Use of Punctuation: Commas, Parentheses, Dashes

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• At the camp, each person had a knife, a fork, a spoon, a mug, and a few plates.

• At the camp each person had a knife, a fork, a spoon, a mug, and a few plates.

• At the camp each person had a knife, a fork, a spoon, a mug and a few plates.

• At the camp, each person had a knife a fork a spoon a mug and a few plates.

Which sentence uses parentheses correctly?

• Adolf the (biggest chimp) was not very helpful to Jane, but Rashidi was.

• Adolf (the biggest chimp) was not very helpful to Jane, but Rashidi was.

• Adolf the biggest chimp was not very helpful to Jane (but Rashidi was).

• Adolf the biggest chimp was (not very helpful) to Jane, but Rashidi was.

Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

• Jane Goodall was studying the chimps by interacting with them at the time—a novel way to proceed!

• Jane Goodall was studying the chimps—by interacting with them at the time a novel way to proceed!

• Jane Goodall—was studying the chimps by interacting with them at the time a novel way to proceed!

• Jane Goodall was studying the chimps by interacting with them—at the time a novel way to proceed!

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Jane would watch the chimps eating and then collect the leaves, flowers, and fruits they left behind.

• Jane would watch the chimps eating, and then collect the leaves, flowers, and fruits they left behind.

• Jane would watch the chimps eating and then collect the leaves flowers and fruits, they left behind.

• Jane would watch, the chimps eating, and then collect the leaves, flowers and fruits they left behind.

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Chimps like people sleep all night.

• Chimps, like people, sleep all night.

• Chimps like people, sleep, all night.

• Chimps like, people, sleep all night.

Which sentence uses parentheses correctly?

• Jane had a favorite chimp David Greybeard.

• Jane had a favorite chimp (David Greybeard).

• Jane had a favorite chimp (David Greybeard.)

• Jane had a (favorite chimp) David Greybeard.

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Jane observed chimps using objects sticks, and rocks as tools.

• Jane observed chimps using objects, sticks, and rocks as tools.

• Jane observed chimps using objects, sticks, and rocks, as tools.

• Jane observed chimps, using objects, sticks, and rocks as tools.

Which is NOT a proper use for a comma?

• To signal a reader to pause

• To separate words or groups of words in a series

• To set off introductory or nonessential elements in a sentence

• To indicate a person is speaking

What are the correct reasons for using parentheses?

Choose all that apply

• To set apart nonessential elements from the rest of the sentence.

• To suggest the information is even less important than information set off by commas.

• To take the place of quotation marks when a character is speaking.

What is the main difference between dashes and commas?

• Dashes indicate a more sudden and stronger interruption in thought.

• Dashes indicate a sudden change in tone or attitude.

• Dashes indicate the beginning of a question.

• Dashes indicate the start of a list of items.