CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The first team surveyed the…”?
A. The first team surveyed the site: the second prepared the cost estimate.
B. The first team surveyed the site, the second prepared the cost estimate.
C. The first team surveyed the site the second prepared the cost estimate.
D. The first team surveyed the site; the second prepared the cost estimate.
Correct Answer: D
A semicolon may separate parallel independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “There was only one solution…”?
A. There was only one solution: postpone the launch.
B. There was: only one solution postpone the launch.
C. There was only one solution, postpone the launch.
D. There was only one solution; postpone the launch.
Correct Answer: A
A colon appropriately introduces the specific solution after a complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “I wanted to attend the…”?
A. I wanted to attend the seminar: I had already promised to help at home.
B. I wanted to attend the seminar, I had already promised to help at home.
C. I wanted to attend the seminar; I had already promised to help at home.
D. I wanted to attend the seminar I had already promised to help at home.
Correct Answer: C
A semicolon can separate independent clauses that are closely related.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The plan has two advantages…”?
A. The plan: has two advantages it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
B. The plan has two advantages, it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
C. The plan has two advantages; it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
D. The plan has two advantages: it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
Correct Answer: D
A colon can introduce an explanation or enumeration after a complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The deadline had passed moreover…”?
A. The deadline had passed: moreover several documents were still missing.
B. The deadline had passed; moreover, several documents were still missing.
C. The deadline had passed, moreover, several documents were still missing.
D. The deadline had passed moreover; several documents were still missing.
Correct Answer: B
A semicolon precedes a conjunctive adverb linking independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The forecast was alarming however…”?
A. The forecast was alarming: however the evacuation remained orderly.
B. The forecast was alarming; however, the evacuation remained orderly.
C. The forecast was alarming however; the evacuation remained orderly.
D. The forecast was alarming, however, the evacuation remained orderly.
Correct Answer: B
Use a semicolon before 'however' when it joins two independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “He faced a difficult choice…”?
A. He faced a difficult choice; resign or accept the transfer.
B. He faced a difficult choice, resign or accept the transfer.
C. He faced: a difficult choice resign or accept the transfer.
D. He faced a difficult choice: resign or accept the transfer.
Correct Answer: D
A colon can introduce alternatives that explain a preceding complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The conclusion was clear the…”?
A. The conclusion: was clear the project required more funding.
B. The conclusion was clear: the project required more funding.
C. The conclusion was clear, the project required more funding.
D. The conclusion was clear; the project required more funding.
Correct Answer: B
A colon can introduce an explanation of the preceding complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Please bring three items your…”?
A. Please bring three items: your identity card, a pen, and the admission slip.
B. Please bring three items; your identity card, a pen, and the admission slip.
C. Please bring three items, your identity card, a pen, and the admission slip.
D. Please bring: three items your identity card, a pen, and the admission slip.
Correct Answer: A
A colon introduces a list after an independent clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The committee had one objective…”?
A. The committee had one objective; to reduce unnecessary expenditure.
B. The committee had one objective, to reduce unnecessary expenditure.
C. The committee had one objective to: reduce unnecessary expenditure.
D. The committee had one objective: to reduce unnecessary expenditure.
Correct Answer: D
A colon may introduce an explanation or specification after a complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “She had prepared carefully therefore…”?
A. She had prepared carefully; therefore, she felt confident.
B. She had prepared carefully, therefore, she felt confident.
C. She had prepared carefully: therefore she felt confident.
D. She had prepared carefully therefore; she felt confident.
Correct Answer: A
Use a semicolon before a conjunctive adverb that links two independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The road was flooded nevertheless…”?
A. The road was flooded, nevertheless the rescue team continued.
B. The road was flooded; nevertheless, the rescue team continued.
C. The road was flooded nevertheless; the rescue team continued.
D. The road was flooded: nevertheless, the rescue team continued.
Correct Answer: B
A semicolon normally precedes a conjunctive adverb joining independent clauses, followed by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The evidence was incomplete the…”?
A. The evidence was incomplete, the hearing was postponed.
B. The evidence was incomplete: the hearing was postponed.
C. The evidence was incomplete the hearing was postponed.
D. The evidence was incomplete; the hearing was postponed.
Correct Answer: D
A semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “We cant ignore the committees…”?
A. We can,t ignore the committee's recommendation.
B. We cant ignore the committees recommendation.
C. We can't ignore the committee's recommendation.
D. We can't ignore the committees' recommendation.
Correct Answer: C
Can't is a contraction, and committee's is a singular possessive.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The girls hostel closes at…”?
A. The girls' hostel closes at ten o'clock.
B. The girls hostel closes at ten o'clock.
C. The girls's hostel closes at ten oclock.
D. The girl's hostel closes at ten oclock.
Correct Answer: A
The plural possessive 'girls'' and the contraction 'o'clock' both require apostrophes.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “A days delay can affect…”?
A. A day's delay can affect the entire schedule.
B. A days delay can affect the entire schedule.
C. A days' delay can affect the entire schedule.
D. A day,s delay can affect the entire schedule.
Correct Answer: A
A singular expression of time takes apostrophe + s.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Two weeks notice is required…”?
A. Two week's notice is required before resignation.
B. Two weeks notice is required before resignation.
C. Two weeks's notice is required before resignation.
D. Two weeks' notice is required before resignation.
Correct Answer: D
Expressions of time can take the possessive apostrophe: two weeks' notice.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Ali and Ahmeds project won…”?
A. Ali and Ahmeds project won the competition.
B. Ali and Ahmeds' project won the competition.
C. Ali and Ahmed's project won the competition.
D. Ali's and Ahmed's project won the competition.
Correct Answer: C
Joint possession is shown by adding the possessive marker to the final name only.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The directors and the secretarys…”?
A. The directors and the secretarys offices are on different floors.
B. The directors' and secretarys' offices are on different floors.
C. The director and secretary's offices are on different floors.
D. The director's and the secretary's offices are on different floors.
Correct Answer: D
Separate possession by two people is shown by a possessive form on each noun.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Whose signature appears at the…”?
A. Whose' signature appears at the bottom of the form?
B. Whose signature appears at the bottom of the form?
C. Whos' signature appears at the bottom of the form?
D. Who's signature appears at the bottom of the form?
Correct Answer: B
Whose is the possessive form and takes no apostrophe.