Punctuation

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AThe meeting is at 2pm however, we might start early.
• BThe meeting is at 2pm; however, we might start early.✓
• CThe meeting is at 2pm, however, we might start early.
• DThe meeting is at 2pm; however we might start early.

Answer: Use a semicolon before 'however' and a comma after it when joining independent clauses.

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly to show the profits of one company?

• AThe companies' profits rose sharply.
• BCompanies profits rose significantly.
• CThe companys profits rose significantly.
• DThe company's profits rose significantly.✓

Answer: Use apostrophe 's' for singular possessive. 'The company's profits' is correct.

Which sentence lists the three items correctly, using the Oxford comma?

• AA report covers, sales, marketing, and customer service.
• BThe report covers sales marketing and customer service.
• CThe report covers sales, marketing, and customer service.✓
• DThe report covers sales, marketing and customer service.

Answer: Use the Oxford comma before 'and' in a list. 'Sales, marketing, and customer service' is correct.

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

• AShe asked "Are you ready?"
• BShe asked 'Are you ready'?
• CShe asked, 'are you ready?'
• DShe asked, "Are you ready?"✓

Answer: Direct speech needs a comma after the reporting verb, a capital letter at the start of the spoken words, and the question mark inside the quotation marks. Single and double quotation marks are both acceptable in British English, but only one option gets all three of those right.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AThe meeting has been postponed therefore we'll reschedule.
• BThe meeting has been delayed, therefore we will reschedule.
• CThe meeting has been postponed; therefore, we'll reschedule.✓
• DThe meeting has been postponed, therefore we'll reschedule.

Answer: Use a semicolon before 'therefore' and a comma after it. Both are needed for correct punctuation.

Choose the sentence with correct punctuation.

• AIt's important that we finish on time.✓
• BIts' important that we finish on time.
• CIts important that we finish on time.
• DIt's important that we finishes on time.

Answer: 'It's' is the contraction of 'it is'. 'It's important' is correct.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

• AThe project includes research, planning, and implementation.✓
• BThe project includes: research planning and implementation.
• CThe project includes: research, planning and implementation.
• DThe project includes: research, planning, and implementation.

Answer: Don't use a colon after a verb like 'includes'. Use a colon before an example or list when introducing with such words as 'the following'.

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

• AThe team members were; Sarah, John, and Mike.
• BThe team members were: Sarah, John, and Mike.
• CThe team members were Sarah, John, and Mike.✓
• DThe team members were Sarah John and Mike.

Answer: Don't use a colon after 'were'. Use a colon when the phrase before it is complete and introduces a list.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AShe said that the deadline was tomorrow; however, we could ask for an extension.✓
• BShe said that the deadline was tomorrow, however we could ask for an extension.
• CShe said that the deadline was tomorrow however we could ask for an extension.
• DShe said that the deadline was tomorrow, however, we could ask for an extension.

Answer: Use a semicolon before 'however' and a comma after it when joining independent clauses.

Choose the sentence with correct punctuation.

• AThe report, which was completed only yesterday, is ready, for review.
• BThe report, which was completed yesterday, is ready for review.✓
• CThe report which was completed yesterday, is ready for review.
• DThe report, which was completed yesterday is ready for review.

Answer: Non-restrictive clauses (extra information) need commas before and after. The information 'which was completed yesterday' is extra detail.

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly to show the concerns of several managers?

• AThe managers concerns' were raised in the meetings.
• BA manager's concerns were addressed in the meeting.
• CThe managers concerns were addressed in the meeting.
• DThe managers' concerns were addressed in the meeting.✓

Answer: For a regular plural noun, the apostrophe goes after the plural 's', giving 'managers''. The concerns belong to more than one manager, so the plural possessive is needed.

Which sentence correctly uses a comma after the introductory phrase?

• AAfter the presentation. We discussed the proposal.
• BAfter the presentation we discussed the proposal.
• CAfter the presentation, we discussed the proposal.✓
• DAfter the presentation; we discussed the proposal.

Answer: Use a comma after an introductory phrase before the main clause.

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly to show the salaries of several employees?

• AThe employees' salaries were increased by 5%.✓
• BThe employee's salaries were increased by 5%.
• CThe employees salaries were increased by 5%.
• DThe employees' salary was increased by 5%.

Answer: Plural possessive of regular nouns: 'employees''. The sentence discusses multiple employees' salaries.

Choose the sentence with correct punctuation.

• AThe client wants the following; faster delivery, better quality, and lower prices.
• BThe client wants the following faster delivery, better quality, and lower prices.
• CThe client wants the following: faster delivery better quality and lower prices.
• DThe client wants the following: faster delivery, better quality, and lower prices.✓

Answer: Use a colon before a list when the phrase before it is complete and uses 'the following'.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

• AYes we can proceed with the plan.
• BYes, we can proceed with the plan.✓
• CYes; we can proceed with the plan.
• DYes: we can proceed with the plan.

Answer: Use a comma after an introductory word like 'Yes'.

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

• AIt was a wellwritten, organised, and thorough report.
• BIt was a well-written, organised, and thorough report.✓
• CIt was a well written, organised, and thorough report.
• DIt was a well-writen, organised, and thorough report.

Answer: Use a hyphen in compound adjectives before a noun: 'well-written report'.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• AWe must finish the budget; the timeline; and the resources.
• BWe need to finish the budget the timeline and the resources.
• CWe need to finish; the budget; the timeline; and resources.
• DWe need to finish the budget, the timeline, and the resources.✓

Answer: Use commas to separate items in a list, especially when items are short.

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly to show the performance of one team?

• AThe teams' performance was excellent.
• BThe team performance was excellent.
• CThe teams performance was excellent.
• DThe team's performance was excellent.✓

Answer: Singular possessive: 'team's'. The performance belongs to one team.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

• AShe said, I want to leave the meeting.
• BShe said "I want to leave the meeting".
• CShe said "I want to leave the meeting."
• DShe said, "I want to leave the meeting."✓

Answer: Direct speech needs three things at once: a comma after the reporting verb, quotation marks around the exact words spoken, and the closing full stop inside the quotation marks. Only the correct answer has all three. The others leave the quotation marks off, drop the comma after 'said', or push the full stop outside the closing quotation mark.

Which sentence uses a colon to introduce the list and an Oxford comma before 'and'?

• AThe project includes three phases; planning, execution, and evaluation.
• BThe project includes three phases: planning, execution, and evaluation.✓
• CThe project includes three phases - planning, execution, and evaluation.
• DThe project includes three phases: planning, execution and evaluation.

Answer: Use a colon to introduce a list and include the Oxford comma.

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly to show feedback from several clients?

• AThe clients' feedback was positive overall.✓
• BThe clients's feedback was positive overall.
• CThe client's feedback was positive overall.
• DThe clients feedback was positive overall.

Answer: Plural possessive: 'clients''. The feedback comes from multiple clients.

Choose the sentence with correct punctuation.

• AFirst, we reviewed the budget; next, we discussed timelines.✓
• BFirst we reviewed the budget next we discussed the timelines.
• CFirst, we reviewed, the budget next we discussed the timelines.
• DFirst we reviewed the budget next, we discussed the timelines.

Answer: Use commas after introductory words and semicolons to join related independent clauses.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

• AThe report, which I mentioned last week, is now complete.✓
• BThe report, which I mentioned to you last week is now complete.
• CThe report, which I mentioned to you, last week is now complete.
• DThe report which I mentioned to you last week is now complete.

Answer: Non-restrictive clauses need commas before and after. 'Which I mentioned last week' is extra information.

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

• AThe two managers' offices are on different floors.✓
• BThe two managers offices are on different floors.
• CThe two managers' office is on different floors.
• DThe two manager's offices are on different floors.

Answer: Plural possessive: 'managers''. Two managers own the offices.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• ATherefore, we decided to postpone the meeting.✓
• BTherefore we decided to postpone the meeting.
• CTherefore; we decided to postpone the meeting.
• DTherefore we decided, to postpone the meeting.

Answer: Use a comma after an introductory word like 'Therefore'.