Praxis Core Writing Practice Test: Punctuation and Mechanics
- Punctuation and Mechanics
- 10 questions
- 12 minutes
Ten punctuation and capitalization questions in standard American usage. Tip: a semicolon and a period work almost the same way, so both need a complete sentence on each side.
Tap an option to mark your answer. You can change your mind, or tap the same option again to leave the question blank. The correct answers and explanations appear when you finish the test.Tap an option to answer; tap it again to leave the question blank.
Your result
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- 0 wrong
- 0 blank
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Question 1
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: C
An introductory dependent clause is followed by a comma before the main clause. A semicolon cannot follow a dependent clause.
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Question 2
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: B
"However" between two independent clauses needs a semicolon before it and a comma after it. With commas on both sides, the sentence is a comma splice.
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Question 3
Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The two ____ lockers were next to each other.
Correct answer: D
For a plural noun ending in s, add only an apostrophe: girls'. "Girl's" would mean one girl.
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Question 4
Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: ____ been a long week, and the team finally has ____ results.
Correct answer: A
The first blank means "it has" (it has been), so it needs the contraction "it's." The second blank shows possession, so it needs "its" without an apostrophe.
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Question 5
Which sentence uses the colon correctly?
Correct answer: B
A colon comes after a complete clause and introduces the list. It should not separate a verb from its object, as in "Bring: a pencil."
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Question 6
Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?
Correct answer: C
Seasons, compass directions used as directions and family words after "my" are lowercase. "Texas" is a proper noun and is capitalized.
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Question 7
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: A
The clause adds extra information about a named person, so it is set off by a pair of commas. Using only one of the two commas breaks the sentence.
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Question 8
Which sentence is punctuated correctly in standard American usage?
Correct answer: D
In American usage, the comma goes inside the closing quotation mark. A period would end the sentence before "said Mr. Ruiz."
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Question 9
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: B
In a full date inside a sentence, commas go after the day and after the year. The last option leaves out the comma after the year.
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Question 10
Which sentence contains an unnecessary comma?
Correct answer: D
A comma should not separate a subject ("the students who finished early") from its verb ("were allowed"). The other commas follow an introductory clause or come before "so."
Questions you leave blank are not counted as wrong.
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