Manuscript 101–Commas Pop Quiz

Commas seem to be one of the most daunting pieces of the grammar landscape that any writer deals with. And depending on whether you’re writing academic papers, novels, non-fiction, or newspaper/magazine articles, the rules can differ. However, using a “strict” method will never steer you wrong. For the discussion of punctuation, especially commas, I’ll be referring to rules in the Chicago Manual of Style 15th Edition and the Bedford Handbook 5th Edition and using examples inspired by the book Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

Let’s start out with a pop-quiz, just to see where everyone is. You can post a comment with your answers or you can keep them to yourself, if you’d like. Answers will be posted tomorrow.

1. Football, which is called soccer in America is very popular in South America, Europe and Africa.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. Comma needed after Europe.
    c. Comma needed after America.
    d. Commas needed after America and Europe.

2. After lunch the jury was called back to the courtroom and they heard testimony on behalf of the defendant.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. Comma needed after lunch.
    c. Comma needed after courtroom.
    d. Commas needed after lunch and courtroom.

3. We went to the store, ate and got gas.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. Comma needed after ate.
    c. No comma needed after store.
    d. Comma needed after and.

4. It was a dark, stormy night.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. Comma needed after stormy.
    c. Comma needed after was.
    d. No comma needed.

5. We saw an endangered black rhino.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. Comma needed after saw.
    c. Comma needed after saw and endangered.
    d. Comma needed after endangered.

6. The Declaration of Independence, which was signed on July 4, 1776 served as the catalyst for the Revolutionary War.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. No comma needed after Independence.
    c. Comma needed after signed.
    d. Comma needed after 1776.

7. I went to the store and got asparagus, and cauliflower, and broccoli.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. No comma needed after asparagus.
    c. No comma needed after cauliflower.
    d. No commas needed.

8. The spy betrayed, not only his country, but his comrades.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. No comma needed after betrayed.
    c. No comma needed after country.
    d. No commas needed.

9. When she entered the room she was dressed in black velvet and she was wearing a huge, sparkling, diamond necklace.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. Commas needed after room and velvet.
    c. No comma needed after sparkling.
    d. Both (b) and (c).

10. The writer who was recently signed to a multi-book contract will be here for a book signing on August 28.
    a. No changes needed; sentence is correct.
    b. Commas needed after writer and contract.
    c. Commas needed after writer and signing.
    d. Commas needed after contract and August.