OSSLT Applying Punctuation Rules 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses punctuation with an interrupting phrase?
- The report however was incomplete.
- The report, however was incomplete.
- The report, however, was incomplete. (Correct answer)
- The report however, was incomplete.
Correct answer: The report, however, was incomplete.
Transitional adverbs like 'however' that interrupt a sentence must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks for a quote within a quote?
- She said, "He called me 'brave.'" (Correct answer)
- She said, 'He called me "brave."'
- She said, "He called me "brave.""
- She said, 'He called me 'brave.''
Correct answer: She said, "He called me 'brave.'"
When a quotation appears inside another quotation, single quotation marks are used for the inner quote.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly places the comma in a date?
- On August 17 2026, the event began.
- On August 17, 2026, the event began. (Correct answer)
- On August, 17, 2026 the event began.
- On August 17, 2026 the event began.
Correct answer: On August 17, 2026, the event began.
In a full date, commas follow both the day and the year when written in month-day-year format mid-sentence.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly omits an unnecessary comma?
- She, and her brother went shopping.
- She and, her brother went shopping.
- She and her brother went shopping. (Correct answer)
- She, and, her brother went shopping.
Correct answer: She and her brother went shopping.
No comma is needed between a compound subject joined by 'and' when there are only two subjects.
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses a comma with a conditional clause?
- If it rains we will cancel the picnic.
- If it rains, we will cancel the picnic. (Correct answer)
- We will cancel the picnic, if it rains.
- If, it rains, we will cancel the picnic.
Correct answer: If it rains, we will cancel the picnic.
A comma follows an introductory conditional clause ('If...') before the main clause.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a colon before a quotation?
- The coach said: "Give it everything you have."
- The coach said, "Give it everything you have." (Correct answer)
- The coach said — "Give it everything you have."
- The coach said; "Give it everything you have."
Correct answer: The coach said, "Give it everything you have."
A comma, not a colon, is the standard punctuation after a dialogue tag like 'said' before a quotation.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses punctuation to separate a city and province?
- She moved to Toronto Ontario last year.
- She moved to Toronto, Ontario last year.
- She moved to Toronto, Ontario, last year. (Correct answer)
- She moved to Toronto; Ontario last year.
Correct answer: She moved to Toronto, Ontario, last year.
Both a comma between city and province AND a comma after the province are required when mid-sentence.
OSSLT Applying Punctuation Rules 5
Which sentence correctly uses punctuation with an interrupting phrase?