Free Punctuation MCQs with Answers
308 Punctuation MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Punctuation marks show structure, pauses, relationships and emphasis in written sentences. Questions cover commas in lists, clauses and nonessential phrases, semicolons between independent clauses, colons, apostrophes, quotation marks and hyphens, as well as the errors that create fragments, run-on sentences or comma splices.
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308 questions · page 2 of 16
- A. his ethical duty
- B. photography,
- C. computer aided
- D. graphic arts
Explanation: Computer-aided (dash used to separate two words with different meanings)
Correct answer: computer aided- A. the pen name
- B. Carmen Sylva
- C. (1881-1914)
- D. author of many books
Explanation: pen-name (dash used to separate the two words with different meanings)
Correct answer: the pen name- A. visiting,
- B. bad tempered
- C. angry,
- D. upset.
Explanation: bad-tempered (dash used to separate two words with different meanings)
Correct answer: bad tempered- A. Sang,
- B. "I
- C. rock,
- D. island"
Explanation: rock; (semicolon used to separate two clauses)
Correct answer: rock,- A. Ella,
- B. "did
- C. asked for
- D. back."
Explanation: back?" (question mark should be used whenever you ask a question)
Correct answer: back."- A. Julio,
- B. Ames,
- C. Ohio
- D. us.
Explanation: Ohio, (comma used to separate Ames and Ohio)
Correct answer: Ohio- A. aggressive,
- B. narrow minded
- C. egocentric,
- D. irritable,
Explanation: narrow-minded (dash used to separate two words with different meanings)
Correct answer: narrow minded- A. The elections
- B. Tuesday,
- C. November 6
- D. 2018,
Explanation: November 6, (the format of writing the date is: month date, year)
Correct answer: November 6- A. caring,
- B. Mr. Fuentes
- C. students,
- D. too busy.
Explanation: students (comma removed because it is a single sentence)
Correct answer: students,- A. Knowing her own strengths and working hard made her a success in school.
- B. Knowing her own strengths and working hard, made her a success in school.
- C. Knowing her own strengths and working hard made her, a success in school.
- D. Knowing her own strengths and working. hard, made her a success in school.
Explanation: comma should be used used after (working hard) to separate the two clauses
Correct answer: Knowing her own strengths and working hard, made her a success in school.- A. I need to locate four states on the map: Minnesota, Michigan, California, and Nevada.
- B. I need to locate four states on the map. Minnesota; Michigan; California; and Nevada.
- C. I need to locate four states on the map Minnesota, Michigan, California, and Nevada.
- D. I need to locate four states on the map; Minnesota, Michigan, California, and Nevada.
Explanation: colon used before writing a list and the elements of the list are separates by commas.
Correct answer: I need to locate four states on the map: Minnesota, Michigan, California, and Nevada.- A. Our philosophy teacher thinks that Einstein believed: that we cannot stop war by wagging war.
- B. Our philosophy teacher thinks that Einstein believed that, we cannot stop war by wagging war
- C. Our philosophy teacher thinks that Einstein believed that we cannot stop war by wagging war
- D. Our philosophy teacher thinks that Einstein believed, that we cannot stop war by wagging war
Explanation: no comma or colon should be used because it is a single clause.
Correct answer: Our philosophy teacher thinks that Einstein believed that we cannot stop war by wagging war- A. A well_ made argument was presented for negotiating a peaceful resolution.
- B. A well made argument was presented, for negotiating a peaceful resolution.
- C. A well-made argument was presented for negotiating a peaceful resolution.
- D. A well-made-argument was presented for negotiating a peaceful resolution.
Explanation: Well-made is one word which should be separated with a dash.
Correct answer: A well-made argument was presented for negotiating a peaceful resolution.- A. A state-of-the-art printer is not that expensive.
- B. A state of the art printer is not that expensive.
- C. A state-of the art printer is not that expensive.
- D. A state-of-the art printer is not that expensive.
Explanation: state-of-the-art is one word which should be separated with dashes to pronounce it correctly.
Correct answer: A state-of-the-art printer is not that expensive.- A. A liberally sprinkled dose of humor was very much appreciated.
- B. A liberally-sprinkled dose of humor was very much appreciated.
- C. A liberally-sprinkled-dose of humor was very much appreciated.
- D. A liberally sprinkled dose-of-humor was very much appreciated.
Explanation: liberally-sprinkled is one word which should be separated with a dash so that it is pronounced correctly.
Correct answer: A liberally-sprinkled dose of humor was very much appreciated.- A. Our liberal minded clergy man managed to unite the entire congregation
- B. Our liberal-minded clergy man managed to unite the entire congregation
- C. Our liberal-minded-clergy man managed to unite the entire congregation
- D. Our-liberal-minded clergy man managed to unite the entire congregation
Explanation: liberal-minded is one word which should be separated with a dash so that it is pronounced correctly.
Correct answer: Our liberal-minded clergy man managed to unite the entire congregation- A. Our clergy man, who united the entire congregation was liberal minded
- B. Our clergy man who united the entire congregation was liberal minded
- C. Our clergy man, who united the entire congregation, was liberal minded
- D. Our clergy man, who united the entire congregation, was liberal-minded
Explanation: there are three clauses in this sentence which should be separated with a comma, and liberal-minded is
Correct answer: Our clergy man, who united the entire congregation, was liberal-minded- A. Jan asked; "what did Joe mean when he said 'I will see you later.'"
- B. Jan asked, "what did Joe mean when he said 'I will see you later?'"
- C. Jan asked, "what did Joe mean when he said, 'I will see you later?'"
- D. Jan asked; "what did Joe mean when he said, 'I will see you later'"?
Explanation: question mark should be used at the end of a question
Correct answer: Jan asked, "what did Joe mean when he said, 'I will see you later?'"- A. Just to be sure, I called three more doctors' officers.
- B. Just to be sure, I called three more doctors officers.
- C. Just to be sure, I called three more doctor's officers.
- D. Just to be sure, I called three more doctors officers'.
Explanation: 3 means plural so doctors should be used instead of doctor's
Correct answer: Just to be sure, I called three more doctors' officers.- A. "your right to be concerned," said one veterinarian. "I would like to take a look at your dog."
- B. "your right to be concerned," said one veterinarian, "I would like to take a look at your dog."
- C. "you're right to be concerned," said one veterinarian, "I would like to take a look at your dog."
- D. "you're right to be concerned," said one veterinarian. "I would like to take a look at your dog."
Explanation: you are makes sense in this sentence so the short form is you're and full stop used instead of comma because these are two different…
Correct answer: "you're right to be concerned," said one veterinarian. "I would like to take a look at your dog."