News Writing 3: Revising/Editing for Common Errors

Put a check mark next to all sentences punctuated correctly.

• I walked the dog.

• After going to the gym I walked the dog.

• Harry was sick, but he could still do his work.

• The football team, and the cheerleaders rode the same bus.

Put a check mark next to all sentences punctuated correctly.

• I washed the car, mowed the lawn and took out the trash.

• The dish was easy to prepare but it didn't taste good.

• I waited until the sun went down.

• Until we can do it on our own, we'll practice together.

Compound sentences always need a comma with a conjunction separating the independent clauses.

• True

• False

Complex sentences need a comma when they begin with the subordinate clause and end with the independent clause.

• True

• False

The "attribution" is when you identify who said the quote.

• True

• False

When writing and punctuating quotes, put the attribution (who said the quote) in the middle if the quote is compound or complex.

• True

• False

Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

• "When the band starts playing," the conductor said, "the show will begin."

• "When the band starts playing", the conductor said "the show will begin."

• "When the band starts playing," the conductor said, "The show will begin."

• "When the band starts play," the conductor said "the show will begin"

In journalism, we use a variety of colorful synonyms for "said."

• True

• False

Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

• What time are we leaving?" the students asked.

• "What time are we leaving"?, the students asked.

• "What time are we leaving?" the students asked.

• "What time are we leaving," the students asked.

The Oxford comma is not used in journalistic writing.

• True

• False