Quiz

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Person talking on the left; on the right, a quiz asks, "Which one of these is an em dash?" with two dash options, one correct

Only 13% Of Americans Know How To Use Punctuation Correctly — So If You Can't Pass This 17-Question Grammar Test, You Might Be One Of The Dumb Ones

If You Can Get More Than 15/17 On This Punctuation Test, You're A Grammar Expert

Challenge your grammar skills with this punctuation test — score over 15/17 to prove you're a true language expert.

Punctuation Grammar Trivia Quiz — BuzzFeed Quizzes

Woman speaking with an expression of frustration, saying, "It was full of grammar errors."

Here's the same sentence without an Oxford comma: "We have apples, oranges and bananas."

What type of comma can we find in this sentence: "We have apples, oranges, and bananas"?

What's

That's false; it depends on the specific style of writing. But in my opinion? The Oxford comma should be mandatory. There, I said it.

True or false: The Oxford comma is always required in formal writing.

This is an em dash — it's used to separate two independent clauses in a sentence.

An em dash should link independent but related clauses.

Now, which sentence does NOT use an em dash correctly?

Here's the sentence in full: "I can't believe it's already September," she said.

Fill in the blank with the proper punctuation: "I can't believe it's already September\_ she said.

I know way too many people who'd opt for that third one.

Which of these sentences uses commas correctly?

In this sentence, we'd use a colon before the list!

Which of these sentences uses proper punctuation?

All of those other options make me cringe so much, you have no idea.

Ellipses consist of THREE periods, people!

Semicolons are used to separate items in a complex list, which means a list where items include commas. Here's an example: We visited Paris, France; London, England; and Berlin, Germany.

Which punctuation mark is used to separate items in a complex list?

Quotes use double quotation marks, and quotes within quotes use single quotation marks. Here's an example: "She was like, 'How dare you?'"

How are single quotation marks used differently from double quotation marks?

"Self esteem" should actually be "self-esteem."

Which of these terms should be hyphenated?

Periods should go on the outside of parentheses (unless the parentheses is a full, separate sentence).

Which of these sentences uses parentheses correctly?

"Five-year-old child" is correct!

En dashes (not to be confused with em dashes) are used to indicate ranges.

Which sentence uses an en dash correctly?

Add a comma after your introductory phrases, please!

Which sentence has correct comma placement?

If you edit text in a quote, use square brackets to indicate the text you've changed. Here's an example: She was "so upset, everyone outside could hear \[her\] crying."

Finally, which punctuation indicates edited text in a quote?

It doesn't sound like grammar is your forte, but I commend you for trying. Now, it's time for a BONUS QUESTION to redeem yourself. Here it is. There are three kinds of dashes; can you name them and give an example of each? Answer in the comments below!

Grammar newbie!

Great job — you've single-handedly restored my faith in humanity. Now, ready for a BONUS QUESTION? Here it is. There are three kinds of dashes; can you name them and give an example of each? Answer in the comments below!

Grammar whiz!

Congratulations — you're officially just as much of a grammar nerd as I am! Now, ready for a BONUS QUESTION? Here it is. There are three kinds of dashes; can you name them and give an example of each? Answer in the comments below!

Grammar expert!

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Number 4 is wrong- an em dash separates independent clauses, which means a complete sentence. How is “in the house?” a complete sentence? It’s the first one 

BUT! in #6, either of the last two could be correct, depending on whether you are talking about one brother and saying he lives in new york (making it a non-restrictive clause) or you have multiple brothers and are specifying one who lives in new york (making it a restrictive clause).

Some of these are poorly constructed questions.  "Which of these uses parentheses correctly" offers 3 sentences which use parentheses incorrectly, but claims the one that uses them as a pointless aside is correct.  If it fits in the stream of the sentence it should not be in parentheses.

It should be pointed out that many of these rules/standards are for American English. British English uses single quotes and double quotes in the reverse fashion, for example. 

Plus, punctuation isn’t generally considered part of grammar. 

The three types of dashes are hyphens, em dashes, and en dashes.

No. 9 is wrong. You don't put ellipses between two independent clauses.
No. 15 is wrong. En-dashes are used to join two items when one has more than one word. For example: the Rough Riders–Stampeders game.
No 13 is not so much wrong as unnecessary. The sentence is fine with no parentheses. "The event was cancelled due to weather."

Number 9 should have four dots- a period plus an ellipsis. These are two complete sentences!

#6- the third choice COULD be correct if you wish to distinguish with emphasis the brother who lives in New York from, say, the brother who lives in New Jersey. Without commas, it’s a restrictive clause. 

Only 13% Of Americans Know How To Use Punctuation Correctly — So If You Can't Pass This 17-Question Grammar Test, You Might Be One Of The Dumb Ones

Because I've loved books since before I could speak (yes, you read that right), I've always been a grammar nerd. Although this has shaped me into an A+ internet writer, if I do say so myself, it also means that grammar errors irk me to my very core. They always have, and they likely always will.

But I'm here to emphasize the importance of proper punctuation the best way I know how: with a trivia quiz! So get your pencils ready, and don't you dare cheat. Here we go!

How'd you do? Tell me in the comments below!

And check out BuzzFeed Canada on TikTok and Instagram for more fun trivia quizzes!

Only 13% Of Americans Know How To Use Punctuation Correctly — So If You Can't Pass This 17-Question Grammar Test, You Might Be One Of The Dumb Ones

Because I've loved books since before I could speak (yes, you read that right), I've always been a grammar nerd. Although this has shaped me into an A+ internet writer, if I do say so myself, it also means that grammar errors irk me to my very core. They always have, and they likely always will.

But I'm here to emphasize the importance of proper punctuation the best way I know how: with a trivia quiz! So get your pencils ready, and don't you dare cheat. Here we go!

How'd you do? Tell me in the comments below!

And check out BuzzFeed Canada on TikTok and Instagram for more fun trivia quizzes!

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