CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The committee approved a longterm…”?
A. The committee approved a long term strategy.
B. The committee approved a long;term strategy.
C. The committee approved a longterm strategy.
D. The committee approved a long-term strategy.
Correct Answer: D
A compound adjective before a noun is hyphenated: long-term.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “A fiveyearold child won the…”?
A. A five-year-old child won the competition.
B. A five, year, old child won the competition.
C. A five year old child won the competition.
D. A five-year old child won the competition.
Correct Answer: A
A compound age used attributively is hyphenated.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “She bought a wellwritten reference…”?
A. She bought a well-written reference book.
B. She bought a well, written reference book.
C. She bought a well--written reference book.
D. She bought a well written reference book.
Correct Answer: A
A compound modifier before a noun is commonly hyphenated: well-written.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The examiner said Time is…”?
A. The examiner said “Time is up”.
B. The examiner said, “Time is up.”
C. The examiner said; “Time is up.”
D. The examiner said, Time is up.
Correct Answer: B
The complete direct statement is introduced by a comma and enclosed in quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Yes he replied I have…”?
A. “Yes”. he replied “I have checked the figures twice.”
B. “Yes”, he replied, “I have checked the figures twice”.
C. “Yes,” he replied, “I have checked the figures twice.”
D. Yes, “he replied, I have checked the figures twice.”
Correct Answer: C
Commas correctly set off the reporting clause within a continuous quotation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The child cried I cant…”?
A. The child cried, I can't find my mother!
B. The child cried “I can't find my mother”!
C. The child cried; “I can't find my mother!”
D. The child cried, “I can't find my mother!”
Correct Answer: D
The exclamation mark punctuates the quoted exclamation and remains inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Do not open this envelope…”?
A. “Do not open this envelope” the clerk warned.
B. Do not open this envelope, “the clerk warned.”
C. “Do not open this envelope”. the clerk warned.
D. “Do not open this envelope,” the clerk warned.
Correct Answer: D
A comma inside the closing quotation mark precedes the reporting clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The manager said Your performance…”?
A. The manager said, “Your performance has improved significantly.”
B. The manager said “Your performance has improved significantly”.
C. The manager said; “Your performance has improved significantly.”
D. The manager said: Your performance has improved significantly.
Correct Answer: A
Direct speech is correctly introduced and enclosed in quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Why did you leave early…”?
A. “Why did you leave early”? she asked me.
B. Why did you leave early? “she asked me.”
C. “Why did you leave early”, she asked me.
D. “Why did you leave early?” she asked me.
Correct Answer: D
The question mark belongs to the direct question and stays inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “He said The meeting begins…”?
A. He said “The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m”.
B. He said; “The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.”
C. He said, “The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.”
D. He said, The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.
Correct Answer: C
The quoted complete sentence is enclosed in quotation marks and ends with its punctuation inside them.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “I disagree she said but…”?
A. “I disagree.” she said “but I will respect the decision.”
B. “I disagree,” she said, “but I will respect the decision.”
C. I disagree, “she said, but I will respect the decision.”
D. “I disagree”, she said, “but I will respect the decision”.
Correct Answer: B
A split quotation uses commas around the intervening reporting clause when the quoted sentence continues.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The notice stated Applications received…”?
A. The notice stated, Applications received after Friday will not be accepted.
B. The notice stated; “Applications received after Friday will not be accepted.”
C. The notice stated “Applications received after Friday will not be accepted”.
D. The notice stated, “Applications received after Friday will not be accepted.”
Correct Answer: D
The direct wording of the notice is correctly enclosed in quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Stop the guard shouted…”?
A. “Stop!” the guard shouted.
B. “Stop”, the guard shouted!
C. “Stop”! the guard shouted.
D. Stop! the guard shouted.
Correct Answer: A
The exclamation mark belongs inside the quotation because it punctuates the quoted word.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “She asked Have you submitted…”?
A. She asked; Have you submitted the application?
B. She asked, “Have you submitted the application?”
C. She asked, “Have you submitted the application”.
D. She asked “Have you submitted the application?”
Correct Answer: B
A quoted question ends with a question mark inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Please sit down the chairperson…”?
A. Please sit down, “the chairperson said.”
B. “Please sit down”. the chairperson said.
C. “Please sit down” the chairperson said.
D. “Please sit down,” the chairperson said.
Correct Answer: D
When a quotation is followed by a reporting clause, a comma is placed inside the closing quotation mark.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The witness replied I saw…”?
A. The witness replied “I saw the vehicle leave at noon”.
B. The witness replied: I saw the vehicle leave at noon.
C. The witness replied, “I saw the vehicle leave at noon.”
D. The witness replied; “I saw the vehicle leave at noon.”
Correct Answer: C
A direct quotation following a reporting verb is introduced with appropriate punctuation and enclosed in quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Where is the file the…”?
A. “Where is the file”? the officer asked.
B. Where is the file? the officer asked.
C. “Where is the file”, the officer asked.
D. “Where is the file?” the officer asked.
Correct Answer: D
The question mark is part of the quoted question and is placed inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The teacher said Read the…”?
A. The teacher said, Read the question carefully.
B. The teacher said; “Read the question carefully.”
C. The teacher said, “Read the question carefully.”
D. The teacher said “Read the question carefully”.
Correct Answer: C
A short direct quotation after a reporting clause is commonly introduced by a comma; the full stop belongs inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The file was complete consequently…”?
A. The file was complete consequently; the application was approved.
B. The file was complete: consequently the application was approved.
C. The file was complete; consequently, the application was approved.
D. The file was complete, consequently, the application was approved.
Correct Answer: C
A semicolon is appropriate before a conjunctive adverb such as 'consequently'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The rule is simple no…”?
A. The rule is simple: no candidate may use a mobile phone.
B. The rule is simple; no candidate may use a mobile phone.
C. The rule is simple, no candidate may use a mobile phone.
D. The rule: is simple no candidate may use a mobile phone.
Correct Answer: A
A colon can introduce a statement that explains the preceding clause.