Quotation Marks

"What" he asked "do you expect me to do?"

• "What, he asked “do you expect me to do?"

• "What” he asked, “do you expect me to do?"

• "What,” he asked, “do you expect me to do?"

• No error

Answer explanation

The correct choice is "What,” he asked, “do you expect me to do?" because the comma should be placed inside the quotation marks for proper punctuation in dialogue. This maintains the flow of the sentence.

Did he ask you first, “May I have permission to leave now?”?

• Did he ask you first, “May I have permission to leave now?”

• Did he ask you first, May I have permission to leave now?

• Did he ask you first, “May I have permission to leave now?”?

• No error

Answer explanation

The correct choice is the first option, which includes the quotation marks around the question. This is necessary for proper punctuation in reported speech, making it clear that the phrase is a direct quote.

Haven’t you heard the old saying, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”?

• Haven’t you heard the old saying, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be?”

• Haven’t you heard the old saying, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be?

• Haven’t you heard the old saying, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”?

• No error

Answer explanation

The correct choice is the first one, as it properly ends the quote with a question mark, which is appropriate for a question. The other options either lack proper punctuation or have incorrect formatting.

We are forming an “HOA committee” and appointing you its “chairperson.”

• We are forming an HOA committee and appointing you as its “chairperson.”

• We are forming an HOA committee and appointing you as its chairperson.

• We are forming an “HOA committee” and appointing you as its chairperson.

• No error

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'We are forming an HOA committee and appointing you as its chairperson.' The quotation marks around 'HOA committee' are unnecessary, and 'as' is the correct preposition to use with 'appointing'.

“This is a step that you should never, ever skip when following this procedure correctly, said the professor.

• “This is a step that you should never, ever skip when following this procedure correctly,” said the professor.

• “This is a step that you should never, ever skip when following this procedure correctly, said the professor.”

• This is a step that you should never, ever skip when following this procedure correctly, said the professor.

• No error

Answer explanation

The correct choice includes proper punctuation, placing the comma inside the quotation marks before the closing quote. This adheres to standard American English punctuation rules for dialogue.

The signs on the wall read “Cows,” “Pigs,” and “Chickens.” The little boy was confused about which one to enter.

• “Cows, Pigs, and Chickens.”

• “Cows, Pigs, and Chickens”.

• “Cows”, “Pigs”, and Chickens.

• No error

Answer explanation

The correct choice is “Cows, Pigs, and Chickens.” because it properly uses quotation marks around the entire phrase, indicating it is a title or sign. The other options either misplace or incorrectly use quotation marks.

The punctuation mark comes before the ending quotation mark.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

In American English, punctuation marks like periods and commas are placed inside the ending quotation mark. Therefore, the statement that the punctuation mark comes before the ending quotation mark is true.

"What's your favorite color"? he asked.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Answer explanation

The question is a direct quote and does not require a correct or incorrect answer. Therefore, the correct choice is 'Incorrect' as it does not pertain to a factual statement.

Alex said, "I am very tired."

• Correct

• Incorrect

Answer explanation

Alex's statement "I am very tired" is a valid expression of his feelings. Therefore, the answer is Correct.

The boy said, "Mr. Tucker asked me, 'Is that your dog?'"

• Correct

• Incorrect

Answer explanation

The statement correctly quotes Mr. Tucker's question to the boy, maintaining the original structure and punctuation. Therefore, the answer is 'Correct'.