Punctuation

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AShes going to the shop
• BShe's going to the shop
• CShe's going to the shop.✓
• DShes' going to the store.

Answer: 'She's' needs an apostrophe to show that 'is' has been shortened, and a statement needs a full stop at the end. Only one option has both.

What is the correct use of a comma here?

• AI like, apples, oranges, and bananas
• BI like apples, oranges, and, bananas
• CI like apples oranges and bananas
• DI like apples, oranges, and bananas✓

Answer: Commas separate the items in a list. Only one sentence puts them between the items; the others put a comma after the verb 'like', put one after 'and', or leave the commas out altogether. The comma before 'and' (the serial or Oxford comma) is optional in British English.

Which sentence correctly shows that the toys belong to one cat?

• AThe cats toys' are everywhere
• BThe cats' toys are everywhere
• CThe cat's toys are everywhere✓
• DThe cats toys are everywhere

Answer: With singular 'cat', use 'cat's' to show possession. 'Cats'' would be used for multiple cats.

What punctuation mark separates independent clauses?

• AComma
• BColon
• CSemicolon✓
• DApostrophe

Answer: A semicolon (;) separates two independent clauses that are closely related.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AWhat do you want? said Tom.
• B"What do you want?" said Tom.✓
• C"What do you want" said Tom?
• DWhat do you want, said Tom

Answer: Direct speech needs quotation marks, with punctuation inside the marks.

What is the function of parentheses ( )?

• ATo show plural and possessive nouns
• BTo add extra information✓
• CTo mark the end of a question
• DTo show ownership

Answer: Parentheses add extra or clarifying information that could be removed without changing the main meaning.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AShe went to London, Paris, and Rome✓
• BShe went to London-Paris-and Rome
• CShe went to London: Paris: and Rome
• DShe went to London; Paris; and Rome

Answer: Items in a simple list use commas, not semicolons or colons.

When do you use quotation marks?

• ATo show that a question is being asked and answered
• BTo indicate direct speech or exact words✓
• CTo show ownership or belonging to a person
• DTo show that a word is plural and not singular

Answer: Quotation marks show direct speech or the exact words someone said or wrote.

What punctuation separates a dependent clause from an independent clause?

• AColon
• BApostrophe
• CSemicolon
• DComma✓

Answer: A comma separates dependent clauses from independent clauses.

Which sentence has correct use of a colon?

• AI need milk, eggs: and cheese
• BI need the following: milk, eggs, and cheese✓
• CI need: milk, eggs, and cheese
• DI need the following things, milk, eggs, and cheese

Answer: A colon introduces a list or explanation, usually after a complete clause.

How should this compound sentence be punctuated?

• AI went to the park, and I played football✓
• BI went to the park; and played football
• CI went to the park, I played football
• DI went to the park I played football

Answer: Two independent clauses need a comma and a conjunction, or a semicolon alone.

Which possessive form is correct for one dog?

• AThe dog's bowl✓
• BThe dogs' bowl
• CThe dog bowl's
• DThe dogs bowl

Answer: 'The dog's bowl' shows the bowl belongs to one dog using an apostrophe before the 's'.

What punctuation is needed at the end of this sentence: 'Did you see that'?

• AComma
• BExclamation mark
• CQuestion mark✓
• DFull stop

Answer: Questions need a question mark at the end.

Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks?

• AHe said, "I'll be there tomorrow.".
• BHe said "I'll be there tomorrow".
• CHe said, "I'll be there tomorrow.
• DHe said, "I'll be there tomorrow."✓

Answer: The reporting clause needs a comma after 'said', the spoken words sit inside the quotation marks, and the full stop goes inside the closing mark because a complete sentence is quoted. The other versions double the full stop, drop the comma after 'said', or never close the quotation.

How should contractions be punctuated?

• Acannot → can't✓
• Bcannot → can not
• CContractions should not be used
• Dcannot → can´t

Answer: 'Can't' uses an apostrophe to replace the 'no' in 'cannot'.

Which sentence has correct punctuation for a list?

• AI need to buy, milk eggs bread and butter
• BI need to buy: milk eggs bread and butter
• CI need to buy milk, eggs, bread, and butter✓
• DI need to buy milk; eggs; bread; and butter

Answer: Items in a simple list use commas between each item.

When should you use an exclamation mark?

• AInstead of full stops
• BFor strong emotion or emphasis✓
• CNever
• DAlways at the end of sentences

Answer: Exclamation marks show strong emotion, surprise, or emphasis.

Which sentence correctly punctuates dialogue?

• AMaria asked "where are you going?"
• BMaria asked, Where are you going?
• CMaria asked 'where are you going?'
• DMaria asked, "Where are you going?"✓

Answer: Dialogue uses quotation marks with proper capitalisation and punctuation inside.

How should a date be written in a formal UK letter?

• A15, March, 2024
• BMarch 15 2024
• C15 March 2024✓
• D15 March, 2024

Answer: UK style writes the date as day, month, year with no commas: 15 March 2024.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AJohns, Marks, and Pauls books
• BJohn's Mark's and Paul's books
• CJohn's, Mark's, and Paul's books✓
• DJohns', Marks' and Pauls' books

Answer: Multiple possessives need apostrophes with 's' for each name, with commas between items.

How should this be punctuated: 'however the plan failed'?

• AHowever, the plan failed.✓
• BHowever: the plan failed.
• CHowever; the plan failed.
• DHowever the plan failed.

Answer: 'However' is a transitional word that needs a comma after it.

Which option shows correct punctuation for plural possessive?

• AThe boys' game✓
• BThe boy's game
• CThe boys game
• DThe boys's game

Answer: Plural possessive is formed with apostrophe after the 's': boys'.

Which punctuation mark separates the three tasks here: 'She has three things to do clean cook sleep'?

• ADashes
• BCommas✓
• CSemicolons
• DColons

Answer: Use commas to separate items in a series: clean, cook, sleep.

Which sentence correctly uses a dash (hyphen or em-dash)?

• AThe car: an old model, was reliable
• BThe car—an old model, was reliable
• CThe car—an old model—was reliable✓
• DThe car, an old model, was reliable

Answer: A matching pair of dashes can enclose extra information, in the same way a pair of commas can. Only one option puts a pair of dashes around the extra information; the others mix a colon with a comma, close the pair with a comma instead of a second dash, or use no dash at all.

Which is an accepted way to write the possessive of 'James'?

• AOnly 'James's book'
• BOnly 'James' book'
• CBoth 'James's book' and 'James' book'✓
• DNeither, an apostrophe is not used

Answer: For a singular name ending in 's', 'James's book' is the more common form and 'James' book' is also accepted, so both are correct. A possessive always needs an apostrophe.