Tag: english

Questions Related to english

Choose the option that best corrects the given sentence:
Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown: were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown ... were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

  2. Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown - were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

  3. Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown; were the ports the Titanic embarked from and stopped at on her maiden voyage.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash is often used to resume a scattered subject in a sentence. Thus, the correct answer in the given sentence must be Option B.
Option A is incorrect. An ellipsis is used to indicate omission or trailing off thought.
Option C is incorrect. A semi colon is used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence.
Option D is incorrect. A colon is used to introduce a list of items in a sentence.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence. 

I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening; but why state a preference if you don't have a choice.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening: but why state a preference if you don't have a choice.

  2. I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening - but why state a preference if you don't have a choice.

  3. I prefer working in the morning to working in the evening (but why state a preference if you don't have a choice?)

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
According to general rule, the em dash can be used in place of a colon or semi colon, when we want to emphasize at the conclusion of a sentence. In the given sentence, the speaker clearly wants to emphasize on the conclusion of the sentence. 
Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
Option C is also incorrect, as a pair pf parentheses is used to add additional but non essential information in a sentence.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
(Line 1) Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir
(Line 2) ector decided to re pair the dancers and perform the show.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir-
    ector decided to re-pair the dancers and perform the show.

  3. Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir
    ector decided to re-pair the dancers and perform the show.

  4. Because some members of the ballet company were absent, the dir-
    ector decided to repair the dancers and perform the show.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
When flowing text, it is sometimes preferable to break a word in half so that it continues on another line rather than moving the entire word to the next line. 
The word may be divided at the nearest break point between syllables, and a hyphen inserted to indicate that the letters form a word fragment, rather than a full word.
Compound words are connected using en dash.
According to the following rules, the correct form of writing the sentence is, as given in Option B.

(Line 1) The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post 1980 docu
(Line 2) mentary films are about the environment.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post 1980 docu-

    mentary films are about the environment.

  2. The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post-1980 docu

    mentary films are about the environment.

  3. The latest research study shows that a very low percentage of post-1980 docu-

    mentary films are about the environment.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
When flowing text, it is sometimes preferable to break a word in half so that it continues on another line rather than moving the entire word to the next line. 
The word may be divided at the nearest break point between syllables, and a hyphen inserted to indicate that the letters form a word fragment, rather than a full word.
Compound words are connected using en dash.
According to the following rules, the correct form of writing the sentence is, as given in Option C.

Her two year old and my ten year old wreak havoc on the flower pots when they play in the playground.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Her two-year-old and my ten-year-old wreak havoc on the flower-pots when they play in the playground.

  3. Her two-year-old and my ten-year-old wreak havoc on the flowerpots when they play in the playground.

  4. Her two year old and my ten year old wreak havoc on the flower-pots when they play in the playground.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, certain compound words require hyphens between every word. These are known as hyphenated compound words.
In the given sentence, 'ten-year-old' and 'two-year-old' are examples of such words.
Thus, the correct form of writing the sentence is given in Option C. The remaining options are incorrect.

(Line 1) The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2, 3 and 10 minute tests on the par
(Line 2) ticipants involved.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2, 3 and 10-minute tests on par
    ticipants involved.

  2. The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2, 3 and 10-minute tests on par-
    ticipants involved.

  3. The psychologists conducted experiments by using 2-, 3- and 10-minute tests on par-
    ticipants involved.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
When flowing text, it is sometimes preferable to break a word in half so that it continues on another line rather than moving the entire word to the next line. 
The word may be divided at the nearest break point between syllables, and a hyphen inserted to indicate that the letters form a word fragment, rather than a full word.
Compound words are connected using en dash.
According to the following rules, the correct form of writing the sentence is, as given in Option C.

Tokyo is known for its boat shaped museum of maritime science.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. Tokyo is known for its boat-shaped Museum of Maritime Science.

  2. Tokyo is known for its boat shaped Museum-of-Maritime-Science.

  3. Tokyo is known for its boat-shaped museum - of maritime science.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
According to general rule, a hyphen is used to connect two words to make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning. 
Generally, the hyphen is used if two words are functioning as an adjective before the noun they are describing. If the noun comes first, the hyphen is not used.
Thus, according to rules, the correct answer is Option A. The remaining options are incorrect.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

The children love playing on the new merry go round in the park, as they do on the swings.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. The children love playing on the new merry-go-round in the park, as they do on the swings.

  3. The children love playing on the new merry go round in the park as they do on the swings.

  4. The children love playing on the new merry go round in the park - as they do on the swings.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
According to general rule, a hyphen is used to connect two words to make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning. In the given sentence, 'merry-go-round' is one such word.
Also, a comma is used between two clauses joined using a coordinating conjunction.
Thus, the correct answer is Option B. The other remaining options are incorrect.

(Line 1) Whenever his mother in law arrives, he is nervous, very ner
(Line 2) vous, about what she will say.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. Whenever his mother-in-law arrives, he is nervous - very ner-

    vous about what she will say.

  2. Whenever his mother in law arrives - he is nervous, very ner

    vous about what she will say.

  3. Whenever his mother-in-law arrives, he is nervous - very ner-

    vous - about what she will say.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
When flowing text, it is sometimes preferable to break a word in half so that it continues on another line rather than moving the entire word to the next line. 
The word may be divided at the nearest break point between syllables, and a hyphen inserted to indicate that the letters form a word fragment, rather than a full word.
There are certain words known as, hyphenated compound words. These words have hyphens between them. For example - mother-in-law.
Em dash is often used in a sentence for a strong emphasis on an additional information. Thus, based on the rules, the correct answer is Option C.

The night time classes are for English language learners.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

dash and hyphen punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. The night-time classes are for English language learners.

  3. The night-time classes are for English-language learners.

  4. The night time classes are for English language-learners.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, a hyphen is used to connect two words to make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning. Generally, the hyphen is used if two words are functioning as an adjective before the noun they are describing. If the noun comes first, the hyphen is not used.
The correct answer is Option C. The other remaining options are incorrect.