Question 1

Terminal Punctuation:

Accepted Answer

Marks used at the end of a sentence to show its purpose or tone.

Question 2

Period (.):

Accepted Answer

Ends a declarative (fact) or imperative (command/request) sentence; also used in abbreviations.

Question 3

Question Mark (?):

Accepted Answer

Ends a question; often follows words like who, what, when, where, why, how.

Question 4

Exclamation Point (!):

Accepted Answer

Shows strong emotion, shouting, or emphasis.

Question 5

What is terminal punctuation?

Accepted Answer

Punctuation used at the end of a sentence.

Question 6

What are the three types of terminal punctuation?

Accepted Answer

Periods (.), question marks (?), and exclamation points (!).

Question 7

What words often begin a question sentence?

Accepted Answer

Who, what, when, where, why, how.

Question 8

What punctuation should be used if a sentence states a fact or gives information?

Accepted Answer

A period.

Question 9

What punctuation should be used if a sentence asks a question?

Accepted Answer

A question mark.

Question 10

What punctuation should be used if a sentence expresses strong emotion, urgency, or excitement?

Accepted Answer

An exclamation point.

Question 11

Why should exclamation points be used sparingly?

Accepted Answer

Overuse can make writing seem overly dramatic or less professional.

Question 12

What should you check for in a declarative sentence?

Accepted Answer

That the statement is clear and ends with a period.

Question 13

How can reading a sentence aloud help with punctuation?

Accepted Answer

It helps identify tone — calm and factual needs a period, inquisitive needs a question mark, excited or urgent needs an exclamation point.

Question 14

Internal Punctuation:

Accepted Answer

Punctuation used within a sentence to organize words, phrases, and clauses.
-Helps clarify meaning
-	Indicates elements like direct quotations and definitions

Question 15

Comma (,):

Accepted Answer

A punctuation mark that creates a small break in a sentence and separates words, clauses, or ideas.

Question 16

What does a comma do in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

It creates a small break and separates words, clauses, or ideas.

Question 17

When is a comma used before a conjunction?

Accepted Answer

When connecting two independent clauses (e.g., I studied, and I passed).

Question 18

When is a comma used with an introductory phrase?

Accepted Answer

To set off the phrase at the beginning of a sentence (e.g., After lunch, we went back to work).

Question 19

How are short emotional phrases handled with commas?

Accepted Answer

They are enclosed by commas (e.g., Well, that’s surprising).

Question 20

How are the words yes and no punctuated?

Accepted Answer

They are set off by commas (e.g., Yes, I agree).

Question 21

How is direct address punctuated?

Accepted Answer

Use commas to set off the name or person being spoken to (e.g., Gracie, can you help?).

Question 22

How are items in a series separated?

Accepted Answer

With commas (e.g., apples, oranges, and bananas).

Question 23

Semicolon (;):

Accepted Answer

-Connects two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction (like and or but); shows a close relationship between ideas.
-Do not capitalize the word after a semicolon unless it’s normally capitalized.

Question 24

Colon (:):

Accepted Answer

Introduces a list, or adds emphasis to a word or phrase at the end of a sentence.

Question 25

Apostrophe (’):

Accepted Answer

A punctuation mark used to show possession or to form a contraction (combining two words).

Question 26

What are the two main uses of an apostrophe?

Accepted Answer

To show possession and to form contractions.

Question 27

How do you show possession with a plural noun?

Accepted Answer

Place the apostrophe after the s (e.g., teachers’ lounge).

Question 28

How is a contraction formed?

Accepted Answer

By combining two words and replacing missing letters with an apostrophe (e.g., do not → don’t).

Question 29

Hyphen (-):

Accepted Answer

A punctuation mark used to create compound words (e.g., well-known, mother-in-law).

Question 30

What is the main use of a hyphen?

Accepted Answer

To create compound words.

Question 31

When are quotation marks used?

Accepted Answer

When directly quoting someone or naming short works like poems, articles, and chapters.

Question 32

Where do commas and periods go in relation to quotation marks?

Accepted Answer

Inside the quotation marks.

Question 33

Where do colons and semicolons go in relation to quotation marks?

Accepted Answer

Outside the quotation marks, unless part of the quoted material.

Question 34

Should the first word of a full quoted sentence be capitalized?

Accepted Answer

Yes — capitalize the first word of a full sentence.

Question 35

Should the first word of a quoted fragment be capitalized?

Accepted Answer

No — do not capitalize fragments.

Question 36

Do indirect quotes need quotation marks?

Accepted Answer

No — paraphrased speech does not require quotation marks.

Question 37

Are titles in quotation marks italicized?

Accepted Answer

No — they are not italicized.

Question 38

Quotation Marks (“ ”):

Accepted Answer

-Show direct quotes (someone’s exact words)
-Indicate titles of short works (e.g., poems, articles, chapters)
-Follow specific punctuation placement rules