Writing Conventions

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Jim is very bold and smart but he doesn't always say nice things to people. 
• Jim is very bold and smart, but he doesn't always say nice things to people. 
• Jim, is very bold and smart but he doesn't always say nice things to people. 
• Jim is very bold, and smart, but he doesn't always say nice things to people. 

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• I went to the store and bought apples, oranges and bananas. 
• I went to the store and bought apples, oranges, and, bananas. 
• I went to the store, and bought apples oranges and bananas. 
• I went to the store and bought apples, oranges, and bananas. 

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• My tenth birthday cake was pink purple sparkly, and so delicious.
• My tenth birthday cake was, pink purple sparkly and so delicious.
• My tenth birthday cake was pink, purple, sparkly, and so delicious. 
• My tenth birthday cake was pink, purple, sparkly and so delicious. 

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Jake, my black and white cat, loves to sleep on the couch next to me. 
• Jake my black and white cat, loves to sleep on the couch next to me. 
• Jake my black, and white cat, loves to sleep on the couch next to me. 
• Jake, my black and white cat loves to sleep on the couch next to me. 

Where does the colon go?

• My friends think I’m strange I always wear my clothing backwards.

• My friends think I’m strange: I always wear my clothing backwards.

• My friends think I’m strange I always wear: my clothing backwards.

Where does the colon go?

• These: are my favorite foods pizza, pasta, hamburgers and sundaes!

• These are: my favorite foods pizza, pasta, hamburgers and sundaes!

• These are my favorite foods: pizza, pasta, hamburgers and sundaes!

There are several places I would like to visit: Italy, France, and Canada.

Is the colon in the correct place?

• no

• yes

Rule #1: A colon must have ____________ before it.

• a full sentence

• a list

• a noun

• a comma

Which punctuation mark do I used before a list of items? 

• Semicolon
• Colon
• Comma
• None of the Above

Which punctuation mark do I use before a long, formal statement or quotation? 

• Semicolon
• Colon
• Comma
• None of the Above