US English Punctuation and Mechanics MCQs
US English Punctuation and Mechanics MCQs
The following US English Punctuation and Mechanics MCQs have been compiled by our experts through research, in order to test your knowledge of the subject of US English Punctuation and Mechanics. We encourage you to answer these 60+ multiple-choice questions to assess your proficiency.
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1: Indicate the punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence. Doctor Graham and his partners just published a paper entitled "Brand New You___Discovering Your True Talents Through Hypnotherapy."
A. Hyphen
B. Colon
C. Semi-colon
D. No punctuation needed
A. Comma at (A)
B. Comma at (B)
C. Comma at (A) and (B)
D. No commas needed
A. Comma / exclamation point / exclamation point
B. comma / none / period
C. Exclamation point / none / period
D. No punctuation needed
4: 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.
5: 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.
A. Starry Night
B. Starry Night
C. Both b (quotes) and d (underlining) are acceptable.
D. Both c (italics) and d (underlining) are acceptable.
7: 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
8: Complete the following sentence by selecting the option that makes correct use of the mechanics of writing. How many years before Lincoln's ______________ was the ________________ signed?
A. Gettysburg Address / Declaration of IndependenceWhich of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?
B. Gettysburg Address / Declaration of Independence
C. "Gettysburg Address" / Declaration of Independence
D. Gettysburg Address / "Declaration of Independence"
9: Complete the following sentence by selecting the option that correctly uses double and/or single quotation marks. Has Albert finished reading that article _____________
A. , Ten Marketing Tips that Can't Go Wrong?'
B. Ten Marketing Tips that Can't Go Wrong".
C. "Ten Marketing Tips that Can't Go Wrong?"
D. , "Ten Marketing Tips that Can't Go Wrong"?
10: Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?
A. The buffet contained all types of shellfish: such as lobster, crab, and scallops.
B. The buffet contained all types of shellfish such as lobster, crab, and scallops.
C. The buffet contained all types of shellfish, such as lobster, crab, and scallops.
D. The buffet contained all types of shellfish (such as lobster, crab, and scallops.)
11: Indicate the end punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence. He lived for years on the West Coast but now resides in Washington, D.C._____
A. Question mark
B. Second period
C. Exclamation point
D. No punctuation needed
12: 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
13: Select the option that correctly completes the following sentence. This pearl and emerald ring used to be my ___ .
A. mother-in-laws'
B. mother's-in-law
C. mother-in-law's
D. mothers'-in-law
14: Complete the following sentence by selecting the option that correctly uses double and/or single quotation marks. Whenever I started to whine that life was unfair, my father would say, ____________________
A. "Try to remember Einstein's Words: You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."
B. 'Try to remember Einstein's words: 'You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.''
C. "Try to remember Einstein's words: "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.""
D. "Try to remember Einstein's words: 'You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.'"
A. Exclamation point AND question mark
B. Question mark OR period
C. Exclamation point OR question mark
D. Period OR exclamation point
16: Which of the following sentences correctly uses parentheses and/or brackets?
A. Once people had seen Elvira's face (on billboards), in magazines, and on television, they didn't soon forget it.
B. Once people had seen Elvira's face (on billboards, in magazines, and on television), they didn't soon forget it.
C. Once people had seen Elvira's face (on billboards, in magazines, and on television), they didn't [soon] forget it.
D. Once people had seen Elvira's face on billboards, in magazines, (and on television), they didn't (soon) forget it.
A. Comma
B. Colon
C. Semi-colon
D. No punctuation needed
18: 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
19: 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
20: Indicate the punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence. The solemn ceremony turned out to be a comedy of errors___ to begin with, the photographer slipped on spilled champagne and fell into the cake.
A. Colon
B. Comma
C. Semi-colon
D. No punctuation needed
A. Comma at (A)
B. Comma at (B)
C. Comma at (C)
D. No commas needed
A. Dash / none
B. Hyphen / hyphen
C. None / hyphen
D. Hyphen / none
23: 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
24: 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
25: 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
Select the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed.
I hope the crops take root and prosper this year(A) or else we'll be facing a hard winter(B) after the harvest.
A. Comma at (A)
B. Comma at (B)
C. Comma at (A) and (B)
D. No commas needed
27: 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.
28: 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
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
30: 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
31: 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
32: 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
33: 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.)
34: 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.
A. the odeyssey
B. The Odyssey
C. THE ODYSSEY
D. The Odyssey
A. Comma at (A)
B. Comma at (B)
C. Comma at (A) and (B)
D. No commas needed
A. Comma at (A)
B. Comma at (B)
C. Comma at (A) and (B)
D. Comma at (C)
E. Comma at (B) and (C)
38: 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
39: 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
40: 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
41: 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
A. Dash / dash
B. Hyphen / hyphen
C. Dash / semi-colon
D. Comma / dash
43: Which of the following sentences correctly uses double and/or single quotation marks?
A. "Why," asked my son, "does everyone say 'Bless you!' when I sneeze?"
B. "Why," asked my son, "does everyone say 'Bless you!' when I sneeze?"
C. 'Why', asked my son, 'does everyone say "Bless you"! when I sneeze?'
D. "Why," asked my son, "does everyone say 'Bless you'! when I sneeze?"
44: 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
45: Select the option that correctly completes the following sentence. How does what ______ studying fit in with ______ career goals?
A. your / you're
B. your / your
C. you're / you're
D. you're / your
46: Indicate the punctuation needed in the blank space in the following sentence. This special history course will focus on four areas of visual, literary, and performing arts___ musical theater, sculpture, modern art, and poetry.
A. Semi-colon
B. Comma
C. Hyphen
D. Colon
47: 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
48: Select the option that correctly completes the following sentence. She is definitely a woman ____________ perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
A. whose
B. Who's
C. whos'
D. who'se
49: Select the option that correctly identifies where a comma is needed. The isolated(A) tropical island offered tourists clean(B) white(C) sandy beaches, a peaceful atmosphere, and water sports galore.
A. Comma at (A) and (B)
B. Comma at (B)
C. Comma at (B) and (C)
D. Comma at (C)
50: 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
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US English Punctuation and Mechanics MCQs
