Advanced Punctuation for Clarity

Question 1

Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause?

Accepted Answer

My older brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting us next week.

Answer

My older brother who lives in Canada is visiting us next week.

Answer

My older brother, who lives in Canada is visiting us next week.

Answer

My older brother who lives in Canada, is visiting us next week.

Question 2

Which sentence correctly sets off the nonrestrictive clause with commas?

Accepted Answer

My brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting us next week.

Answer

My brother who lives in Canada is visiting us next week.

Answer

My brother, who lives in Canada is visiting us next week.

Answer

My brother who, lives in Canada, is visiting us next week.

Question 3

Which version of the sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce the explanation and a dash for a dramatic aside? There was one reason I couldn't sleep the thunder kept rolling it sounded like drums.

Accepted Answer

There was one reason I couldn't sleep: the thunder kept rolling— it sounded like drums.

Answer

There was one reason I couldn't sleep; the thunder kept rolling: it sounded like drums.

Answer

There was one reason I couldn't sleep, the thunder kept rolling— it sounded like drums.

Answer

There was one reason I couldn't sleep: the thunder kept rolling, it sounded like drums.

Try three questions

Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause?

Which sentence correctly sets off the nonrestrictive clause with commas?

Which version of the sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce the explanation and a dash for a dramatic aside? There was one reason I couldn't sleep _ the thunder kept rolling _ it sounded like drums.

Keep going on this shelf

Advanced Punctuation for Clarity

Try three questions

Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause?

Which sentence correctly sets off the nonrestrictive clause with commas?

Which version of the sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce the explanation and a dash for a dramatic aside? There was one reason I couldn't sleep ___ the thunder kept rolling ___ it sounded like drums.

Keep going on this shelf

Which version of the sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce the explanation and a dash for a dramatic aside? There was one reason I couldn't sleep _ the thunder kept rolling _ it sounded like drums.