QUOTATION PUNCTUATION STUDY GUIDE
Part I: Identify the sentence that uses correct punctuation in each set of four sentences. Study your “Rules
for Quotation Marks in Direct Dialogue” (also called “Handout: How to Use Quotation Punctuation” on
Mr. Oakley’s Warren Hills web site) to help you. Check your answers on the bottom of Page 2.
1. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. “Do you know Charles Simic's poem ‘Once I Knew’?” she asked.
B. Do you know Charles Simic's poem “Once I Knew” she asked.
C. “Do you know Charles Simic's poem ‘once I knew’?” she asked.
D. “Do you know Charles Simic's poem ‘Once I Knew,’” she asked.
2. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. Of all the tales in his latest book she said this is my favorite. It's really funny.
B. “Of all the tales in his latest book,” she said, “this is my favorite. It's really funny.”
C. “Of all the tales in his latest book.” she said, “this is my favorite. It's really funny.”
D. “Of all the tales in his latest book,” she said, “This is my favorite. It's really funny.”
3. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. Brody asked, “is that an IPod?”
B. Brody asked Is that an IPod?
C. Brody asked, “Is that an IPod?”
D. Brody asked, “Is that an IPod.”
4. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. “The soccer match was absolutely incredible?” she exclaimed.
B. ‘The soccer match was absolutely incredible!’ she exclaimed.
C. “The soccer match was absolutely incredible” she exclaimed.
D. “The soccer match was absolutely incredible!” she exclaimed.
5. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. “Please bring me that book,” the teacher said.
B. Please bring me that book, the teacher said
C. “Please bring me that book.” the teacher said.
D. “Please bring me that book.” The teacher said.
6. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. “If you keep this up.” He threatened. “Then I will be forced to tell your mother.”
B. “If you keep this up,” he threatened, “then I will be forced to tell your mother.”
C. “If you keep this up” he threatened “then I will be forced to tell your mother.”
D. “If you keep this up.” he threatened, “then I will be forced to tell your mother.”
7. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. In Simic’s poem, the line ‘The clouds told him their names’ is an example of personification.
B. In Simic’s poem, the line The clouds told him their names is an example of personification.
C. In Simic’s poem, the line “The clouds told him their names” is an example of personification.
D. ‘In Simic’s poem, the line “The clouds told him their names” is an example of personification.’
(over)
Page 2 – Punctuation Quiz
8. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. “You can borrow mine,” Katelyn said. ‘It has over 500 songs.’
B. “You can borrow mine.” Katelyn said. “It has over 500 songs.”
C. “You can borrow mine,” Katelyn said, “It has over 500 songs.”
D. “You can borrow mine,” Katelyn said. “It has over 500 songs.”
9. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. She claims that these are the “world’s greatest books”: Ulysses, Joy Luck Club, and Night.
B. She claims that these are the world’s greatest books. Ulysses, Joy Luck Club, and Night.
C. She claims that these are the “world’s greatest books”, Ulysses, Joy Luck Club, and Night.
D. she claims that these are the “world’s greatest books”: Ulysses, Joy Luck Club, and Night.
10. Choose the letter of the correct sentence.
A. Why did the convicted murderer say, “Forget about it?”
B. Why did the convicted murderer say, “Forget about it”?
C. Why did the convicted murderer say, ‘Forget about it?’
D. Why did the convicted murderer say, “Forget about it.”
PART II: Identify the following statements about quotation punctuation as True or False.
11. ____________ You can use quotation marks around words even if you are not using the person’s exact
words.
12. ____________ It’s OK to add words inside quote marks, even if the person whom you are quoting never
said those words.
13. ____________ Quotation marks should touch the quoted words and punctuation; that means no spaces.
14. ____________ An ellipsis is used to show that words have been removed from inside a quote. The words
usually are deleted because they bog down the reader and add nothing to the quotation.
15. ____________ An ellipsis looks like five periods in a row.
16. ____________ If one person is quoted for two or more paragraphs in a row, use open-quotation marks at
the start of each paragraph, but do not use a close-quote mark until the end of the last paragraph, when the
person has stopped speaking.
17. ____________ Use single quotation marks for a quote inside another quotation.
18. ____________ This sentence’s punctuation is correct: “That,” said Mr. Stern, “is a great idea!”
19. ____________ This sentence’s punctuation is correct: She asked, " If the bell rings, should we run? "
20. ____________ This sentence’s punctuation is correct: “Thank you,” said the teacher.
ANSWERS: 1. A 2. B 3. C 4. D 5. A 6. B 7. C 8. D 9. A 10. B
11. false 12. false 13. true 14. true 15. false 16. true 17. true 18. true
19. false 20. true