Need to brush up on your English skills? Take our quiz for a quick refresher on every major type of punctuation!
1. Periods
2. Commas
3. Apostrophes
4. Quotation Marks
5. Colons
6. Semicolons
7. Hyphens
8. Dashes and Slashes
9. Parentheses and Brackets
10. Ellipses
11. Questions and Exclamations
Correct the following sentences using the appropriate punctuation for the regional style.
1. Periods
Questions
01) I went to the beach with my family, my son built a sandcastle.
02) Last night, I watched a movie instead of studying
03) We all have bad habits. that we should try to break.
04) You need camping gear for the trip: a tent, a compass, a sleeping bag, etc..
05) “That,” my sister said. “Is wonderful news.”
06) This bowl is cracked; But we can still keep things in it.
07) The article said, that the volcano is “about to erupt”.
08) She suddenly stopped performing. (Most people thought she had retired). Then, a few years later, she headlined a new show.
09) My uncle is known by his nickname, Prof..
10) UK English: She said that sea levels are rising because of ‘rapid global warming.’
Answers
01) I went to the beach with my family. My son built a sandcastle.
02) Last night, I watched a movie instead of studying.
03) We all have bad habits that we should try to break.
04) You need camping gear for the trip: a tent, a compass, a sleeping bag, etc.
05) “That,” my sister said, “is wonderful news.”
06) This bowl is cracked. But we can still keep things in it.
07) The article said that the volcano is “about to erupt.”
08) She suddenly stopped performing. (Most people thought she had retired.) Then, a few years later, she headlined a new show.
09) My uncle is known by his nickname, Prof.
10) UK English: She said that sea levels are rising because of ‘rapid global warming’.
2. Commas
Questions
01) My sister lives in Italy, my brother lives in Germany.
02) Her boss Tara Williams is always early to work.
03) My only brother Peter is very serious.
04) There is a big, white house on the hill.
05) The frustrated old man was shouting at me.
06) After a long argument the meeting was cancelled.
07) I won the main prize, but gave it away.
08) She likes cookies, although, she doesn’t eat them often.
09) Erica works, until late at night; she never relaxes, properly.
10) I started a new book but, I fell asleep, after one page.
Answers
01) My sister lives in Italy; my brother lives in Germany.
02) Her boss, Tara Williams, is always early to work.
03) My only brother, Peter, is very serious.
04) There is a big white house on the hill.
05) The frustrated old man was shouting at me.
06) After a long argument, the meeting was cancelled.
07) I won the main prize but gave it away.
08) She likes cookies, although she doesn’t eat them often.
09) Erica works until late at night; she never relaxes properly.
10) I started a new book, but I fell asleep after one page.
3. Apostrophes
Questions
01) The cats’ nose was twitching.
02) The pigeon was building it’s nest.
03) Kevins house is two road’s away from mine.
04) The market had egg’s and apple’s on sale.
05) “Its so wonderful to have you here!”
06) He gave his sister’s friend her’s this morning.
07) Its value is priceless.
08) “We’d would’ve done that anyway.”
09) “Take ‘em down!”
10) My one dogs’ tail is white.
Answers
01) The cat’s nose was twitching.
02) The pigeon was building its nest.
03) Kevin’s house is two roads away from mine.
04) The market had eggs and apples on sale.
05) “It’s so wonderful to have you here!”
06) He gave his sister’s friend hers this morning.
07) Its value is priceless.
08) “We would’ve done that anyway.”
09) “Take ’em down!”
10) My one dog’s tail is white.
4. Quotation Marks
Questions
01) US English: ‘We should hurry,’ said Paul.
02) “This will be on the exam,’ my teacher said.
03) “Hi,” said Ashley. It’s nice to meet you.
04) “I’ll bring some for everybody”, said Taylor.
05) UK English: “The poster says “Beware!” in bold letters,” said James.
06) “I’m too sleepy, mumbled Kate.”
07) That’s it! “I’ve had enough!” Mr. Andrews snapped.
08) “Want to go to the beach tomorrow? my friend asked.
09) US English: According to the article, “hundreds of homes were destroyed”.
10) UK English: The reporter said that “progress is slow.”
Answers
01) US English: “We should hurry,” said Paul.
02) “This will be on the exam,” my teacher said.
03) “Hi,” said Ashley. “It’s nice to meet you.”
04) “I’ll bring some for everybody,” said Taylor.
05) UK English: ‘The poster says “Beware!” in bold letters,’ said James.
06) “I’m too sleepy,” mumbled Kate.
07) “That’s it! I’ve had enough!” Mr. Andrews snapped.
08) “Want to go to the beach tomorrow?” my friend asked.
09) US English: According to the article, “hundreds of homes were destroyed.”
10) UK English: The reporter said that ‘progress is slow’.
5. Colons
Questions
01) I need: flour, sugar, and milk.
02) These are the requirements; a postgraduate degree and three years of work experience.
03) We ordered: the following printer supplies ink cartridges and paper.
04) I looked out: the window the garden was a mess.
05) There are: mountains and woodland all around.
06) I need the following, cutlery, plates, and cups.
07) She bought some toys, including: a doll and a jump rope.
08) The following: are for sale, a tea set, a kettle, and a coffee machine.
09) She was an angry person, her face was always red.
10) Last week: we watched: Love Actually.
Answers
01) I need flour, sugar, and milk.
02) These are the requirements: a postgraduate degree and three years of work experience.
03) We ordered the following printer supplies: ink cartridges and paper.
04) I looked out the window: the garden was a mess.
05) There are mountains and woodland all around.
06) I need the following: cutlery, plates, and cups.
07) She bought some toys, including a doll and a jump rope.
08) The following are for sale: a tea set, a kettle, and a coffee machine.
09) She was an angry person: her face was always red.
10) Last week, we watched Love Actually.
6. Semicolons
Questions
01) I went to the beach, however; the weather was awful.
02) There was a flash of lightning, it struck a tree in our yard.
03) After lunch, as a group; we played a video game.
04) She buys a lot of books, however, she doesn’t ever read them.
05) Tom ate a banana; a hamburger; and a cookie for lunch.
06) My favorite color is pink my brother likes red.
07) I was late for the show, as a result; I missed the beginning.
08) Ben said, “Don’t move yet, wait for my signal.”
09) He has a car, which is white, a bicycle, which is blue, and a scooter, which is green.
10) She reads a lot, consequently her general knowledge is impressive.
Answers
01) I went to the beach; however, the weather was awful.
02) There was a flash of lightning; it struck a tree in our yard.
03) After lunch, as a group, we played a video game.
04) She buys a lot of books; however, she doesn’t ever read them.
05) Tom ate a banana, a hamburger, and a cookie for lunch.
06) My favorite color is pink; my brother likes red.
07) I was late for the show; as a result, I missed the beginning.
08) Ben said, “Don’t move yet; wait for my signal.”
09) He has a car, which is white; a bicycle, which is blue; and a scooter, which is green.
10) She reads a lot; consequently, her general knowledge is impressive.
7. Hyphens
Questions
01) My son is three-years old.
02) That retirement village is for fifty year olds and over.
03) He was a well known politician.
04) That bottle of wine is twenty three years-old.
05) That girl is extremely well read.
06) He shot me a don’t-you-dare-glower.
07) Four-thousand-two-hundred and thirty-one.
08) Economically, pre and post-war Germany are very different.
09) The car broke-down in the middle of traffic.
10) I’m learning the New-Zealand-national anthem.
Answers
01) My son is three years old.
02) That retirement village is for fifty-year-olds and over.
03) He was a well-known politician.
04) That bottle of wine is twenty-three years old.
05) That girl is extremely well read.
06) He shot me a don’t-you-dare glower.
07) Four thousand two hundred and thirty-one.
08) Economically, pre- and post-war Germany are very different.
09) The car broke down in the middle of traffic.
10) I’m learning the New Zealand national anthem.
8. Dashes and Slashes
Questions
01) Janet is a South American born singer.
02) US English: That girl – I think her name is Beth – was looking for you.
03) The Australia-Italy rugby match was cancelled.
04) The flooding lasted from March–June.
05) UK English: That girl was looking for you—I think her name is Beth.
06) “I tried to tell y-” said Wendy, before her brother interrupted.
07) The 2016/017 financial report is ready.
08) “Please have your/parent/guardian sign this permission form.”
09) The nature—nurture debate is still inconclusive.
10) There was high global anxiety pre-World War Two.
Answers
01) Janet is a South American–born singer.
02) US English: That girl—I think her name is Beth—was looking for you.
03) The Australia–Italy rugby match was cancelled.
04) The flooding lasted from March until June.
05) UK English: That girl was looking for you – I think her name is Beth.
06) “I tried to tell y—” said Wendy, before her brother interrupted.
07a) The 2016/17 financial report is ready.
07b) The 2016/2017 financial report is ready.
08) “Please have your parent/guardian sign this permission form.”
09) The nature–nurture debate is still inconclusive.
10) There was high global anxiety pre–World War Two.
9. Parentheses and Brackets
Questions
01) My friend lives in Spain (where she makes cars.) I’d love to visit her.
02) I went to the doctor, (even though I wasn’t sick) in order to have a check-up.
03) I went to the doctor, (even though I wasn’t sick), and had to sit in the waiting room all afternoon.
04) My son is a lawyer. (He had to study very hard). I’m proud of him.
05) After a while (talking by the fireplace); we went to bed.
06) She is fund-raising for her party [the Equality Matters Movement (EMM)].
07) She is fund-raising for her party (the Equality Matters Movement (EMM]).
08) “New Yorrk (sic) is a bustling city.”
09) My favorite book (ever since I was young is The Little Prince.
10) In the Amazon rainforest [also known as the Amazon Jungle], there are many dangerous predators.
Answers
01) My friend lives in Spain (where she makes cars). I’d love to visit her.
02) I went to the doctor (even though I wasn’t sick) in order to have a check-up.
03) I went to the doctor (even though I wasn’t sick) and had to sit in the waiting room all afternoon.
04) My son is a lawyer. (He had to study very hard.) I’m proud of him.
05) After a while (talking by the fireplace), we went to bed.
06) She is fund-raising for her party (the Equality Matters Movement [EMM]).
07) She is fund-raising for her party (the Equality Matters Movement [EMM]).
08) “New Yorrk [sic] is a bustling city.”
09) My favorite book (ever since I was young) is The Little Prince.
10) In the Amazon rainforest (also known as the Amazon Jungle), there are many dangerous predators.
10. Ellipses
Questions
01) According to the article, “… social anxiety is common.”
02) “I was only trying to hel …” Taylor started to say, but Victoria cut her off.
03) “I’m so sorry ….” said Nicole.
04) “Um…yeah. I agree,” said Michael.
05) “I don’t know …,” conceded Adam.
06) “Are you sure?” Max asked … “That doesn’t sound right.”
07) “Hang on, … wait.” … whispered Luke.
08) “Three …, two, … one…go!”
09) “Shh, listen to that—” Mrs. Jones said slowly, letting her voice trail off.
10) “My keys, .. um … I think they’re missing.”
Answers
01) According to the article, “social anxiety is common.”
02) “I was only trying to hel—” Taylor started to say, but Victoria cut her off.
03) “I’m so sorry …” said Nicole.
04) “Um … yeah. I agree,” said Michael.
05) “I don’t know …” conceded Adam.
06) “Are you sure?” Max asked. “That doesn’t sound right.”
07) “Hang on … wait,” whispered Luke.
08) “Three … two … one … go!”
09) “Shh, listen to that …” Mrs. Jones said slowly, letting her voice trail off.
10) “My keys … um … I think they’re missing.”
11. Questions and Exclamations
Questions
01) “What are you doing tomorrow,” asked Chloe.
02) Carl asked if Sam was going to the party?
03) “I saw a monster!,” my little sister cried.
04) “Is anyone in here!” shouted the police officer.
05) “Where did you go?!” the girl asked in a panic.
06) “I’m so proud of you!!” said Jason. “You must be thrilled?”
07) “Stop making excuses?” shouted Blake.
08) “That was crazy,” my brother exclaimed!
09) “Have you seen my bag?!” the boy asked tearfully.
10) She asked Rachel if she wanted to dance?.
Answers
01) “What are you doing tomorrow?” asked Chloe.
02) Carl asked if Sam was going to the party.
03) “I saw a monster!” my little sister cried.
04) “Is anyone in here?” shouted the police officer.
05) “Where did you go?” the girl asked in a panic.
06) “I’m so proud of you!” said Jason. “You must be thrilled!”
07) “Stop making excuses!” shouted Blake.
08) “That was crazy!” my brother exclaimed.
09) “Have you seen my bag?” the boy asked tearfully.
10) She asked Rachel if she wanted to dance.
For more help with your grammar, check out these fantastic books:
Hi, very nice website, cheers!