Improve Your Writing

Table of Contents

1. Why improve your understanding of grammar and punctuation?
2. Punctuation Marks
3. Common Confusions
4. Using quoted material.
5. Other pitfalls and problems
6. Style
7. Exercises
   1. Using the Colon to Improve Style
   2. Using the colon.
   3. Using the semi-colon.
   4. Using the comma 1.
   5. Using the comma 2.
   6. The comma splice.
   7. Separating Clauses
   8. Exercise about conjunctions.
   9. Exercise using the hyphen.
   10. Contracted words
   11. Using the apostrophe 1.
   12. Using the apostrophe 2.
   13. Lists.
   14. Punctuation marks exercise.
   15. Dangling participles exercise.
   16. Who's or Whose?
   17. It's or Its?
   18. There or Their or They're?
   19. To or Too or Two?
   20. Who or Whom?
   21. I or me?
   22. Less or Fewer?
   23. Like of As?
   24. Split Infinitives.
   25. Verb/Subject Agreement.
   26. Using the subjunctive.
   27. Using Numbers.
   28. Punctuation of embedded quotations 1.
   29. Punctuation of embedded quotations. 2
   30. Correcting quotes.
   31. Confusable words 1.
   32. Confusable Words 2.
   33. Confusable words 3.
   34. Consistency of tense.
   35. Common Mistakes.
   36. Run-on Sentences Exercise.
   37. Pleonasm Exercise.
   38. Straying Off The Point Exercise.

Using the comma 2.

In this exercise, you will be given a number of sentences, only one of which is correctly punctuated with commas. Select the correct sentence.

1

a) My favourte countries are, Spain, Greece, India, and Hungary. b) My favourte countries are Spain, Greece, India and Hungary. c) My favourte countries are, Spain Greece India and Hungary. Please select an answerThe comma before the lists is unnecessary as is the final comma before the and. Correct. The comma before the list is unnecessary and you need some commas between the elements of the list.

2

a) I really don't like blancmange, so I never eat the stuff. b) I really don't like blancmange so, I never eat the stuff. c) I really don't like blancmange so I never eat the stuff. Please select an answerCorrect. You need a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction 'so'.No. The comma should come before the co-ordinating conjunction 'so'.No. You need a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction 'so'.

3

a) Once, the storm was over we were able to set sail for the lost island. b) Once the storm was over, we were able to set sail for the lost island. c) Once the storm was over we were able to set sail for the lost island. Please select an answerNo. The comma should set off the introductory part of the sentence. Correct. The comma offsets the introductory part of the sentence. No. You need a comma to offset the introductory part of the sentence.

4

a) Jill, a talented woman in the world of business decided to run for president. b) Jill, a talented woman in the world of business, decided to run for president. c) Jill a talented woman in the world of business, decided to run for president. Please select an answerNo. In separating parenthetical elements in a sentence, you need two commas.Correct. You should use commas to separate parenthetical elements in a sentence.No. In separating parenthetical elements in a sentence, you need two commas.

5

a) We used to live in an, old, delapidated, ranshakle house. b) We used to live in an old, delapidated, ranshakle house. c) We used to live in an old, delapidated, ranshakle, house. Please select an answerNo. You do not need the comma before old. Correct. Use commas to separate elements in a list of adjectives.No. You don't need the final comma before house.

6

a) I love eating cake and biscuits, not vegetables. b) I love eating, cake and biscuits, not vegetables. c) I love eating, cake and biscuits not vegetables. Please select an answerCorrect. Use the comma before an phrase expressing contrast. No. You do not need the comma to introduce the list. No. You do not need the comma to introduce the list. You do need a comma before the phrase expressing contrast.

7

a) Paul said he had seen Jim and John at the party last night. b) Paul said he had seen Jim, and John at the party last night. c) Paul said he had seen, Jim and John at the party last night. Please select an answerCorrect. No commas needed in this sentence.No. You do not need a comma before the final 'and' in a list. No. You do not need the comma to introduce the list.

8

a) I am going clubbing in Ibiza, and my wife is going on a cruise to Crete, Mallorca and Menorca. b) I am going clubbing in Ibiza, and my wife is going on a cruise to Crete Mallorca and Menorca. c) I am going clubbing in Ibiza and my wife is going on a cruise to Crete, Mallorca and Menorca. Please select an answerCorrect. You need a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction 'and' and to separate the elements in a list. You need to add the comma to separate the elements in a list. You need to add the comma before the co-ordinating conjunction 'and' .

9

a) Given the terrible weather conditions it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable. b) Given the terrible weather conditions, it is surprising, that the holiday was so enjoyable. c) Given the terrible weather conditions, it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable. Please select an answerYou need to add a comma to separate the introductory phrase from the main clause. No. This sentence contains an extra comma. When separating an introductory phrase, you need only one comma. Correct. Use a comma to separate the introductory part of the sentence from the main clause.

10

a) India, a truly beautiful interesting and exotic country, is now a popular holiday destination. b) India, a truly beautiful, interesting and exotic country, is now a popular holiday destination. c) India a truly beautiful, interesting and exotic country is now a popular holiday destination. Please select an answerYou have got the commas to separate parenthetical elements, but you need to add a comma to separate the elements in the list. Correct. Use commas to separate parenthetical elements and to separate the elements in the list. You have used the comma correctly to separate the elements in the list, but you need to add a couple of commas to separate parenthetical elements.

Find out more about the uses of the comma.

Try another exercise about the comma.

See a list of other grammar exercises.