Are you ready to test your knowledge? Here are ten objective questions:

1. A colon typically comes after a complete sentence.

2. If you're using a computer, the proper spacing after a colon is two spaces.

3. If you have a single word after a colon, you should usually capitalize it.

4. Dashes can set off a phrase in the middle of a sentence.

5. Using two hyphens to make a dash is old fashioned.

6. A semicolon can separate two complete sentences.

7. A semicolon can separate a sentence and a phrase.

8. Usually leave out the comma before the word and in a list.

9. Commas always go inside quotation marks.

10. When you join two sentences with and, put a comma before the and.

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Would you like to print a paper copy of the suggestions in this web site? Then your next step is the handout.

Copyright 2007 by Edward P. Bailey
(all rights reserved)