Punctuation conveys a lot of information! It's not just about the words. Test your knowledge of the little bits and pieces we sprinkle into our writing.

How many consecutive periods should be added after the m at the end of the following sentence?

The sofas and chairs will be delivered at 5:15 p.m

one

two

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

If you have "p.m." or "etc." at the end of a sentence, do not add a second period. Just one gets the job done!

The sofas and chairs will be delivered at 5:15 p.m.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

If you have "p.m." or "etc." at the end of a sentence, do not add a second period. Just one gets the job done!

The sofas and chairs will be delivered at 5:15 p.m.

Which is longer, a hyphen or a dash?

a hyphen

a dash

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Here's a hyphen: -

Here's a dash: —

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Here's a hyphen: -

Here's a dash: —

The Oxford comma is _____________.

wrong

a style choice

mandatory

necessary for world peace

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

If you voted "necessary for world peace," you are a person of passion, and we commend you for that. However, the real-world answer is that it is a style choice.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

If you voted "necessary for world peace," you are a person of passion, and we commend you for that. However, the real-world answer is that it is a style choice.

Which of these sentences requires a comma before the "so"?

I bought you a charger so you'd stop using mine.

Angel didn't sleep well last night so he had a hard time focusing in the meeting.

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Technical explanation: If you have two independent clauses combined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., "so"), place a comma before the "so." If you are using "so" in the sense of "so that," it is a subordinating conjunction, not a coordinating conjunction, and should not be preceded by a comma.

Less technical explanation: If you use "so" in the sense of "therefore" to combine what could be two complete sentences, place a comma before it. Otherwise skip it.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Less technical explanation: If you use "so" in the sense of "therefore" to combine what could be two complete sentences, place a comma before it. Otherwise skip it.

Is the colon in this example correct?

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yes

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Don't use a colon to separate "include" from its direct object. If you added "the following," things would be different:

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That’s correct! Here’s why:

Don't use a colon to separate "include" from its direct object. If you added "the following," things would be different:

Our experts include the following: translators, publicists, and marketing professionals.

Which of these options is correct?

Did you hear that Ruth called Robby a "perpetual plagiarizer?"

Did you hear that Ruth called Robby a "perpetual plagiarizer"?

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The quoted material is not a question. It is merely a piece of the writer's question, so the quotation marks should go first.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The quoted material is not a question. It is merely a piece of the writer's question, so the quotation marks should go first.

According to widespread modern conventions, how many spaces go after a period?

zero

one

two

three

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The usual practice today is to put one space after periods. Books, magazines, newspapers, web content, and more—all one space! It's not exactly an error to put two, but we recommend against requiring your staff or students to put two just because you prefer it.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Which of the punctuation options below cannot be used in the blank space?

Larry and Thelma Ogden got some great news today__ according to Channel 4, they have won a lifetime supply of truffles.

comma

period

semicolon

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Either a semicolon or a period would be fine in that spot, but a spindly little comma cannot be used to separate two independent clauses—that is, what could be two complete sentences.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Either a semicolon or a period would be fine in that spot, but a spindly little comma cannot be used to separate two independent clauses—that is, what could be two complete sentences.

They told us they had sent us the package last week (which was their first lie___

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Since the parenthetical aside is part of the longer sentence, close the parentheses before putting the period.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Since the parenthetical aside is part of the longer sentence, close the parentheses before putting the period.

In formal writing, the ellipsis (...) is used to indicate _____________.

suspense

exhaustion

omitted material in quotations

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The ellipsis is used for suspense—and other reasons—in informal writing. In formal writing, restrict your use of ellipses to situations where you are omitting one or more words from a quotation. (Note: Omitting those words should not change the sense of the quotation.)

That’s correct! Here’s why: