Tag: punctuation

Questions Related to punctuation

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined word:
I lived fearfully then; but why regret the past?

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. then -

  2. then:

  3. then,

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash can be used in place of a colon or semi colon, when we want to emphasize at the conclusion of a sentence. In the given sentence, the speaker clearly wants to emphasize on the conclusion of the sentence. 
Thus, the correct answer is Option A.
.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined part of the sentence:
Villas, bungalows, skyscrapers, apartment buildings - all houses were subject to the same rules.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. buildings;

  3. buildings,

  4. buildings ...

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash is often used to resume a scattered subject in a sentence. Thus, the correct answer in the given sentence must be Option A, no change.
Option B is incorrect. A semi colon is used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence.
Option C is incorrect. A comma is used to indicate a pause in a sentence.
Option D is incorrect. An ellipsis is used to indicate omission or trailing off thought.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
While I was out playing badminton: trying to forget my poor exam scores, I turned my ankle and injured it.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. While I was out playing badminton - trying to forget my poor exam scores - I turned my ankle and injured it.

  3. While I was out playing badminton, trying to forget my poor exam scores; I turned my ankle and injured it.

  4. While I was out playing badminton, trying to forget my poor exam scores - I turned my ankle and injured it.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
According to general rule, em dashes are used to set off parenthetical information, as using em dashes, on both sides, puts the focus on the information between the em dashes. 
Thus, in the given sentence, the use of em dash, Option B, will be correct.
The remaining options are incorrect. A semi colon and comma is used to connect two independent clauses. A colon is used between clauses when the second clause illustrates or explains the first.


Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
Granny Smith, Bramley and Pink Lady; are all popular apple cultivars sold in Great Britain.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. Granny Smith, Bramley and Pink Lady, are all popular apple cultivars sold in Great Britain.

  2. Granny Smith, Bramley and Pink Lady: are all popular apple cultivars sold in Great Britain.

  3. Granny Smith, Bramley and Pink Lady - are all popular apple cultivars sold in Great Britain.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash is often used to resume a scattered subject in a sentence. Thus, the correct answer in the given sentence must be Option C.
Option A and D are incorrect. A comma and a semi colon are used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence.
Option B is incorrect. A colon is used to introduce a list of items in a sentence.

Choose the option that best corrects the given sentence:
Friends, Romans, countrymen: lend me your ears.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Friends, Romans, countrymen; lend me your ears.

  3. Friends, Romans, countrymen - lend me your ears.

  4. Friends, Romans, countrymen (lend me your ears).

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash is often used to resume a scattered subject in a sentence. Thus, the correct answer in the given sentence must be Option C.
Option A is incorrect. A colon is used to introduce a list of items in a sentence.
Option B is incorrect. A semi colon is used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence.
Option D is incorrect. A pair of parentheses is used to add additional information in a sentence.

Choose the option that best corrects the given sentence:
Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown: were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown ... were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

  2. Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown - were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

  3. Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown; were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash is often used to resume a scattered subject in a sentence. Thus, the correct answer in the given sentence must be Option B.
Option A is incorrect. An ellipsis is used to indicate omission or trailing off thought.
Option C is incorrect. A semi colon is used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence.
Option D is incorrect. A colon is used to introduce a list of items in a sentence.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence. 

I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening; but why state a preference if you don't have a choice.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening: but why state a preference if you don't have a choice.

  2. I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening - but why state a preference if you don't have a choice.

  3. I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening (but why state a preference if you don't have a choice?)

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash can be used in place of a colon or semi colon, when we want to emphasize at the conclusion of a sentence. In the given sentence, the speaker clearly wants to emphasize on the conclusion of the sentence. 
Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
Option C is also incorrect, as a pair pf parentheses is used to add additional but non essential information in a sentence.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
(Line 1) Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir
(Line 2) ector decided to re pair the dancers and perform the show.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir-
    ector decided to re-pair the dancers and perform the show.

  3. Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir
    ector decided to re-pair the dancers and perform the show.

  4. Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir-
    ector decided to repair the dancers and perform the show.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
When flowing text, it is sometimes preferable to break a word in half so that it continues on another line rather than moving the entire word to the next line. 
The word may be divided at the nearest break point between syllables, and a hyphen inserted to indicate that the letters form a word fragment, rather than a full word.
Compound words are connected using en dash.
According to the following rules, the correct form of writing the sentence is, as given in Option B.

(Line 1) The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post 1980 docu
(Line 2) mentary films are about the environment.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post 1980 docu-

    mentary films are about the environment.

  2. The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post-1980 docu

    mentary films are about the environment.

  3. The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post-1980 docu-

    mentary films are about the environment.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
When flowing text, it is sometimes preferable to break a word in half so that it continues on another line rather than moving the entire word to the next line. 
The word may be divided at the nearest break point between syllables, and a hyphen inserted to indicate that the letters form a word fragment, rather than a full word.
Compound words are connected using en dash.
According to the following rules, the correct form of writing the sentence is, as given in Option C.

Her two year old and my ten year old wreak havoc on the flower pots when they play in the playground.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Her two-year-old and my ten-year-old wreak havoc on the flower-pots when they play in the playground.

  3. Her two-year-old and my ten-year-old wreak havoc on the flowerpots when they play in the playground.

  4. Her two year old and my ten year old wreak havoc on the flower-pots when they play in the playground.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, certain compound words require hyphens between every word. These are known as hyphenated compound words.
In the given sentence, 'ten-year-old' and 'two-year-old' are examples of such words.
Thus, the correct form of writing the sentence is given in Option C. The remaining options are incorrect.