Written Comm - Test 2 (punctuation)

Question 1

ELLIPSIS

…

Answer 1

1. indicates the omission of one or more words within a quoted passage
   (The head is not more native to the heart…than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.—Shakespeare)
2. four dots indicates the omission of one or more sentences within the passage or the omission of words at the end of a sentence
   (Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure….Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.—Helen Keller)
3. indicates halting speech or an unfinished sentence in dialogue
   (I’d like to…that is…if you don’t mind…” He faltered and then stopped speaking.)

Question 2

indicates the omission of one or more sentences within the passage or the omission of words at the end of a sentence

Answer 2

ELLIPSIS …

Question 3

is used in some compounds;

especially, those containing prepositions

Answer 3

HYPHEN -

sister-in-law

president-elect

Question 4

DASH

—

Answer 4

1. usually, marks an abrupt change or break in the continuity of a sentence
   (When in 1960 the stockpile was sold off—indeed, dumped as surplus—natural-rubber sales were hard hit.—Barry Commoner)
2. introduces a summary statement after a series
   (Oil, steel, and wheat—these are the sinews of industrialization.)
3. often precedes the attribution of a quotation
   (My foot is on my native heath….—Sir Walter Scott)

Question 5

QUOTATION MARKS, SINGLE

‘ ’

Answer 5

enclose a quotation within a quotation in conventional usage
(The witness said, “I distinctly heard him say, ‘Don’t be late,’ and then I heard the door close.”)

Question 6

links the main clauses not joined by coordinating conjunctions

Answer 6

SEMICOLON ;

Question 7

links clauses which themselves contain commas even when such clauses are joined by coordinating conjunctions

Answer 7

SEMICOLON ;

Mr. King, whom you met yesterday, will represent us on the committee; but you should follow the proceedings yourself, because they are vitally important to us.

Question 8

terminates an emphatic phrase or sentence

Answer 8

EXCLAMATION POINT !

Question 9

introduces a summary statement after a series

Answer 9

DASH —

Oil, steel, and wheat —these are the sinew of industrialization.

Question 10

BRACKETS

[]

Answer 10

1. set off extraneous data such as editorial additions esp. within quoted material
   (wrote that the author was “trying to dazzle his readers with phrases like jeu de mots [play
   on words]”)
2. function as parentheses within parentheses
   (Bowman Act (22 Stat., ch. 4, § [or sec.] 4, p. 50))

Question 11

enclose titles of short poems, short stories, articles, lectures, chapters of books, songs, short musical compositions, and radio and TV programs

Answer 11

QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”

Question 12

is used to avoid ambiguity

Answer 12

COMMA ,

To Mary, Jane was someone special

Question 13

indicates the possessive case of nouns and indefinite pronouns

Answer 13

​APOSTROPHE ’

Question 14

PARENTHESES

( )

Answer 14

1. set off supplementary, parenthetic, or explanatory material when the interruption is more marked that that usu. indicated by commas
   (Three old destroyers (all now out of commission) will be scrapped.) (He is hoping (as we all are) that this time he will succeed.)
2. enclose numerals which confirm a written number in a text
   (Delivery will be made in thirty (30) days.)
3. enclose numbers or letters in a series
   (We must set forth (1) our long-term goals, (2) our immediate objectives, and (3) the means at our disposal.)

Question 15

sets off from the rest of the sentence transitional words and expressions, conjunctive adverbs, and expressions that introduce an illustration or example.

Answer 15

COMMA ,

as on the contrary, on the other hand
Your second question, on the other hand, remains open.

as consequently, furthermore, however
The mystery, however, remains unsolved.

as namely, for example
She expects to travel through two countries, namely France and England.

Question 16

follows the salutation in formal correspondence

Answer 16

COLON :

Dear Sir:

Gentlemen:

Question 17

sets off an adverbial clause (or a long phrase)

that precedes the main clause

Answer 17

COMMA ,

When she found that her friends had deserted her, she sat down and cried.

Question 18

set off supplementary, parenthetic, or explanatory material when the interruption is more marked that that usu. indicated by commas

Answer 18

PARENTHESES ( )

Three old destroyers (all now out of commission) will be scrapped.

He is hoping (as we all are) that this time he will succeed.

Question 19

suspends the first part of a hyphenated compound when used with another hyphenated compound

Answer 19

HYPHEN -

Question 20

serves instead of the phrase “(up) to and including” between numbers and dates

Answer 20

HYPHEN -

Question 21

often forms plurals of letters, figures, and words referred to as words

Answer 21

​APOSTROPHE ’

Question 22

separates data in time-telling and data in bibliographic and biblical reference

Answer 22

COLON :

8:30 a.m

New York: Smith Publishing Co.

John 4:10

Question 23

SLASH

/

Answer 23

1. separates alternatives
   (…designs intended for high-heat and/or high-speed applications—F. S. Badger, Jr.)
2. separates successive divisions (as months or years) of an extended period of time
   (the fiscal year 1972/73)
3. serves as a dividing line between run-in lines of poetry
   (Say, sages, what’s the charm on earth/Can turn death’s dart aside?—Robert Burns)
4. often represents per in abbreviations
   (9 ft/sec) (20 km/hr)

Question 24

separates main clauses joined by a
coordinating conjunction (as and, but, or, nor, or for)
and very short clauses not so joined

Answer 24

COMMA ,

Question 25

usually, marks an abrupt change or break in the continuity of a sentence

Answer 25

DASH —

When in 1960 the stockpile was sold off — indeed, dumped as surplus — natural-rubber sales were hard hit. — Barry Commoner

Question 26

indicates the omission of a word or words, and esp. a word or words used earlier in the sentence

Answer 26

COMMA ,

Common stocks are prefered by some investors; bonds, by others.

Question 27

1. introduces word, clause, or phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what has gone before
   (The sentence was poorly constructed: it lacked both unity and coherence.)
2. introduces a series
   (Three countries were represented: England, France, and Belgium.)
3. introduces lengthy quoted material set off from the rest of a text by indentation but not by quotation marks
   (I quote from the text of Chapter One:)
4. separates data in time-telling and data in bibliographic and biblical references
   (8:30 a.m.) (New York: Smith Publishing Co.) (John 4:10)
5. separates titles and subtitles (as of books)
   (The Tragic Dynasty: A History of the Romanovs)
6. follows the salutation in formal correspondence
   (Dear Sir:) (Gentlemen:)

Answer 27

COLON

:

Question 28

What is the difference between

the three-dot and four-dot ellipsis?

Answer 28

The three-dot ellipsis in everything from thesis papers to text messages. It indicates the omission of one or more words or a trailing off of speech.

I’m using it in this sentence, which I’m not quite sure how to …

According to the Associated Press Style Book, the four-dot ellipsis is really comprised of a period and an ellipsis, rather than four dots in a row.

This elusive punctuation mark is used at the end of a sentence, often in dialogue, when it follows a grammatically complete sentence. It usually indicates that you’re omitting a sentence and skipping to the next.

For example, here’s an excerpt from President Barack Obama’s 2009 Inaugural Address.

“My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you’ve bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. … Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.”

Question 29

links main clauses joined by conjunctive adverbs

(as consequently, furthermore, however).

Answer 29

SEMICOLON ;

Speeding is illegal; furthermore, it is dangerous.

Question 30

separates words, phrases, or clauses in series and coordinate adjectives modifying a noun

Answer 30

COMMA ,

Men, woman, and children crowded the streets

Question 31

sets off words in direct address,
absolute phrases, and
mild interjections

Answer 31

COMMA ,

Question 32

marks separation or division of a word

at the end of a line

Answer 32

HYPHEN -

Question 33

often precedes the attribution of a quotation

Answer 33

DASH —

My foot is on the native heath….—Sir Walter Scott

Question 34

follows some abbreviations and contractions

Answer 34

PERIOD .

Question 35

QUESTION MARK

?

Answer 35

1. terminates a direct question
   (Who threw the bomb?) (“Who threw the bomb?” he asked.) (To ask the question Who threw the bomb? is unnecessary.)
2. indicates the writer’s ignorance or uncertainty
   (Omar Khayyam, Persian poet (1048?-1122))

Question 36

separates alternatives

Answer 36

SLASH /

designs intended for high-heat and/or high-speed applications

Question 37

COMMA

,

Answer 37

1. separates main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (as and, but, or, nor, or for) and very short clauses not so joined
   (She knew very little about him, and he volunteered nothing.) (I came, I saw, I conquered.)
2. sets off an adverbial clause (or a long phrase) that precedes the main clause
   (When she found that her friends had deserted her, she sat down and cried.)
3. sets off from the rest of the sentence transitional words and expressions (as on the contrary, on the other hand), conjunctive adverbs (as consequently, furthermore, however), and expressions that introduce an illustration or example (as namely, for example)
   (Your second question, on the other hand, remains open.) (The mystery, however, remains unsolved.) (She expects to travel through two countries, namely, France and England.)
4. separates words, phrases, or clauses in series and coordinate adjectives modifying a noun (Men, women, and children crowded into the square.) (The harsh, cold wind was strong.)
5. sets off from the rest of the sentence parenthetic elements (as nonrestrictive modifiers)
   (Our guide, who wore a blue beret, was an experienced traveler.) (We visited Gettysburg, the site of a famous battle.)
6. introduces a direct quotation, terminates a direct quotation that is neither a question nor an exclamation, and encloses split quotations
   (John said, “I am leaving.”) (“I am leaving,” John said.) (“I am leaving,” John said with determination, “even if you want me to stay.”)
7. sets off words in direct address, absolute phrases, and mild interjections
   (You may go, Mary, if you wish.) (I fear the encounter, his temper being what it is.) (Ah, that’s my idea of an excellent dinner.)
8. separates a question from the rest of the sentence which it ends
   (It’s a fine day, isn’t it?)
9. indicates the omission of a word or words, and esp. a word or words used earlier in the sentence
   (Common stocks are preferred by some investors; bonds, by others.)
10. is used to avoid ambiguity
    (To Mary, Jane was someone special.)
11. sets off geographical names (as state or country from city), items in dates, and addresses from the rest of a text
    (Shreveport, Louisiana, is the site of a large air base.) (On Sunday, June 23, 1940, he was wounded.) (Number 10 Downing Street, London, is a famous address.)
12. follows the salutation in informal correspondence and follows the closing line of a formal or informal letter
    (Dear Mary,) (Affectionately,) (Very truly yours,)

Question 38

terminates sentences or sentence fragments that are neither interrogatory nor exclamatory

Answer 38

PERIOD .

Question 39

introduces word, clause, or phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what has gone before

Answer 39

COLON :

The sentance was poorly constructed: it lacked both unity and coherence.

Question 40

terminates a direct question

Answer 40

QUESTION MARK ?

Question 41

is used between the numerator and the denominator in writing out fractions
especially, when they are used as modifiers

Answer 41

HYPHEN -

Question 42

sets off

geographical names (as state or country from city),

items in dates, and

addresses from the rest of a text

Answer 42

COMMA ,

Question 43

often represents per in abbreviations

Answer 43

SLASH /

Question 44

introduces lengthy quoted material set off from the rest of a text by indentation but not by quotation marks

Answer 44

COLON :

I quote fron the text of Chapter One: Bla bla bla bla

Question 45

sets off from the rest of the sentence parenthetic elements (as nonrestrictive modifiers)

Answer 45

COMMA ,

Our guide, who wore a blue beret, was an experianced traveler.

Question 46

enclose words or phrases borrowed from others, words used in a special way, and
often slang when it is introduced into formal writing

Answer 46

QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”

Question 47

are used with other punctuation marks in the following ways:
the period and the comma fall
within the quotation marks

Answer 47

QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”

Question 48

is used in writing out compound numbers between 21 and 99

Answer 48

HYPHEN -

thirty-four

Question 49

indicates halting speech or
an unfinished sentence in dialogue

Answer 49

ELLIPSIS …

Question 50

COLON

:

Answer 50

1. introduces word, clause, or phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what has gone before
   (The sentence was poorly constructed: it lacked both unity and coherence.)
2. introduces a series
   (Three countries were represented: England, France, and Belgium.)
3. introduces lengthy quoted material set off from the rest of a text by indentation but not by quotation marks
   (I quote from the text of Chapter One:)
4. separates data in time-telling and data in bibliographic and biblical references
   (8:30 a.m.) (New York: Smith Publishing Co.) (John 4:10)
5. separates titles and subtitles (as of books)
   (The Tragic Dynasty: A History of the Romanovs)
6. follows the salutation in formal correspondence
   (Dear Sir:) (Gentlemen:)

Question 51

introduces a direct quotation, terminates a direct quotation that is neither a question nor an exclamation, and encloses split quotations

Answer 51

COMMA ,

John said, “I am leaving.”

“I am leaving,”John said.

“I am leaving,” John said with determination, “even if you want tme to stay.”

Question 52

function as parentheses within parentheses

Answer 52

BRACKETS []

Question 53

enclose numbers or letters in a series

Answer 53

PARENTHESES ( )

Question 54

follows the salutation in informal correspondence and follows the closing line of a formal or informal letter

Answer 54

COMMA ,

Question 55

separates titles and subtitles (as of books)

Answer 55

COLON :

The Tragic Dynasty: A History of the Romanovs

Question 56

is used between

• some prefix and word combinations, as prefix + proper name;
• prefix ending with a vowel + word beginning often with the same vowel;
• stressed prefix + word, esp. when this combination is similar to a different one

Answer 56

HYPHEN -

Question 57

SEMICOLON

;

Answer 57

1. links the main clauses not joined by coordinating conjunctions
   (Some people have the ability to write well; others do not.)
2. links main clauses joined by conjunctive adverbs (as consequently, furthermore, however)(Speeding is illegal; furthermore, it is very dangerous.)
3. links clauses which themselves contain commas even when such clauses are joined by coordinating conjunctions
   (Mr. King, whom you met yesterday, will represent us on the committee; but you should follow the proceedings yourself, because they are vitally important to us.)

Question 58

terminates an emphatic interjection

Answer 58

EXCLAMATION POINT !

Get out of here!

Question 59

is often used between elements of a unit modifier in attributive position in order to avoid ambiguity

Answer 59

HYPHEN -

She has grey-green eyes.

Question 60

encloses direct quotations in conventional usage

Answer 60

QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”

Question 61

set off extraneous data such as editorial additions esp. within quoted material

Answer 61

BRACKETS []

Question 62

enclose a quotation within a quotation in conventional usage

Answer 62

QUOTATION MARKS, SINGLE ‘ ’

The witness said, “ I distinctly heard him say, ‘DOn’t be late, ‘ and then I heard the door close.”

Question 63

PERIOD

.

Answer 63

1. terminates sentences or sentence fragments that are neither interrogatory nor exclamatory
   (Obey the law.) (He obeyed the law.)
2. follows some abbreviations and contractions
   (Dr.) (Jr.) (etc.) (cont.)

Question 64

​APOSTROPHE

’

Answer 64

1. indicates the possessive case of nouns and indefinite pronouns
   (the boy’s mother) (the boys’ mothers) (It is anyone’s guess.)
2. marks omissions in contracted words
   (didn’t) (o’clock)
3. often forms plurals of letters, figures, and words referred to as words
   (You should dot your i’s and cross your t’s.) (several 8’s) (She has trouble pronouncing her the’s.)

Question 65

QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE

“ ”

Answer 65

1. enclose direct quotations in conventional usage
   (He said, “I am leaving.”)
2. enclose words or phrases borrowed from others, words used in a special way, and often slang when it is introduced into formal writing
   (He called himself “emperor,” but he was really just a dictator.) (He was arrested for smuggling “smack.”)
3. enclose titles of short poems, short stories, articles, lectures, chapters of books, songs, short musical compositions, and radio and TV programs
   (Robert Frost’s “Dust of Snow”) (Pushkin’s “Queen of Spades”) (The third chapter of Treasure Island is entitled “The Black Spot.”) (Ravel’s “Bolero”) (NBC’s “Today Show”)
4. are used with other punctuation marks in the following ways: the period and the comma fall within the quotation marks
   (“I am leaving,” he said.) (His camera was described as “waterproof,” but “moisture-resistant” would have been a better description.)
   the semi-colon falls outside the quotation marks (He spoke of his “little cottage in the country”; he might have called it a mansion.)
   the dash, the question mark, and the exclamation point fall within the quotation marks when they refer to the quoted matter only; they fall outside when they refer to the whole sentence (He asked, “When did you leave?”) (What is the meaning of “the open door”?) (The sergeant shouted, “Halt!”) (Save us from his “mercy”!)

Question 66

HYPHEN

-

Answer 66

1. marks separation or division of a word at the end of a line
   (mill-[end of line]stone)
2. is used between some prefix and word combinations, as prefix + proper name;
   (pre-Renaissance)
   prefix ending with a vowel + word beginning often with the same vowel
   (co-opted) (re-ink);
   stressed prefix + word, esp. when this combination is similar to a different one
   (re-cover a sofa) but (recover from an illness)
3. is used in some compounds, esp. those containing prepositions
   (president-elect) (sister-in-law)
4. is often used between elements of a unit modifier in attributive position in order to avoid ambiguity
   He is a small-business man.) (She has gray-green eyes.)
5. suspends the first part of a hyphenated compound when used with another hyphenated compound
   (a six- or eight-cylinder engine)
6. is used in writing out compound numbers between 21 and 99
   (thirty-four) (one hundred twenty-eight)
7. is used between the numerator and the denominator in writing out fractions esp. when they are used as modifiers
   (a two-thirds majority of the vote)
8. serves instead of the phrase “(up) to and including” between numbers and dates
   (pages 40-98) (the decade 1960-69)

Question 67

serves as a dividing line between run-in lines of poetry

Answer 67

SLASH /

Question 68

What is the difference between
hypen, en dash, and em dash?

Answer 68

There are three lenths:

hypen (-)

en dash ( ^_ )

em dash ( ^__ )

The hyphen is the shortest of the three and is used most commonly to combine words (compounds such as “well-being” and “advanced-level,” for example) and to separate numbers that are not inclusive (e.g. phone numbers, ss #s)

The en dash is slightly longer than the hyphen but not as long as the em dash. (It is, in fact, the width of a typesetter’s letter “N,” whereas the em dash is the width of the letter “M”—thus their names.) The en dash means, quite simply, “through.” We use it most commonly to indicate inclusive dates and numbers: July 9–August 17; pp. 37–59.

The em dash is significantly longer than the hyphen. We use the em dash to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence. Dashes can be used in pairs like parentheses—that is, to enclose a word, or a phrase, or a clause (as we’ve done here)—or they can be used alone to detach one end of a sentence from the main body. Dashes are particularly useful in a sentence that is long and complex or in one that has a number of commas within it.

Question 69

introduces a series

Answer 69

COLON :

Three countries were present: France, England, and Belguim.

Question 70

enclose numerals, which confirm a written number in a text

Answer 70

PARENTHESES ( )

Question 71

indicates the omission of one or more words within a quoted passage

Answer 71

ELLIPSIS …

Question 72

separates successive divisions (as months or years) of an extended period of time

Answer 72

SLASH /

Question 73

indicates the writer’s ignorance or uncertainty

Answer 73

QUESTION MARK ?

Question 74

separates a question from the rest of the sentence which it ends

Answer 74

COMMA ,

It is a fine day, isn’t it?

Question 75

EXCLAMATION POINT

!

Answer 75

1. terminates an emphatic phrase or sentence
   (Get out of here!)
2. terminates an emphatic interjection
   (Encore!)

Question 76

marks omissions in contracted words

Answer 76

​APOSTROPHE ’

Didn’t

isn’t

o’clock