WRITING BASICS REVIEW
M COM 320
Sentence Structure
For questions 1-10, mark A for simple sentences, B for complex sentences, C for compound sentences, and
D for compound-complex sentences.

___ 1.

After we ran the race, John Compton went to a convenience store to buy drinks.

___ 2.

Ann Campbell doesn’t do well in accounting, math, and physics, but she loves the social sciences.

___ 3.

John and Robin gave their presentation, and then they waited, hoping for an A.

___ 4.

When he arrived at the end of the semester, Robert realized he was missing an assignment.

___ 5.

Matt opened with the introduction and procedures, and then Alison delivered the findings.

___ 6.

Melanie will introduce the group and Nicole will follow her, although Nicole would be better presenting the conclusion.

___ 7.

Even though he already has an A on the first grammar exam, amazingly, Josh showed up to take the second exam.

___ 8.

We need to really focus on grammar and style in this class, both at the beginning and at the end of the semester. ___ 9.

Although Shawn Powers has never run a marathon, Sean Painter has.

___ 10. Angela Jones, Adrian Call, and Billy Brown are all planning to get a perfect score on the final exam.
For questions 11-15, mark A for phrases, B for dependent clauses, and C for independent clauses.

___ 11. Going to the Homecoming Dance
___ 12. Finding themselves up a creek without a paddle
___ 13. I believe Mike’s the best candidate
___ 14. After Brenda finalizes the budget
___ 15. Tell him what you think
Verbs (Voice)
Mark C if correct and proper voice is used and I if incorrect and proper voice is not used. Correct the errors.

___ 16. The supervisor reviewed the material, but no recommendations were announced.
___ 17. A title caption describes the contents of the graphic, and the title should be identified by either a table number or a figure number.
___ 18. Please go upstairs to the copy center and make some overheads for me.

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___ 19. The touchdown was scored by the quarterback.
___ 20. You are being transferred to another department because of your lack of computer expertise.
Modifiers
Mark C if correct and I if incorrect. Correct the errors.

___ 21. The speaker, to explain the effects of full employment on inflation, used several illustrations.
___ 22. I am really grateful for your prompt response to my memo.
___ 23. The research director sure is fortunate that the funds were appropriated for the stock’s project.
___ 24. The schedule for the business seminar is up-to-date.
___ 25. His answer was the shortest of the two.
___ 26. Trying to complete the case before the deadline, many errors were overlooked by the employee.
___ 27. When filling out his return, the taxpayer failed to sign it.
___ 28. You can depend on him to turn in a carefully-documented report.
___ 29. I’ll only tell her about the snarling dogs at the entrance, not the pit of pythons inside the door.
___ 30. Crawling across the floor, the security guard offered the bank teller a bandage for her wounds.
___ 31. I can’t tell you where he’s at right now.
___ 32. I didn’t do very good on the BLR exam last time.
Parallel Parts (Connectives)
Mark C if correct and I if incorrect. Correct the errors.

___ 33. The graphic aids have not yet been prepared; nevertheless, we must submit our evaluation in ten minutes. ___ 34. The estate was divided among several families.
___ 35. While I do not agree with the assignment, I will proceed without further comment.
___ 36. Parallel construction is when you have sentence elements of equal importance both grammatically and logically. ___ 37. Inasmuch as Jim has already received the memo, perhaps you ought to call him and explain that you did not have an opportunity to proofread it before it was mailed.
___ 38. I am both interested and excited about learning more about grammar this semester.
___ 39. She’s going not only to the Lee Library but also the Tanner Building.
___ 40. Where I’ve been studying for the test, you’ve just been loafing around.

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Punctuation
Mark the number of punctuation errors in each sentence. Mark A for 0, B for 1, C for 2, and D for 3. Correct the errors.

___ 41. The use of the business case in business communications, as you might expect, leads to many fine problem-solving activities.
___ 42. Ms. Smith recommends that business communications students, if they are to be completely successful, must keep up-to-date on writing practices in the business world.
___ 43. At the present time; however, no decisive pattern of change has yet emerged as the most desirable.
___ 44. Jacob wants to become an artist, and a musician.
___ 45. Quality work on the part of students is achieved through detailed, sympathetic, competent constructive criticism.
___ 46. After the game Richard went to the grocery store with his wife to pick up treats for the team and
Robert went to work.
___ 47. The committee favors the paper that has the more scholarly approach; they give such a paper a higher grade than one without substance.
___ 48. He submitted a carefully-prepared report to the committee.
___ 49. The city museum is asking for a years donation from each subscriber, and volunteer.
___ 50. After graduating from college Dale moved to Fremont, California, but Byron, his brother, moved to Concord.
Case
Mark C if correct and I if incorrect. Correct the errors.

___ 51. Both he and myself will be going to the management convention in Anaheim.
___ 52. The president will employ whoever is willing to work.
___ 53. Mr. Anderson assigned him and me the task of interpreting the results of the study.
___ 54. His rushing to complete the report by the deadline was in vain.
___ 55. The womens’ complaints are completely justified.
___ 56. Give the responsibility to whomever comes first.
___ 57. The sales representative showed we administrative assistants how to operate the new copier.
Agreement and Reference
Mark C if correct and I if incorrect. Correct the errors.

___ 58. She is the person which I mentioned was so well qualified.
___ 59. Either Sam or Martin is qualified for the position.
___ 60. Education may be omitted from the resume that has no relation to the job being sought.
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___ 61. If a person is called upon to speak, they should think first of the objective of the speech.
___ 62. He gave the gift to the girl which he had tied with pretty blue ribbons.
___ 63. One of the students who is running for student body president has been disqualified.
___ 64. One of the reports that were sent to the stockholders received many negative comments.
___ 65. The report is on microfilm that reveals the alarming increase in employee turnover.
___ 66. Neither silence nor good suggestions are as effective as active listening.
Tense
Mark C if correct and I if incorrect. Make the corrections. Note: Learn the tense chart in BWB.

___ 67. I would have liked to have analyzed my audience better, but I ran out of time.
___ 68. The coach always stressed that practice made perfect.
___ 69. He has already gone to the meeting.
___ 70. The teacher constantly stressed that the four functions of management are planning, organizing, controlling, and leading.
___ 71. Kristy must have known that we loved chocolate-chip cookies.
___ 72. If I was he, I would demand that all formal reports would have a bibliography and a table of contents.
___ 73. I wish your secretary were errorless in her proofreading.
___ 74. A pie chart is used whenever percentage composition of variables is needed; use a line chart to show the movements of a continuous series of data over time.
___ 75. If I was going to take the test, I’d spend the most time studying the Punctuation and Agreement and
Reference sections.
Numbers
Mark C if correct and I if incorrect. Make the corrections.

___ 76. The Engineering Department has 9 more days to do the research.
___ 77. Their mortgage is a 30-year, fixed rate of 7%.
___ 78. The cost of the book is five dollars.
___ 79. The meeting adjourned at four-thirty p.m.
___ 80. The report is due on February 7th.
___ 81. 38 students tried to add the class 2 weeks into the semester.
___ 82. He’s going home on December 18, after finals end.
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___ 83. He’s going home on the 18 of December, after finals end.
___ 84. I found the reference I was looking for on page 9.
___ 85. The party starts at 7 p.m., but I’m planning to show up at 7:30.
___ 86. The party starts at 7 p.m., but I’m planning to show up at 8.
___ 87. Please attend the foundation’s holiday party at 6 o’clock.
___ 88. Our dinner checks amounted to $36.85, $29.00, and $42.01.
___ 89. After Thanksgiving, she gave each of her sons one-third of the food to take home.
___ 90. We sent 30 18-page documents for signature.
Capitalization
Mark C if correct and I if incorrect. Make the corrections.

___ 91. He went to Switzerland on his mission.
___ 92. The financial analyst submitted her report early.
___ 93. “That,” she said, “is the end of the story.”
___ 94. The soldiers fighting for the North wore blue uniforms.
___ 95. The students spoke with the Manager at Wal-Mart, who refused to allow them to perform a survey.
___ 96. The Speaker of the House announced the financial gift that was being given to our school.
___ 97. If you drive North on I-15, you’ll eventually come to Bountiful.
___ 98. At the devotional, it was announced that president James E. Faust would be the speaker.
___ 99. I’ll be getting my bachelor of science degree in August.
___ 100. We belong to The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints.

9/07

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