How to Punctuate

Question 1

When you write, you make a sound…

Answer 1

in the reader’s head.

Question 2

One of the most important tools for making a paper speak in your own voice is:

Answer 2

punctuation

Question 3

In writing, punctuation plays the role of:

It helps readers hear…

Answer 3

body language

the way you want to be heard

Question 4

Don’t let rules scare you. Think of them as:

Answer 4

guidelines

Question 5

There are _____ basic systems of punctuation.

Answer 5

2

Question 6

What are the basic systems of punctuation?

Answer 6

The loose or open system, which tries to capture the way body language punctuates talk.

The tight, closed structural system, which hews closely to the sentence’s grammatical structure.

Question 7

What is the loose or open system?

Answer 7

It tries to capture the way body language punctuates talk.

Question 8

What is the tight, closed structural system?

Answer 8

It hews closely to sentence’s grammatical structure.k

Question 9

For the basic systems of punctuation, most writers use…

Answer 9

a little of both.

Question 10

We use ___________ punctuation than they used 200 or even 50 years ago.

Answer 10

much less

Question 11

___________________ cannot save a sentence that is badly put together.

Answer 11

Punctuation marks

Question 12

There are ______ main punctuation marks, but you’ll need fewer than ___________ for most writing.

Answer 12

30

a dozen

Question 13

The most widely used mark of all is:

Answer 13

comma

Question 14

The toughest and most controversial mark of all is:

Answer 14

comma

Question 15

Use a ________ after a long introductory phrase or clause

Answer 15

comma

example: After stealing the crown jewels from the Tower of London, I went home for tea.

Question 16

Use a _________________ to set off a mildly parenthetical word or grouping that isn’t essential to the sentence.

Answer 16

Comma

Example: Girls, who have always interested me, usually differ from boys.

Question 17

Do NOT use ______________ if the word grouping is essential to the sentence’s meaning.

Answer 17

Commas

Example: Girls who interested me know how to tango.

Question 18

Use a _______________ in direct address.

Answer 18

Comma

Example: Your majesty, please hand over the crown.

Question 19

Use _____________ between proper names and titles.

Answer 19

Commas

Example: Montague Sneed, director of Scotland Yar, was assigned the case.

Question 20

Use ________________ to separate elements of geographical address.

Answer 20

Commas

Example: Director Sneed comes from Shokie, Ill., and now lives in London, England.

Question 21

Generally speaking, use a _________________ where you’d pause briefly in speech.

Answer 21

Comma

Question 22

For a long pause or completion of thought, use a __________________.

Answer 22

Period

Question 23

If you confuse the, with the period, you’ll get a:

Answer 23

Run on sentence

Example: The Bank of England is in London, I rushed right over to rob it.

Question 24

A more sophisticated mark than the comma, the _________________ separates two main clauses, but it keeps those two thoughts more tightly linked than a period can.

Answer 24

Semicolon

Example: I steal crown jewels; she steals hearts.

Question 25

Use the ___________ and _________________ sparingly.

The ______________ SHOUTS.

The ______________ whisper.

Answer 25

Dash and Parentheses

Dash

Parentheses

Question 26

Shout too often, people _____________________; whisper too much, people ____________________.

Answer 26

Stop listening

become suspicious of you

Question 27

The _____________ creates a dramatic pause to prepare for an expression needing strong emphasis.

Answer 27

Dash

Example: I’ll marry you – if you’ll rob Topkapi with me.

Question 28

____________________ help you pause quietly to drop in some chatty information not title to your story.

Answer 28

Parentheses

Example: Despite Betty’s daring spirit(“I love robbing your piggy bank,” she often said), she was a terrible dancer.

Question 29

__________________________ tell the reader you are reciting the exact words someone said or wrote.

Answer 29

Quotation marks

Example: Betty said, “ I can’t tango.”

OR

“ I can’t tango,” Betty said.

*Notice the comma comes before the quote marks in the first example, but comes inside them in the second.

Question 30

A _______________ is a tip off to get ready for what’s next: a list, a long quotation or an explanation.

Answer 30

Colon

Example: “ This article is riddled with colons. Too many, maybe, but the message is: “Stay on your toes; it’s coming at you.”

Question 31

If the noun is ______________, add ‘s.

Answer 31

Singular

I hated Betty’s tango.

Question 32

If the noun is _____________, simply add an apostrophe after the s.

Answer 32

Plural

Example: Those are the girls’ coats.

Question 33

If a singular noun ends in an s, like boss, add ________.

Answer 33

‘s

Example: My boss’s favorite author is Dickens.

Question 34

If a plural noun ends in an s, add ______________________.

Answer 34

es’

Example: This is the Dickenses’ cottage.

Question 35

Too many _____________________ make me think the writer is talking about the panic in his own head.

Answer 35

Exclamation points