Exercise : Punctuation Answer : Punctuation

Exercise ExerciseSemicolons, colons, dashes,

quotation marks, Italics (use an underline), and
Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, parentheses are added in the following
Italics (use an underline), and parentheses where ever sentences.
they are needed in the following sentences.
1. The men in question (Harold Keene, Jim Peterson,
1. The men in question Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene) deserve awards.
and Gerald Greene deserve awards.
2. Several countries participated in the airlift: Italy,
2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
3. "Only one course was open to us: surrender," said
3. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the the ex-major, "and we did."
ex-major, and we did.
4. Judge Carswell--later to be nominated for the
4. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court--had ruled against civil rights.
Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite
5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article "How
magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article How Not Not to Go Camping."
to Go Camping.
6. "Yes,"Jim said, "I'll be home by ten."
6. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.
7. There was only one thing to do--study till dawn.
7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.
8. Montaigne wrote the following: "A wise man never
8. Montaigne wrote the following A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself."
loses anything, if he has himself.
9. The following are the primary colors: red, blue, and
9. The following are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow.
yellow.
10. Arriving on the 8:10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old
10. Arriving on the 8 10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old roommate; her husband; and Tim, their son.
roommate her husband and Tim, their son.
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied, "All the members of my family
was poor, Lynn replied All the members of my family are poor spellers. Why not me?"
are poor spellers. Why not me?
12. He used the phrase "you know" so often that I
12. He used the phrase you know so often that I finally finally said, "No, I don't know."
said No, I don't know.
13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of
13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars cars: Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes Benz.
Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes Benz.
14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9:19 flight,
14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9 19 flight, he came instead on the 10:36 flight.
he came instead on the 10 36 flight.
15. "Whoever thought," said Helen, "that Jack would
15. Whoever thought said Helen that Jack would be be elected class president?"
elected class president?
16. In baseball, a "show boat" is a man who shows
16. In baseball, a show boat is a man who shows off. off.

17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5 21 in last Sunday's 17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5:21 in last Sunday's
sermon. sermon.

18. There was a very interesting article entitled The 18. There was a very interesting article entitled "The
New Rage for Folk Singing in last Sunday's New York New Rage for Folk Singing" in last Sunday's New York
Times newspaper. Times newspaper.

19. Whoever is elected secretary of the club Ashley, or 19. "Whoever is elected secretary of the club--Ashley,
Chandra, or Aisha must be prepared to do a great deal or Chandra, or Aisha--must be prepared to do a great
of work, said Jumita, the previous secretary. deal of work," said Jumita, the previous secretary.

20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species 1859 caused a 20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) caused a
great controversy when it appeared. great controversy when it appeared.
Exercise : Apostrophes Answer : Apostrophes
Punctuate the following sentences with apostrophes The following sentences are punctuated with
according to the rules for using the apostrophe. apostrophes according to the rules for using the
apostrophe. Correct answers are in bold.
1. Whos the partys candidate for vice president this
year? 1. Who's the party's candidate for vice president this
year?
2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in the
traps jaws. 2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in
the trap's jaws.
3. Our neighbors car is an old Chrysler, and its just
about to fall apart. 3. Our neighbor's car is an old Chrysler, and it's just
about to fall apart.
4. In three weeks time well have to begin school again.
4. In three weeks' time we'll have to begin school
5. Didnt you hear that theyre leaving tomorrow? again.

6. Whenever I think of the stories I read as a child, I 5. Didn't you hear that they're leaving tomorrow?
remember Cinderellas glass slipper and Snow Whites
wicked stepmother. 6. Whenever I think of the stories I read as a child, I
remember Cinderella's glass slipper and Snow
7. We claimed the picnic table was ours, but the White's wicked stepmother.
Smiths children looked so disappointed that we found
another spot. 7. We claimed the picnic table was ours, but
the Smiths' children looked so disappointed that we
8. Its important that the kitten learns to find its way found another spot.
home.
8. It's important that the kitten learns to find its way
9. She did not hear her childrens cries. home.

10. My address has three 7s, and Tims phone number 9. She did not hear her children's cries.
has four 2s.
10. My address has three 7s, and Tim's phone
11. Didnt he say when he would arrive at Arnies number has four 2s.
house?
11. Didn't he say when he would arrive
12. Its such a beautiful day that Ive decided to take a at Arnie's house?
sun bath.
12. It's such a beautiful day that I've decided to take
13. She said the watch Jack found was hers, but she a sun bath.
couldnt identify the manufacturers name on it.
13. She said the watch Jack found was hers, but
14. Little girls clothing is on the first floor, and the she couldn't identify the manufacturer'sname on it.
mens department is on the second.
14. Little girls' clothing is on the first floor, and
15. The dogs bark was far worse than its bite. the men's department is on the second.

16. The moons rays shone feebly on the path, and I 15. The dog's bark was far worse than its bite.
heard the insects chirpings and whistlings.
16. The moon's rays shone feebly on the path, and I
17. Theyre not afraid to go ahead with the plans, heard the insects' chirpings and whistlings.
though the choice is not theirs.
17. They're not afraid to go ahead with the plans,
18. The man whose face was tan said that he had though the choice is not theirs.
spent his two weeks vacation in the mountains.
18. The man whose face was tan said that he had
19. I found myself constantly putting two cs in the spent his two weeks' vacation in the mountains.
word process.
19. I found myself constantly putting two c's in the
20. Johns 69 Ford is his proudest possession. word process.

20. John's '69 Ford is his proudest possession.

Exercise : Quotation Answer : Quotation
Marks Exercise Marks Exercise
In the following sentences put in quotation marks 1. "Mary is trying hard in school this semester," her
wherever they are needed, and underline words where father said.
italics are needed.
2. "No," the taxi driver said curtly, "I cannot get you
1. Mary is trying hard in school this semester, her to the airport in fifteen minutes."
father said.
3. "I believe," Jack remarked, "that the best time of
2. No, the taxi driver said curtly, I cannot get you to year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least that's
the airport in fifteen minutes. what I read in a book entitled Guide to Europe."

3. I believe, Jack remarked, that the best time of year 4. My French professor told me that my accent is
to visit Europe is in the spring. At least that's what I abominable. This sentence is correct as is.
read in a book entitled Guide to Europe.
5. She asked, "Is Time a magazine you read
4. My French professor told me that my accent is regularly?"
abominable.
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of
5. She asked, Is Time a magazine you read regularly? her stories from the words of the old popular song, "A
Good Man Is Hard to Find."
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of
her stories from the words of the old popular song, A 7. When did Roosevelt say, "We have nothing to fear
Good Man Is Hard to Find. but fear itself"?

7. When did Roosevelt say, We have nothing to fear 8. It seems to me that "hip" and "cool" are words
but fear itself? that are going out of style.

8. It seems to me that hip and cool are words that are 9. Yesterday, John said, "This afternoon I'll bring back
going out of style. your book Conflict in the Middle East"; however, he did
not return it.
9. Yesterday, John said, This afternoon I'll bring back
your book Conflict in the Middle East; however, he did 10. "Can you believe," Dot asked me, "that it has
not return it. been almost five years since we've seen each other?"

10. Can you believe, Dot asked me, that it has been 11. "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" is, I believe, J. D.
almost five years since we've seen each other? Salinger's best short story.

11. A Perfect Day for Bananafish is, I believe, J. D. 12. "Certainly," Mr. Martin said, "I shall explain the
Salinger's best short story. whole situation to him. I know that he will
understand."
12. Certainly, Mr. Martin said, I shall explain the whole
situation to him. I know that he will understand.

Exercise : Comma
Exercise 1
Add commas as needed in the sentences below. On the
line to the left of each sentence, write the number of
the appropriate comma rule (click here to see the
rules). If the sentence is correct as it is, write C on the
line and refer to the appropriate rule in parentheses
after the sentence.

_____ He left the scene of the accident and tried to

forget that it had happened.

_____ Oil which is lighter than water rises to the

surface.

_____ Madame de Stael was an attractive gracious

lady.

_____ Nice is a word with many meanings and some of

them are contradictory.

_____ The contractor testified that the house was

completed and that the work had been done properly.

_____ Some people refuse to go to the zoo because of

pity for creatures that must live in small cages.

_____ Taxicabs that are dirty are illegal in some cities.

_____ The closet contained worn clothes old shoes and

dirty hats.

_____ The uninvited guest wore a dark blue tweed

suit.

_____ After surviving this ordeal the trapper felt

relieved.

_____ Mark Twain's early novels I believe stand the

test of time.

_____ December 7 1941 will never be forgotten.

_____ The field was safe enough wasn't it?

_____ Write the editor of the Atlantic 8 Arlington

Street Boston Massachusetts 02116.

_____ He replied "I have no idea what you mean."

_____ After a good washing and grooming the pup

looked like a new dog.

_____ Because of their opposition to institutions that

force creatures to live in captivity some people refuse
to go to the zoo.

_____ Men who are bald are frequently the ones who
are the most authoritative on the subject of baldness.

_____ Vests which were once popular have been out of

vogue for several years.

_____ As a celestial goddess she regulated the course

of the heavenly bodies and controlled the alternating
seasons.

_____ I hope that someday he will learn how to be

polite.
Exercise : Commas vs. 22. The obstacles are not insurmountable but they are
real and formidable.

Semicolons - Compound 23. Riding a bicycle is excellent exercise I ride mine

Sentences every day.

24. I am not interested in a trip to Asia this year

Each of the following sentences needs either a comma however, I would like to go to Europe.
or a semicolon. Put in the necessary punctuation.
25. Not all highly educated people enjoy traveling, but
1. Many companies make sugar-free soft drinks, which many world travelers are particularly well educated.
are flavored by synthetic chemicals the drinks usually
contain only one or two calories per serving.
26. Jack worked overtime to pay off his education
debts at least, that was his explanation for his long
2. Mr. Leyland played the viola professionally for many hours.
years and he now conducts a community orchestra.
27. Katherine has given up smoking about five times
3. The crab grass was flourishing but the rest of the but she cannot seem to break the habit.
lawn, unfortunately, was dying.
28. His work may be almost totally forgotten but he
4. The hill was covered with wildflowers it was a would certainly be surprised to see how much current
beautiful sight. scholarship simply echoes his ideas.

5. As I turned around, I heard a loud thump for the cat 29. Our dog seems to have a built-in alarm clock he
had upset the goldfish bowl. wakes us up at exactly the same time every morning.

6. The artist preferred to paint in oils he did not like 30. The passengers on the plane were initially alarmed
watercolors. by the loss of altitude but the pilot and the crew kept
them calm.
7. The house was clean, the table set, and the porch
light on everything was ready for the guests' arrival. 31. I realized at once that something was wrong I was
not, however, the only person who was concerned.
8. He looked carefully in the underbrush but he failed
to notice the pair of green eyes staring at him. 32. I had to complete the assignment by Friday
otherwise, I would have failed the course.
9. The foundations of the house had been poured but,
to his disappointment, nothing else had been done 33. Ralph decided to be a chemist but he changed his
because of the carpenters' strike. mind after taking Chem. 121.

10. The computer could perform millions of operations 34. I finished reading The Nation and then I went to
in a split second however, it could not think bed.
spontaneously.
35. We always go to the mountains in the fall they are
11. I thought registration day would be tiring but I at their prettiest at that time of year.
didn't know I'd have to stand in so many lines.
36. Tim went to the candy store quite often the clerk
12. The dog, growling and snarling, snapped at me I even knew his name.
was so frightened that I ran.
37. Criticism of capitalist expansionism does not
13. The snowstorm dumped twelve inches of snow on surface in most discussions of the worldwide ecological
the interstate subsequently, the state police closed the crisis indeed, proposed solutions rarely deviate from a
road. basic message of further technological "progress."

14. Professors are supposed to be absent-minded and 38. The president has pledged to cut taxes repeatedly
I've seen plenty of evidence to support that claim since and the public has responded enthusiastically.
I've been in college.
39. The office was closed consequently, I could not pay
15. The suspect said that he had never met the victim my bill.
however, the detective knew that he was lying.
40. The air was beautifully clear it was a lovely day.
16. In the first place, it was snowing too hard to see
the road in the second place, we had no chains.

17. I have read Soul on Ice but I have not read The
Invisible Man.

18. San Francisco is my favorite city in fact, I plan to

spend two weeks there this summer.

19. The quarterback made a brilliant pass and the end

crossed the goal line for the winning touchdown.

20. Large supermarkets fascinate me I can find

everything from frozen chow mein to soybean flour in
one place.

21. Ron and Mike were both in English class this

morning they gave an interesting presentation on their
research.
Answer : Commas vs. 22. The obstacles are not insurmountable, but they are
real and formidable.

Semicolons - Compound 23. Riding a bicycle is excellent exercise; I ride mine

Sentences every day.

24. I am not interested in a trip to Asia this

Correct answers are in bold. year; however, I would like to go to Europe.

1. Many companies make sugar-free soft drinks, which 25. Not all highly educated people enjoy traveling, but
are flavored by synthetic chemicals;the drinks usually many world travelers are particularly well
contain only one or two calories per serving. educated. This sentence is correct as is.

2. Mr. Leyland played the viola professionally for many 26. Jack worked overtime to pay off his education
years, and he now conducts a community orchestra. debts; at least, that was his explanation for his long
hours.
3. The crab grass was flourishing, but the rest of the
lawn, unfortunately, was dying. 27. Katherine has given up smoking about five
times, but she cannot seem to break the habit.
4. The hill was covered with wildflowers; it was a
beautiful sight. 28. His work may be almost totally forgotten, but he
would certainly be surprised to see how much current
5. As I turned around, I heard a loud thump, for the scholarship simply echoes his ideas.
cat had upset the goldfish bowl.
29. Our dog seems to have a built-in alarm clock; he
6. The artist preferred to paint in oils; he did not like wakes us up at exactly the same time every morning.
watercolors.
30. The passengers on the plane were initially alarmed
7. The house was clean, the table set, and the porch by the loss of altitude, but the pilot and the crew kept
light on; everything was ready for the guests' arrival. them calm.

8. He looked carefully in the underbrush, but he failed 31. I realized at once that something was wrong; I was
to notice the pair of green eyes staring at him. not, however, the only person who was concerned.

9. The foundations of the house had been poured, but, 32. I had to complete the assignment by
to his disappointment, nothing else had been done Friday; otherwise, I would have failed the course.
because of the carpenters' strike.
33. Ralph decided to be a chemist, but he changed his
10. The computer could perform millions of operations mind after taking Chem. 121.
in a split second; however, it could not think
spontaneously. 34. I finished reading The Nation, and then I went to
bed.
11. I thought registration day would be tiring, but I
didn't know I'd have to stand in so many lines. 35. We always go to the mountains in the fall; they are
at their prettiest at that time of year.
12. The dog, growling and snarling, snapped at me; I
was so frightened that I ran. 36. Tim went to the candy store quite often; the clerk
even knew his name.
13. The snowstorm dumped twelve inches of snow on
the interstate; subsequently, the state police closed 37. Criticism of capitalist expansionism does not
the road. surface in most discussions of the worldwide ecological
crisis; indeed, proposed solutions rarely deviate from a
14. Professors are supposed to be absent-minded, and basic message of further technological "progress."
I've seen plenty of evidence to support that claim since
I've been in college. 38. The president has pledged to cut taxes
repeatedly, and the public has responded
15. The suspect said that he had never met the enthusiastically.
victim; however, the detective knew that he was lying.
39. The office was closed; consequently, I could not
16. In the first place, it was snowing too hard to see pay my bill.
the road; in the second place, we had no chains.
40. The air was beautifully clear; it was a lovely day.
17. I have read Soul on Ice, but I have not read The
Invisible Man.

18. San Francisco is my favorite city; in fact, I plan to

spend two weeks there this summer.

19. The quarterback made a brilliant pass, and the end

crossed the goal line for the winning touchdown.

20. Large supermarkets fascinate me; I can find

everything from frozen chow mein to soybean flour in
one place.

21. Ron and Mike were both in English class this

morning; they gave an interesting presentation on
their research.