Card 0 of 20
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
If you want to succeed in Dr. Henderson’s course, you need to do three things; complete your homework promptly, participate in class discussions, and read the textbook thoroughly. No error.
Because “If you want to succeed in Dr. Henderson’s course, you need to do three things” is an independent clause (a complete sentence that stands on its own), the list that follows it must be preceded by a colon. (Semicolons are used to separate two independent clauses, not an independent clause and a list.) In this sentence, the commas are all used correctly.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
I have no idea if she’d rather: have dinner at an elegant restaurant, go to a comedy club, or compete in a trivia challenge to celebrate our anniversary. No error.
Because “I have no idea if she’d rather” isn’t an independent clause (a complete sentence that can stand on its own), the list that follows it should not be separated with a colon or with any other punctuation. You would only use a colon to introduce the list if the part of the sentence before the list was an independent clause. The correct sentence is as follows: "I have no idea if she’d rather have dinner at an elegant restaurant, go to a comedy club, or compete in a trivia challenge to celebrate our anniversary."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Given the choice, which would you rather do: have your mother cut your hair or go to a salon? No error.
Because “have your mother cut your hair or go to a salon” isn’t a list of three or more items, no colon is necessary to introduce it. To correctly punctuate the sentence, you would instead use a comma between “do” and “have.” The question mark and other comma are correctly placed in the sentence.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
I have no idea if she’s coming to the dance marathon on Thursday: last week she sprained her ankle at a ballroom competition, and she may be recovering still. No error.
Because the first sentence isn’t really introducing the second sentence but is rather a separate thought, a colon isn’t the correct punctuation mark. Instead, a semicolon should be used to separate these two independent clauses.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
The way I see it, the animal shelter has three options: ask the city for more money, host a fundraiser, or employ more volunteer workers. No error.
This sentence has no error. The part of the sentence preceding the list is an independent clause (a complete sentence that can stand on its own), so the list is correctly introduced with a colon. Each item in the list is correctly separated with a comma, and the introductory clause (“The way I see it”) is correctly set off from the main clause (“the animal shelter has three options”) with another comma.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
It’s a pity you can’t come to the party, since we need so much help: decorating, setting up seating, and preparing food. No error.
Here, the colon is incorrectly splitting up a clause. You wouldn’t say “we need so much help: decorating.” Instead, you’d say “we need so much help decorating.” For the same reason, you also wouldn’t break up the longer sentence, even though it ends with a list. Elsewhere, the commas are correctly separating the items in the list and separating the main clause (“It’s a pity you can’t come to the party”) from the dependent clause (“since we need so much help decorating, setting up seating, and preparing food.”)
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Henry has faced significant personal losses this year: His grandmother died, his dog was hit by a car, and his identity was stolen by a Bulgarian hacker. No error
Here, the colon is the correct punctuation to separate the first part of the sentence (an independent clause) from the second part of the sentence (a three-item list); however, the "His" that immediately follows the colon should not be capitalized.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Leila was convinced that her new boyfriend was the man she would someday marry: however, when he showed up late for three dates in a row, she began to have second thoughts. No error
A semicolon, not a colon, is needed to separate the two independent clauses in this sentence. Colons are only used to introduce lists, and the second part of the sentence is not a list; it’s a full sentence in its own right. Therefore, a semicolon is the correct punctuation mark to use between “marry” and “however.”
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
“I’ve never: seen such a beautiful night, had such a delicious dinner, or danced with such a graceful man,” Lily said. No error
Because “I’ve never” isn’t an independent clause (a complete sentence that can stand on its own), the list that follows it should not be separated with a colon or with any other punctuation. You would only use a colon to introduce a list if the part of the sentence before the list was an independent clause.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It’s been a long, hard winter: everyone in the Alaskan village just wants to see some green grass and feel the sun shining again. No error
Since the first sentence isn’t introducing the second sentence but is rather a separate thought, a colon isn’t the correct punctuation mark to use. Instead, a semicolon should be used to separate these two independent clauses.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Learning to crochet is a difficult task: since there are many stitches and patterns to keep track of and the yarn often slips off the hook entirely. No error
The colon that is used in this sentence is extraneous. While the part of the sentence that precedes the colon is an independent clause, the part of the sentence that follows the colon is not; it is a subordinating clause because it is introduced by "since," which is here acting as a subordinating conjunction. Colons are not used to separate independent and subordinating clauses.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It has been incredibly rainy in Chicago lately: I'm worried that there might be flooding. No error
You may use a colon before a list or an explanation, as long as the preceding clause is able to stand on its own (an independent clause, in other words). As such, the sentence above is correct as written. As a rule of thumb, you should not use a colon if you could not put a period in its place, delete everything after it, and still have a full sentence.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Brody: needs to be kinder to his classmates, they are very disappointed in his demeanor. No error
You may use a colon before a list or an explanation, as long as the preceding clause is able to stand on its own. As such, the colon in the sentence above is incorrect and should be deleted. The colon in the example sentence comes in the middle of a clause, and thus is obviously incorrect.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Nobody knows if Leon is going to make it to the show tonight: he bought a ticket but hasn't been picking up his phone all afternoon. No error
Punctuation is the issue here. A colon is used to introduce a list, which it does not do here. The appropriate punctuation to use here would be a semicolon, which is used to separate two independent clauses (such as these).
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
When you behave this badly in class: it reflects poorly on the entire school. NO ERROR
Colons may be used to separate clauses in sentences, but only where you would also be able to use a period. You cannot use a period in the place of the colon in the sentence above, so that colon is erroneous. The sentence should read, "When you behave this badly in class, it reflects poorly on the entire school."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
To complete their final projects, all students must prepare the following; a presentation, a posterboard, and a paper. NO ERROR
Colons are used prior to lists of things in sentences, rather than semi-colons; therefore, the semi-colon in the sentence above is erroneous. The sentence should read, "To complete their final projects, all students must prepare the following: a presentation, a posterboard, and a paper."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I'd like to take you to: the movies or the park today. NO ERROR
Colons may be used prior to lists of things in sentences; however, this is only the case if there are three or more items in the list. As the list in the sentence above has only two items (the movies and the park), the colon above is erroneous. The sentence should read, "I'd like to take you to the movies or the park today."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It’s getting late, and we still need to review the proposal if we want: the committee to understand it’s full potential. No error
In this sentence, the colon is placed after want, in the middle of a clause. Colons should come after an independent clause, never in the middle of a dependent or independent clause.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I’m wondering if: we should introduce the unit on photosynthesis, the chapter on cellular respiration, or the monocot experiment. No error
Here, no colon is necessary. Although the sentence is presenting a list, the part preceding the list is not a complete sentence, so the colon should not be used.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Smoking is a really bad habit: you must stop doing it soon. No error
Colons serve two primary purposes. The first is to precede a list of three or more things in a sentence, and the second is to join two clauses, where the first clause is an independent, and the second clause is a dependent clause that explains the main clause. If being used to connect two clauses, the first clause must always be a independent clause.
The sentence above is correct as written.
Compare your answer with the correct one above