Online Test — Punctuation — Advanced
12 Questions • 15 min • Chapter MCQ
15:00
Question 1 of 12
Which mark joins two related independent clauses?
colon
semicolon
hyphen
comma
Explanation: Semicolon joins related clauses.
Question 2 of 12
'I want these ___ pens, books and ink.'
;
:
-
( )
Explanation: A colon introduces a list.
Question 3 of 12
'a ten ___ year ___ old boy'
: :
; ;
- -
, ,
Explanation: Hyphens join the compound: ten-year-old.
Question 4 of 12
Which shows a trailing thought?
hyphen
colon
ellipsis
semicolon
Explanation: The ellipsis (…) shows a trailing or omitted thought.
Question 5 of 12
Choose the correct sentence.
It was sunny; so we went out.
It was sunny; we went out.
It was sunny: we went out,
It was sunny - we went out;
Explanation: Semicolon joins the two clauses (no conjunction).
Question 6 of 12
Parentheses are best for:
a list
joining clauses
extra non-essential info
ending a sentence
Explanation: They enclose extra information.
Question 7 of 12
'My brother a pilot flew us.' Add marks:
My brother: a pilot flew us.
My brother (a pilot) flew us.
My brother; a pilot flew us.
My brother - a pilot flew us
Explanation: Parentheses enclose the aside 'a pilot'.
Question 8 of 12
Which is correctly hyphenated?
a part time job
a part-time job
a part:time job
a part;time job
Explanation: Compound adjective → 'part-time'.
Question 9 of 12
Choose the correct use of the colon.
Remember: practice makes perfect.
Remember; practice makes perfect.
Remember, practice: makes perfect.
Remember - practice makes perfect:
Explanation: Colon introduces the explanation.
Question 10 of 12
The dash in 'He smiled — finally — and left' shows:
a list
emphasis/aside
omission
a compound word
Explanation: Dashes set off the emphatic aside 'finally'.
Question 11 of 12
Which sentence has a comma splice (error)?
It was late; we slept.
It was late, we slept.
It was late, so we slept.
Because it was late, we slept.
Explanation: Two independent clauses joined by only a comma = comma splice; a semicolon is needed.
Question 12 of 12
'ex captain' should be written as:
excaptain
ex-captain
ex: captain
ex; captain
Explanation: The prefix 'ex-' takes a hyphen.