Use Question Marks, Semicolons, Colons, Apostrophes, Quotation Marks, Dashes, Hyphens, and Parentheses Correctly

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1. Select the correct sentence from the four choices (a, b, c, or d). Only one of the four sentences is written correctly, according to correct punctuation usage.
a) Other titles may be used in conjunction with it (see p. 114).
b) Other titles may be used in conjunction with it see (p. 114).
c) Other titles may be used in conjunction with it: see p. 114.
d) Other titles may be used in conjunction with it; see p. 114
e) Don't Know



2. Select the correct sentence.
a) Jargon consists mostly of stilted words such as hereinafter and aforesaid.
b) Jargon consists mostly of stilted words such as "hereinafter and aforesaid."
c) Jargon consists mostly of stilted words such as "hereinafter" and "aforesaid."
d) Jargon consists mostly of stilted words such as "hereinafter" and aforesaid.
e) Don't Know



3. Select the correct sentence.
a) If material is critical to your point, integrate it; if it isn't critical, why include it.
b) If material is critical to your point, integrate it; if it isn't critical, why include it?
c) If material is critical to your point, integrate it: if it isn't critical, why include it?
d) If material is critical to your point, integrate it if it isn't critical, why include it?
e) Don't Know



4. Select the correct sentence.
a) The Microsoft CEO decision has initiated a dispute.
b) The Microsoft CEO's decision has initiated a dispute.
c) The Microsoft CEOs' decision has initiated a dispute.
d) The Microsoft's CEO decision has initiated a dispute.
e) Don't Know



5. Select the correct sentence.
a) Many business associates use these words: "literally," "undoubtedly," and "clearly."
b) Many business associates use these words: ("literally," "undoubtedly," and "clearly")
c) Many business associates use these words: "literally", "undoubtedly", and "clearly".
d) Many business associates use these words; literally, undoubtedly, and clearly.
e) Don't Know



6. Select the correct sentence.
a) When Sheldon cashed his check, the party's disputed the amount.
b) When Sheldon cashed his check, the parties disputed the amount.
c) When Sheldon cashed his check the parties disputed the amount.
d) When Sheldon cashed his' check, the parties disputed the amount.
e) Don't Know



7. Select the correct sentence.
a) Some writers introduce too many commas, consequently, their work is choppy and hard to understand.
b) Some writer's introduce too many commas; consequently, their work is choppy and hard to understand.
c) Some writers introduce too many commas; consequently, their work is choppy and hard to understand.
d) Some writers introduce too many commas; consequently their work is choppy and hard to understand.
e) Don't Know



8. Select the correct sentence.
a) The title of a recent article is: Simplifying Business Writing.
b) The title of a recent article is "Simplifying Business Writing".
c) The title of a recent article is "Simplifying Business Writing."
d) The title of a recent article is Simplifying Business Writing.
e) Don't Know



9. Select the correct sentence.
a) On Language is a column in Sundays' New York Times Magazine.
b) On Language is a column in Sunday's New York Times Magazine.
c) "On Language" is a column in Sunday's New York Times Magazine.
d) "On Language" is a column in Sundays "New York Times Magazine."
e) Don't Know



10. Select the correct sentence.
a) Topic sentences alone are not sufficient (nonetheless) they connect paragraphs.
b) Topic sentences alone are not sufficient, nonetheless, they connect paragraphs.
c) Topic sentences alone are not sufficient; nonetheless, they connect paragraphs.
d) Topic sentences alone are not sufficient; nonetheless they connect paragraphs.
e) Don't Know



11. Select the correct sentence.
a) "Does every project report," she asked, "require a fifty-line description of facts"?
b) "Does every project report?" she asked, "require a fifty-line description of facts?"
c) "Does every project report, she asked, require a fifty-line description of facts?"
d) "Does every project report," she asked, "require a fifty-line description of facts?"
e) Don't Know



12. Select the correct sentence.
a) David Mellinkoff wrote "The Language of Business" or was it Stuart Chase?
b) David Mellinkoff wrote The Language of Business; or was it Stuart Chase?
c) David Mellinkoff wrote "The Language of the Business" -- or was it Stuart Chase's?
d) David Mellinkoff wrote The Language of the Business -- or was it Stuart Chase?
e) Don't Know



13. Select the correct sentence.
a) The multiplication table that causes the most trouble for kids is "7's."
b) The multiplication table (that causes the most trouble for kids) is 7's.
c) The multiplication table that causes the most trouble for kids are 7's.
d) The multiplication table that causes the most trouble for kids' is "7's."
e) Don't Know



14. Select the correct sentence.
a) He said My father calls the first rule of advocacy "Sit down!"
b) He said, My father calls the first rule of advocacy "Sit down!"
c) He said, "my father calls the first rule of advocacy "Sit down!"
d) He said, "My father calls the first rule of advocacy 'Sit down!'"
e) Don't Know



15. Select the correct sentence.
a) "Whose opinion is the one that counts?," she asked him.
b) "Whose opinion is the one that counts?" she asked him.
c) "Whose' opinion is the one that counts?" she asked him.
d) "Who's opinion is the one that counts?" she asked him.
e) Don't Know



16. Select the correct sentence.
a) Michelle's favorite films are 2001: A Space Odyssey, E.T., and Fame.
b) Michelles' favorite films are 2001: A Space Odyssey; E.T.; and Fame.
c) Michelle's favorite films are 2001: A Space Odyssey; E.T.; and Fame.
d) Michelle's favorite films are "2001: A Space Odyssey" "E.T." and "Fame."
e) Don't Know



17. Select the correct sentence.
a) The three gained joint ownership of the apartment, hereinafter referred to as "Joan, Tom, and Eric's home."
b) The three gained joint ownership of the apartment, hereinafter referred to as "Joan's, Tom's, and Eric's home."
c) The three gained joint ownership of the apartment, hereinafter referred to as "Joan Tom and Eric's home."
d) The three gained joint ownership of the apartment, hereinafter referred to as "Joan's home, Tom's home, and Eric's home."
e) Don't Know



18. Select the correct sentence.
a) Before you start a project, ask yourself three questions: 1) Are you encouraged to ask questions? 2) Are page lengths assigned? 3) Are you given a deadline?
b) Before you start a project, ask yourself three questions: 1. are you encouraged to ask questions? 2. are page lengths assigned? 3. are you given a deadline?
c) Before you start a project, ask yourself three questions: 1--Are you encouraged to ask questions? 2--Are page lengths assigned? 3--Are you given a deadline?
d) Before you start a project, ask yourself three questions: (1) Are you encouraged to ask questions? (2) Are page lengths assigned? (3) Are you given a deadline?
e) Don't Know



19. Select the correct sentence.
a) In 1984, Congress modified the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act -- RCRA.
b) In 1984, Congress modified the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
c) In 1984, Congress modified the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (R,C,R,A).
d) In 1984 Congress modified the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RCRA.
e) Don't Know



20. Select the correct sentence.
a) He told her, "It's a shame your impression of me is all wrong."
b) He told her, "Its a shame your impression of me is all wrong.
c) He told her, "It's a shame your impression of me is all wrong".
d) He told her, "Its' a shame your impression of me is all wrong."
e) Don't Know



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