MT Grammar, Punctuation & Editing Standards 1 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Lets eat, Grandma! (Correct answer)
Lets, eat Grandma!
Lets eat Grandma!
Lets eat; Grandma!

Correct answer: Lets eat, Grandma!

This sentence uses a comma correctly to set off a direct address. The comma after "eat" indicates that "Grandma" is being directly spoken to, preventing misinterpretation and clarifying the speaker's intent. Without the comma, the sentence could imply that Grandma is the meal, which is a common humorous example used to illustrate the importance of comma placement.

Question 2: What is the purpose of using a semicolon?

To join unrelated ideas.
To separate two related independent clauses (Correct answer)
To start a new paragraph.
To separate items in a short list.

Correct answer: To separate two related independent clauses

A semicolon is primarily used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning but could stand alone as separate sentences. It indicates a stronger pause than a comma but a weaker one than a period. This punctuation mark helps to show a logical connection between the two clauses without using a coordinating conjunction.

Question 3: Which word is misspelled?

Occasionally
Definately (Correct answer)
Necessary
Separate

Correct answer: Definately

The word "definately" is a common misspelling of "definitely." The correct spelling includes an 'i' after the 'n' and before the 't'. This error often occurs because of how the word sounds when spoken.

Question 4: Which is an example of a run-on sentence?

She loves to write she writes every day. (Correct answer)
She loves writing and writes daily.
Because she loves to write, she writes daily.
Writing daily improves her skills.

Correct answer: She loves to write she writes every day.

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined together without proper punctuation or a coordinating conjunction. In this example, "She loves to write" and "she writes every day" are both complete sentences, but they are incorrectly fused together without a comma and a conjunction, a semicolon, or a period to separate them. This creates a grammatical error that makes the sentence difficult to read.

Question 5: Which punctuation mark is used to indicate possession?

Colon
Semicolon
Apostrophe (Correct answer)
Period

Correct answer: Apostrophe

An apostrophe is the punctuation mark used to indicate possession in English. For singular nouns, it's typically placed before the 's' (e.g., "the dog's toy"), and for plural nouns ending in 's', it's placed after the 's' (e.g., "the students' books"). It clearly shows that something belongs to someone or something.

Question 6: When should 'its' be used instead of 'it's'?

When showing possession (Correct answer)
When shortening 'it is'
When shortening 'it was'
When creating emphasis

Correct answer: When showing possession

The word "its" (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun, indicating that something belongs to "it." For example, "The dog wagged its tail." In contrast, "it's" with an apostrophe is a contraction for "it is" or "it has."

Question 7: Which sentence uses a comma splice?

The patient arrived early, he waited patiently. (Correct answer)
Because the patient arrived early, he waited.
The patient, who arrived early, waited.
The patient arrived early and waited.

Correct answer: The patient arrived early, he waited patiently.

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by only a comma. In this sentence, "The patient arrived early" is an independent clause, and "he waited patiently" is another independent clause. They should be separated by a period, a semicolon, or a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (like "and").

Question 8: Which is the correct plural form of 'diagnosis'?

Diagnosis
Diagnoses (Correct answer)
Diagnosises
Diagnosis'

Correct answer: Diagnoses

"Diagnosis" is a singular noun of Greek origin. Its correct plural form follows the Greek pattern, changing the '-is' ending to '-es'. Therefore, multiple instances of a diagnosis are referred to as "diagnoses."

Question 9: Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

Him and I went to the meeting.
He and I went to the meeting. (Correct answer)
Me and him went to the meeting.
He and me went to the meeting.

Correct answer: He and I went to the meeting.

This sentence is grammatically correct because it uses the proper subjective case pronouns when they are part of the subject of the sentence. "He" and "I" are both subjects performing the action of "went." A simple test is to remove the other person: "I went to the meeting" sounds correct, whereas "Me went to the meeting" does not.

MT Grammar, Punctuation & Editing Standards 1

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?