Online Test — Punctuation in Context
12 Questions • 15 min • Chapter MCQ
15:00
Question 1 of 12
Punctuate: 'When she arrived ___ we left.'
:
,
;
-
Explanation: Comma after a leading subordinate clause.
Question 2 of 12
Correct direct speech:
He said "hello".
He said, "Hello."
He said: hello.
"He said hello."
Explanation: Comma before, full stop inside.
Question 3 of 12
'a state of the art lab' should be:
state of the art
state-of-the-art
state: of the art
state; of the art
Explanation: Compound adjective → hyphens.
Question 4 of 12
Which introduces a list?
: colon
; semicolon
, comma
- hyphen
Explanation: A colon introduces a list.
Question 5 of 12
Which joins two related clauses without a conjunction?
colon
semicolon
hyphen
comma
Explanation: A semicolon joins related clauses.
Question 6 of 12
Where does the question mark go? 'Are you sure?' she asked.
after 'asked'
inside the quotes
outside the quotes
omitted
Explanation: The question belongs to the spoken words → inside the quotes.
Question 7 of 12
Punctuate: 'We need courage skill and luck' (with a colon).
We need: courage, skill and luck.
We need everything: courage, skill and luck.
We need; courage skill and luck.
We need, courage: skill and luck.
Explanation: A colon follows a complete clause and introduces the list.
Question 8 of 12
The Oxford comma appears:
before the last 'and' in a list
after every word
at the end
before the verb
Explanation: It is the serial comma before the final 'and'.
Question 9 of 12
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
Although tired, she smiled.
Although tired she smiled.
Although, tired she smiled.
Although tired; she smiled.
Explanation: Comma after the leading subordinate clause.
Question 10 of 12
Hyphen or dash? 'The answer — believe it or not — was zero.'
hyphen for joining
dash for an emphatic remark
colon
semicolon
Explanation: Dashes set off the emphatic interruption.
Question 11 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 12 of 12
Choose the correct quotation punctuation.
"Stop!" he shouted.
"Stop"! he shouted.
"Stop! he shouted."
Stop! "he shouted."
Explanation: Exclamation mark inside the quotes, then 'he shouted'.