CPP Grammar, Punctuation & Syntax 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct possessive form for a singular noun ending in 's'?
- James' book
- James's book
- Jamess' book
- Both A and B are acceptable depending on style guide (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both A and B are acceptable depending on style guide
Chicago style prefers 'James's,' while AP style accepts 'James''; both are correct depending on the guide followed.
Question 2: Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
- She enjoys reading, to write, and editing.
- She enjoys reading, writing, and editing. (Correct answer)
- She enjoys to read, writing, and to edit.
- She enjoys read, writing, and edit.
Correct answer: She enjoys reading, writing, and editing.
Parallel structure requires that all items in a series use the same grammatical form; here, all gerunds are correct.
Question 3: In which sentence is the colon used correctly?
- The three tasks are: proofreading, editing, and formatting.
- She needed: a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler.
- The report covered: grammar, syntax, and punctuation.
- The checklist included three items: spelling, grammar, and style. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The checklist included three items: spelling, grammar, and style.
A colon should follow a complete independent clause; the first three options interrupt the verb or linking structure.
Question 4: Which is the correct way to write a sentence using 'fewer' vs. 'less'?
- There are less errors in the final draft.
- The document has fewer pages than expected. (Correct answer)
- We spent less hours proofreading this time.
- Less editors reviewed the manuscript.
Correct answer: The document has fewer pages than expected.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (pages, errors, editors), while 'less' applies to uncountable quantities.
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses an em dash?
- The editor-finished the project-on time.
- The editor finished the project — on time.
- The manuscript—long overdue—was finally submitted. (Correct answer)
- She checked the proof-reading—carefully.
Correct answer: The manuscript—long overdue—was finally submitted.
Em dashes set off parenthetical information within a sentence without extra spaces in most American style guides.
Question 6: Which is an example of a fused (run-on) sentence?
- The editor caught the error, and she flagged it immediately.
- The editor caught the error she flagged it immediately. (Correct answer)
- The editor caught the error; she flagged it immediately.
- The editor caught the error. She flagged it immediately.
Correct answer: The editor caught the error she flagged it immediately.
A fused sentence joins two independent clauses with no punctuation or conjunction between them.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses 'who' vs. 'whom'?
- Who did the editor send the proof to?
- Whom reviewed the final manuscript?
- To whom should I address this query? (Correct answer)
- The author who the editor called was unavailable.
Correct answer: To whom should I address this query?
'Whom' is used as the object of a preposition or verb; 'to whom' is correct because it functions as the object of 'to.'
CPP Grammar, Punctuation & Syntax 3
What is the correct possessive form for a singular noun ending in 's'?