Commas, Quotations, and Apostrophes

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

• A cab driver, train engineer, or pilot must be able to distinguish colors in traffic signals.

• A cab driver, train engineer, or pilot, must be able to distinguish colors in traffic signals.

• A cab driver, train engineer or pilot must be able to distinguish colors in traffic signals.

• A cab driver, train engineer, or pilot must be able to distinguish colors, in traffic signals.

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses.

Use commas to separate items in a series.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• The most popular pretzel shape is the twist but pretzels also come shaped as nuggets, sticks, and rings.

• The most popular pretzel shape is the twist, but pretzels also come shaped as nuggets, sticks and rings.

• The most popular pretzel shape is the twist but pretzels also come shaped as nuggets sticks and rings.

• The most popular pretzel shape is the twist, but pretzels also come shaped as nuggets, sticks, and rings.

Use commas to set off nonessential elements that interrupt a sentence.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• Bangladesh a nation in southern Asia became independent in 1971.

• Bangladesh, a nation in southern Asia became independent in 1971.

• Bangladesh, a nation in southern Asia, became independent in 1971.

• Bangladesh a nation in southern Asia, became independent in 1971.

Commas and periods always go inside the closing quotation marks.

Which sentence uses quotation marks correctly?

• "Rhonda said, I love dogs."

• Rhonda said, "I love dogs".

• Rhonda said, "I love dogs."

• Rhonda said "I love dogs".

When a dialogue tag interrupts a quoted sentence, begin the second part of the quotation with a lowercase letter.

Is this sentence written correctly?

"Yes," Roger agreed, "it's too late to worry about that now."

• Yes

• No

Add an apostrophe and ­s ('s) to a singular noun to show possession.

To show possession in a plural noun that ends in ­s, add only an apostrophe (').

Sarah's cat's name is Vibes.

• more than one cat

• only one cat

Eli's siblings' are fun and energetic.

• more than one sibling

• only one sibling

Do not put apostrophes in possessive personal pronouns. These pronouns show possession without an apostrophe. Examples: hers, his, yours, its, ours, theirs

Which of the following has an incorrect possessive form?

• It is hers.

• church's steeple

• it's shiny surface

• Mom's car

Choose the correct sentence.

• Sam loves: hamburgers, fries, and shakes.

• Sam loves hamburgers, fries, and shakes.

Choose the one sentence that is punctuated correctly (check for proper use of quotation marks, apostrophes, commas, periods, question marks, and capital letters):

• This week said Mr. Locascio we will study the civilization of ancient Egypt.

• “This week” said Mr. Locascio “we will study the civilization of ancient Egypt.”

• “This week,” said Mr. Locascio, “We will study the civilization of ancient Egypt.”

• “This week,” said Mr. Locascio, “we will study the civilization of ancient Egypt.”