctly uses double
and/or single quotation marks.
Amanda
adamantly declared that ______________
a. 'she
would never speak to Adam again.'
b. "she
would never speak to Adam again."
c. she
would never speak to Adam again.
d. "she
would never speak to Adam again"!
Select
the option that correctly completes the following sentence.
Why
is the ____________ locker room so much bigger than the ____________ locker room?
a. mens'
/ womens'
b. men's
/ women's
c. men
/ women
d. mens
/ womens
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence.
Many
students have failed that professor's exams___ the most common reason is that
students can't stay awake through all those boring lectures.
a. Comma
b. Colon
c. Semi-colon
d. No
punctuation needed
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
The
unexpected firing of several employees alerted the staff to the company's
financial problems(A) and it led to an outbreak of panic(B) and fear.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
The
employee(A) who miscounted the change(B) refused to admit his mistake.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank spaces in the following sentence.
"I
don't know where the brakes are___"___ hollered my sister as she zoomed
past me in the dune buggy___
a. Comma
/ exclamation point / exclamation point
b. comma
/ none / period
c. Exclamation
point / none / period
d. No
punctuation needed
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence.
There
are several basic sentence structures writers can use to add variety to their
writing___ among them are simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex
sentences.
a. Semi-colon
b. Colon
c. Comma
d. No
punctuation needed
Which
of the following sentences correctly uses parentheses and/or brackets?
a. Most
of the participants in the 1992 study reported immediate improvements in their
condition. But in a recent poll [2007] of the original participants, only 45%
reported continued satisfaction with the results of the treatment.
b. Most
of the participants in the (1992) study reported immediate improvements in
their condition. But in a recent poll [2007] of the original participants, only
45% reported continued satisfaction with the results of the treatment.
c. Most
of the participants in the 1992 study reported immediate improvements in their
condition. (But in a recent poll [2007] of the original participants, only 45%
reported continued satisfaction with the results of the treatment.)
Select
the option that correctly completes the following sentence.
____________
ideas are equally valuable, so be sure to speak up at the meeting.
a. Everyones
b. Everyones'
c. Everyone's
d. Everyoneses
Which
of the following sentences uses commas correctly?
a. Having
lost the game to our arch rivals, we all traipsed home with our heads hung low.
b. Having
lost the game, to our arch rivals, we all traipsed home with our heads hung
low.
c. Having
lost the game to our arch rivals, we all traipsed home, with our heads hung
low.
d. Having
lost the game to our arch rivals we all traipsed home, with our heads hung low.
Indicate
the punctuation needed in the blank spaces in the following sentence.
No
one had counted on Vladimir arriving so soon___ his sudden appearance threw a
wrench into our plans___ and we had no idea how to extricate ourselves from the
situation.
a. Colon
/ none
b. Semi-colon
/ comma
c. Dash
/ semi-colon
d. Comma
/ dash
Select
the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
We
sat down to a delicious lunch at the crowded(A) open-air(B) restaurant.
a. Comma
at (A)
b. Comma
at (B)
c. Comma
at (A) and (B)
d. No
commas needed
Complete
the following sentence by selecting the option that makes correct use of the
mechanics of writing.
The
________________ gathered the White House staff and delivered the terrible
news.
a. President
b. Pres.
c. president
d. pres.
Which
of the following sentences uses commas correctly?
a. Since
Margie, and her sister Mable, both have blonde hair they are often mistaken for
one another.
b. Since
Margie, and her sister Mable, both have blonde hair, they are often mistaken
for one another.
c. Since
Margie and her sister Mable both have blonde hair, they are often mistaken for
one another.
d. Since
Margie and her sister Mable, both have blonde hair, they are often mistaken for
one another.