Tag: punctuation

Questions Related to punctuation

(Line 1) The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2, 3 and 10 minute tests on the par
(Line 2) ticipants involved.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2, 3 and 10-minute tests on par
    ticipants involved.

  2. The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2, 3 and 10-minute tests on par-
    ticipants involved.

  3. The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2-, 3- and 10-minute tests on par-
    ticipants involved.

  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.

Tokyo is known for its boat shaped museum of maritime science.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. Tokyo is known for its boat-shaped Museum of Maritime Science.

  2. Tokyo is known for its boat shaped Museum-of-Maritime-Science.

  3. Tokyo is known for its boat-shaped museum - of maritime science.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
According to general rule, a hyphen is used to connect two words to make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning. 
Generally, the hyphen is used if two words are functioning as an adjective before the noun they are describing. If the noun comes first, the hyphen is not used.
Thus, according to rules, the correct answer is Option A. The remaining options are incorrect.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

The children love playing on the new merry go round in the park, as they do on the swings.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. The children love playing on the new merry-go-round in the park, as they do on the swings.

  3. The children love playing on the new merry go round in the park as they do on the swings.

  4. The children love playing on the new merry go round in the park - as they do on the swings.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
According to general rule, a hyphen is used to connect two words to make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning. In the given sentence, 'merry-go-round' is one such word.
Also, a comma is used between two clauses joined using a coordinating conjunction.
Thus, the correct answer is Option B. The other remaining options are incorrect.

(Line 1) Whenever his mother in law arrives, he is nervous, very ner
(Line 2) vous, about what she will say.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. Whenever his mother-in-law arrives, he is nervous - very ner-

    vous about what she will say.

  2. Whenever his mother in law arrives - he is nervous, very ner

    vous about what she will say.

  3. Whenever his mother-in-law arrives, he is nervous - very ner-

    vous - about what she will say.

  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.
There are certain words known as, hyphenated compound words. These words have hyphens between them. For example - mother-in-law.
Em dash is often used in a sentence for a strong emphasis on an additional information. Thus, based on the rules, the correct answer is Option C.

The night time classes are for English language learners.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. The night-time classes are for English language learners.

  3. The night-time classes are for English-language learners.

  4. The night time classes are for English language-learners.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, a hyphen is used to connect two words to make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning. Generally, the hyphen is used if two words are functioning as an adjective before the noun they are describing. If the noun comes first, the hyphen is not used.
The correct answer is Option C. The other remaining options are incorrect.

State whether true or false:
Question marks are used at the end of direct and indirect questions.

question mark punctuation english

  1. True

  2. False

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The statement is false because question marks are only used at the end of direct questions. We do not use question marks at the end of indirect questions.
For example:
Where are we going? (direct question)
She asked us where we were going. (indirect question)

The following sentence is correctly punctuated:
The book was kept on the table, wasn't it.

question mark punctuation english

  1. True

  2. False

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The statement is false because the sentence is not punctuated correctly. We use a question at the end of sentences that are part statement and part question. So, the correctly punctuated sentence would be:
The book was kept on the table, wasn't it?

Have you played netball before!

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined word.

question mark punctuation english

  1. before.

  2. before,

  3. before?

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

To signify that the statement is a direct question, we use a question mark at the end of the sentence. Hence, the correct answer is C) Before?

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence at the underlined point.

Who is knocking on the door,

question mark punctuation english

  1. door?

  2. door.

  3. door!

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
The given sentence is in the form of a question. According to general rule, a direct question takes a question mark at the end. Thus, the correct answer is Option A.
Option B is incorrect - A period is used at the end of an indirect sentence. 
Option C is incorrect - An exclamation mark is used to indicate strong feelings or high volume.
Option D is incorrect as, a comma is not used to mark an end to a sentence.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence at the underlined point.

Which of these singers do you prefer,

question mark punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. prefer;

  3. prefer?

  4. prefer.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, a direct question takes a question mark at the end whereas, a period is used at the end of an indirect sentence. The given sentence is in the form of a direct question. Thus, the correct answer is Option C.
Option A and B are incorrect as, comma and semi colon can not used to mark an end to a sentence.
Option D is incorrect - A period is used to mark an end to a indirect sentence.