CPW Advanced Grammar and Punctuation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'?
- There are less errors in the revised draft.
- She made fewer progress than expected.
- The revised draft contains fewer errors. (Correct answer)
- He spent less hours on revisions this week.
Correct answer: The revised draft contains fewer errors.
'Fewer' is used for countable nouns (errors), while 'less' is used for uncountable quantities.
Question 2: Which option correctly identifies the error in this sentence: 'Neither the editor nor the writers was available'?
- 'Neither' should be replaced with 'either'.
- The verb should be 'were' to agree with the nearest subject 'writers'. (Correct answer)
- A comma should follow 'editor'.
- The sentence is correct as written.
Correct answer: The verb should be 'were' to agree with the nearest subject 'writers'.
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the nearest subject; 'writers' is plural, so 'were' is correct.
Question 3: What does an Oxford comma (serial comma) do?
- It appears after the final item in a list.
- It appears before the conjunction in a series of three or more items. (Correct answer)
- It separates independent clauses joined by 'and' or 'but'.
- It follows an introductory prepositional phrase.
Correct answer: It appears before the conjunction in a series of three or more items.
The Oxford comma is placed before the final coordinating conjunction in a list of three or more items to prevent ambiguity.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses 'who' vs. 'whom'?
- Who did the editor assign the article to?
- Whom submitted the final draft first?
- She is the writer whom won the award.
- To whom should I address the query letter? (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To whom should I address the query letter?
'Whom' is the objective form; it's correct when used as the object of a preposition ('to whom').
Question 5: Which sentence contains a split infinitive?
- She hoped to finish and submit the article quickly.
- He decided to carefully proofread every paragraph. (Correct answer)
- They planned to write and revise the chapter.
- The editor agreed to review the submission promptly.
Correct answer: He decided to carefully proofread every paragraph.
A split infinitive has an adverb inserted between 'to' and the verb — here, 'to carefully proofread.'
Question 6: Which correctly uses a hyphen in a compound modifier?
- She delivered a well written essay.
- She delivered a well-written essay. (Correct answer)
- She delivered a well-written-essay.
- She delivered a wellwritten essay.
Correct answer: She delivered a well-written essay.
Compound modifiers preceding a noun are hyphenated ('well-written essay'), but not when they follow a linking verb.
Question 7: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a dash to indicate interrupted speech?
- She said, 'I think we should...' and then paused.
- She said, 'I think we should—' and then paused. (Correct answer)
- She said, 'I think we should;' and then paused.
- She said, 'I think we should,' and then paused.
Correct answer: She said, 'I think we should—' and then paused.
An em dash inside quotation marks signals abrupt interruption or trailing off in dialogue.
CPW Advanced Grammar and Punctuation 4
Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'?