Punctuation Rules and Usage Quiz

Study Notes

Application of Punctuation

Punctuation Rules

To communicate effectively through written communication, understanding and applying appropriate punctuation marks is crucial. Proper punctuation helps convey the intended message clearly and prevents confusion.

Common Punctuation Mistakes

Comma splice: Combine two independent clauses with a comma without a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, yet, so, for, etc.). Instead, use a semicolon, coordinate conjunction, or rewrite the sentence to prevent the error.

Incorrect: I went to the store. I bought bread.

Correct: I went to the store; I bought bread.

OR

Incorrect: I studied hard for my exam. I aced it!

Correct: I studied hard for my exam, and I aced it!

OR

Incorrect: I studied hard for my exam. Aced it!

Correct: I studied hard for my exam. I aced it!
Serial (Oxford) comma: When listing items with a coordinating conjunction, use a comma before the conjunction and after the last item. This is known as the serial comma or the Oxford comma.

Incorrect: Apples, bananas, grapes.

Correct: Apples, bananas, and grapes.

Types of Punctuation Marks

Apostrophe

The apostrophe indicates possession or contraction. For singular nouns, use the apostrophe + s; for plural nouns ending in s, use apostrophe alone; for plurals not ending in s, add s + apostrophe.

Example:

Singular noun: John's book
Plural noun ending in s: The dogs' toys
Plural noun not ending in s: The children's laughter

Ellipsis

Used to indicate an omission of words in a sentence or to show trailing off at the end of a sentence.

Example:

Omission: He said, "Hello," ... and waved goodbye.
Trailing off: She forgot her keys ... again.

Period

Indicates the end of a declarative sentence.

Example:

Declarative sentence: The cat is sleeping.

Dash

Two types of dashes: en dash and em dash. En dashes are equal in width to the letter n, while em dashes are equivalent to the letter m. Both dashes can be used to indicate a break within a sentence or to separate elements.

Example:

En dash: The bookstore was opened in 1980 – 2008.
Em dash: My dad is finally retiring — but he'll be a tough act to follow.

Hyphen

Connects compound words or two-word adjectives.

Example:

Compound word: Mother-in-law
Two-word adjective: Long-term memory

Description

Test your knowledge on proper punctuation usage with a focus on common mistakes, such as comma splices and serial commas. Explore the correct application of apostrophes, ellipses, periods, dashes (en dash and em dash), and hyphens.