Mechanics Quiz

Which one is grammatically correct?

• When Pink said, "We're not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again," I felt that.

• When Pink said "We're not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again." I felt that.

• When Pink said, "We're not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again" I felt that.

• When Pink said: "We're not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again"; I felt that.

Answer explanation

Starting a clause with "when" makes it an adverbial clause (dependent), so it needs to be attached to an independent clause ("I felt that") for it to be an actual sentence.

Which one is grammatically correct?

• I dreaded it the most: the uncertainty. I just wish they would tell us already.

• I dreaded it the most; the uncertainty. I just wish they would tell us already.

• I dreaded it the most, the uncertainty, I just wish they would tell us already.

• I dreaded it the most; the uncertainty; I just wish they would tell us already.

Answer explanation

"The uncertainty" is introduced by the sentence before it, so a colon is appropriate. In this correct answer, a period separates the two independent thoughts but since they are related to each other, a semicolon will do as well.

Which one is grammatically correct?

• They said it's on Friday, which is not a good day for me.

• They said it's on Friday; which is not a good day for me.

• They said it's on Friday: which is not a good day for me.

• They said it's on Friday. Which is not a good day for me.

Answer explanation

Phrases that start with "which" is an adjective clause that describes a noun (Friday, in the example). Therefore, it needs to be attached to a complete sentence because it is not a sentence on its own.

Which one is grammatically correct?

• His reaction was unexpected; he just sat there quietly.

• His reaction was unexpected, he just sat there quietly.

• His reaction was unexpected; because he just sat there quietly.

• His reaction was unexpected; and he just sat there quietly.

Answer explanation

Semicolons are not needed if the second clause already has a conjunction ("and") or a subordinating conjunction ("because"). The two clauses are both independent sentences on their own, so either you separate them into two sentences or connect them with a semicolon or a colon.

Which one is grammatically correct?

• My favorite song is Justin Bieber's "What Do You Mean?"

• My favorite song is Justin Bieber's: "What Do You Mean?"

• My favorite song is Justin Bieber's "What Do You Mean"?

• My favorite song is Justin Bieber's, "What Do You Mean"?

Answer explanation

The title of the song already comes with a question mark so it should be enclosed in the quotation mark. The title is naturally integrated in the sentence so a comma before the opening quotation mark is not needed.

Which one is grammatically correct?

• I watched all episodes of All American during the summer.

• I watched all episodes of "All American" during the summer.

• I watched all episodes of "All American" during the summer.

• I watched all episodes of "All American" during the summer.

Answer explanation

TV show titles are underlined in writing and italicized in typing.

Which one is grammatically correct?

• I heard "We Don't Talk about Bruno" from Encanto play endlessly on the radio.

• I heard We Don't Talk about Bruno from Encanto play endlessly on the radio.

• I heard "We Don't Talk about Bruno" from "Encanto" play endlessly on the radio.

• I heard "We Don't Talk about Bruno" from Encanto play endlessly on the radio.

Answer explanation

Song titles are enclosed in quotation marks while movie titles are italicized (underlined when writing).

Which one is grammatically correct?

• Teacher gave me a choice: turn it in incompletely or get a zero.

• Teacher gave me a choice turn it in incompletely or get a zero.

• Teacher gave me a choice, turn it in incompletely or get a zero.

• Teacher gave me a choice; to turn it in incompletely or get a zero.

Answer explanation

Since the second part of the sentence is introduced by the first, a colon is the most appropriate punctuation mark here.

Select everything that has to be enclosed in quotation marks as per the MLA formatting guidelines.

• Epic poems

• YouTube episodes

• Magazine articles

• Short stories

• Video games

Select everything that has to be italicized or underlined as per the MLA formatting guidelines.

• Novels

• Poems

• TV episodes

• Book titles

• Movies