Langenscheidt's Guide to Grammar and Style - Test 2
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96 Terms
What is the purpose of a period?
To end a statement.
What is a comma splice?
When a comma alone joins two independent clauses.
How can you correct a comma splice?
Use a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
When is a comma used in a series?
To separate items in a list.
When is a comma used after an introductory phrase?
To separate the introductory phrase from the main clause when appropriate.
When should a comma be placed before a coordinating conjunction?
When the conjunction joins two independent clauses.
What is a semicolon used for?
To connect closely related independent clauses or separate complex list items containing commas.
What is a colon used for?
To introduce a list, explanation, or elaboration after an appropriate introductory clause.
What should generally come before a colon introducing a list?
A complete sentence or independent clause.
What are the two main uses of an apostrophe?
To show possession and to form contractions.
What does student's mean?
Something belonging to one student.
What does students' mean?
Something belonging to multiple students.
What does children's mean?
Something belonging to children; children is an irregular plural.
Does an apostrophe normally make a noun plural?
No. Most plurals do not require apostrophes.
What does it's mean?
It is or it has.
What does its mean?
Belonging to it.
What does they're mean?
They are.
What does their mean?
Belonging to them.
What does there mean?
A place or an introductory expression.
What does who's mean?
Who is or who has.
What does whose mean?
Belonging to whom.
What does you're mean?
You are.
What does your mean?
Belonging to you.
What is a hyphen used for?
To connect parts of certain compound words or compound modifiers.
What is a dash used for?
To indicate a break in thought or add emphasis.
What does an ellipsis commonly indicate?
Omitted words in a quotation or, in some contexts, a pause or unfinished thought.
What are parentheses used for?
To enclose supplementary or explanatory information.
What are brackets used for in quotations?
To indicate clarifications or additions to quoted material.
When should a question mark be used?
At the end of a direct question.
Does an indirect question usually end with a question mark?
No. It usually ends with a period.
Where do periods and commas generally go with closing quotation marks in American English?
Inside the closing quotation marks.
Where does a question mark go when it belongs to the quoted material?
Inside the closing quotation marks.
Where does a question mark go when it belongs to the surrounding sentence?
Outside the closing quotation marks.
What is a direct quotation?
The exact words spoken or written, usually enclosed in quotation marks.
What is an indirect quotation?
A report of someone's words or meaning without reproducing the exact words.
What does an ellipsis indicate in a quotation?
That some material has been omitted.
What are brackets used for when quoting a source?
To show clarifications or changes added by the person quoting.
What is a block quotation?
A long quotation set apart from the main text using special formatting.
What should a writer avoid when changing a quotation?
Changing its meaning or misrepresenting the original source.
What is capitalization?
The use of uppercase letters according to grammar and style conventions.
What should be capitalized at the beginning of a sentence?
The first word of the sentence.
How is the pronoun I written?
As a capital letter.
Are languages and nationalities capitalized in English?
Yes. Examples include English, Spanish, and American.
Are days, months, and holidays capitalized?
Yes. Examples include Monday, October, and Thanksgiving.
Should ordinary nouns always be capitalized when they seem important?
No. Ordinary nouns are generally lowercase unless a specific rule requires capitalization.
What are italics commonly used for?
Titles of books, journals, magazines, and other long works, as well as certain foreign words and emphasis.
How are book titles generally formatted?
In italics.
How are journal titles generally formatted?
In italics.
How are article titles generally formatted?
In quotation marks.
How are short story titles generally formatted?
In quotation marks.
How are movie titles generally formatted?
In italics.
How are book chapter titles generally formatted?
In quotation marks.
How are most regular English plurals formed?
By adding -s or -es.
What is the plural of child?
Children.
What is the plural of man?
Men.
What is the plural of woman?
Women.
What is the plural of foot?
Feet.
What is the plural of mouse?
Mice.
How is the plural of a noun ending in consonant + y usually formed?
Change the y to i and add -es, as in baby to babies.
How is the plural of a noun ending in vowel + y usually formed?
Add -s, as in boy to boys.
What is a possessive noun?
A noun that shows ownership or a relationship.
How is a singular noun usually made possessive?
Add apostrophe-s, as in the teacher's desk.
How is a regular plural noun ending in s usually made possessive?
Add an apostrophe after the s, as in the teachers' desks.
How is an irregular plural noun usually made possessive?
Add apostrophe-s, as in the children's books.
What is a compound word?
A word or expression made up of two or more words functioning as a unit.
What are the three common ways to write compounds?
As one word, as separate words, or as hyphenated words.
Does every compound word require a hyphen?
No. The correct form depends on usage and style conventions.
When is a compound modifier often hyphenated?
When it appears before the noun it modifies, as in a well-known author.
What is an abbreviation?
A shortened form of a word or phrase.
What is an acronym?
An abbreviation pronounced as a word, such as NASA.
What is an initialism?
An abbreviation pronounced letter by letter, such as FBI.
Do all abbreviations use periods?
No. Period usage depends on the abbreviation and the style convention.
What is a footnote?
A note printed at the bottom of a page.
What is an endnote?
A note placed in a collection at the end of a paper or section.
What is a bibliography?
A list of sources consulted or cited in a paper, formatted according to a documentation style.
Do footnotes and bibliography entries always use identical formatting?
No. They often use different punctuation and name order.
What is a parenthetical reference?
Source information placed in parentheses within the text.
What is subject-verb agreement?
The rule that a verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
Which is correct: The box of books is heavy or The box of books are heavy?
The box of books is heavy. The subject is box, which is singular.
What is an independent clause?
A group of words containing a subject and verb that can stand alone as a sentence.
What is a dependent clause?
A clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
What is a phrase?
A group of words that functions as a unit but is not a complete independent clause.
What is a modifier?
A word or phrase that describes or limits another word or phrase.
What is a restrictive clause?
A clause that identifies which person or thing is meant and is essential to the meaning.
What is a nonrestrictive clause?
A clause that adds information that is not essential to identify the noun.
What is the difference between affect and effect?
Affect is usually a verb; effect is usually a noun.
What is the difference between accept and except?
Accept means receive; except means excluding.
What is the difference between than and then?
Than is used for comparisons; then refers to time or sequence.
What is the difference between lie and lay?
Lie means recline; lay means put something down.
What is the traditional distinction between fewer and less?
Fewer refers to countable things; less refers to amounts.
What is the difference between who and whom?
Who is a subject form; whom is an object form.
What is the difference between imply and infer?
A speaker implies; a listener infers.
What is copyediting?
Checking grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, consistency, and style.
What is proofreading?
Checking the final version of a text for remaining errors.
What is the difference between grammar and style?
Grammar concerns language structure; style concerns conventions for presenting language consistently.
When should a writer spell out numbers or use numerals?
Follow the style guide's rules and consider the context, such as dates, measurements, money, percentages, and numbers at the beginning of sentences.