English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003
Questions
Chapter 11 Capitalization and Abbreviations
Part 4 A Writers Tools
True-False Questions
1. Capitalize all proper nouns.
2. Capitalize proper names and names of geographical places, specific historical events, eras, documents, languages, nationalities, countries, and races.
3. Capitalize the first word at the beginning of a sentence.
4. It’s not important to use capital letters consistently within a particular document.
5. Capitalize only the last part of a person’s name.
6. If a name begins with d’, de, or du, do not capitalize the prefix unless it is preceded by a first name or a title.
7. A person can always decide how to capitalize the words in his or her name.
8. Do not capitalize the names of any animals.
9. A personal name that is used as a common noun is capitalized, as in “Watt” and “Kelvin.”
10. Capitalize titles used before a person’s name.
11. Capitalize only the first part of a compound title, as in “Vice president.”
12. Capitalize titles that show family relationships when the title is used with a person’s name or in direct address.
13. Capitalize titles of parents and relatives not preceded by a possessive word (such as my ).
14. Capitalize the major words in titles of books, plays, movies, newspapers, and magazines.
15. Do not capitalize acronyms, abbreviations formed from the first letter of each word in a phrase.
16. Capitalize a compass point when it identifies a specific area of the country or refers to direction.
17. Capitalize religions and references to the Supreme Being, including the pronouns referring to the Supreme Being.
18. Capitalize proper adjectives formed from proper nouns. Always capitalize the prefix attached to a proper adjective.
19. An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Abbreviations start with a capital letter and end with a period.
20. Abbreviate social titles and titles of rank, academic degrees, and some historical periods.
Completion Questions
Select the word that best completes each sentence.
1. The reception will be held at the (vanderbilt, Vanderbilt) at 8:00 (p.m., P.M.).
2. The (Crab Nebula, crab nebula) star cluster was visible in the sky from our (Balcony, balcony).
3. The children’s book (author, Author) was thrilled to win a (McArthur, MCArthur, Mcarthur) Fellowship.
4. After the explosion, (I, i) quickly took cover.
5. The letter began (dear Ms. Snodgrass, Dear ms. Snodgrass, Dear Ms. Snodgrass).
6. The letter ended (Yours Very truly, yours very truly, Yours very truly,).
7. The (commencement, Commencement) speaker was Reggie Monsanto, (M.A., m.a.).
8. The bones dated back to 2,000 (b.C., B.C.).
9. We looked at apartments on Waverly (Blvd., blvd.). Smith (ste. Str., St.), and Dorothy (Dr., dr.)
10. The lumber was 4 (FT, ft., Fte.) long.
Multiple-Choice Questions
Select the best revision for each sentence.
1. The only four countries that start with the letter “D” are denmark, djibouti, dominica, and the dominican Republic.
(a) The only four Countries that start with the letter “D” are Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, and the Dominican Republic.
(b) The only four countries that start with the letter “D” are Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, and the Dominican republic.
(c) The only four Countries that start with the letter “D” are denmark, djibouti, dominica, and the dominican Republic.
(d) the only four countries that start with the letter “D” are Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, and the dominican Republic.
2. When first lady eleanor roosevelt received an alarming number of threatening letters soon after her husband became president at the height of the depression, the secret service insisted that she carry a pistol in her purse.
(a) When first lady Eleanor Roosevelt received an alarming number of threatening letters soon after her husband became president at the height of the Depression, the Secret Service insisted that she carry a pistol in her purse.
(b) When First lady Eleanor Roosevelt received an alarming number of threatening letters soon after her husband became President at the height of the depression, the secret service insisted that she carry a pistol in her purse.
(c) When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt received an alarming number of threatening letters soon after her husband became President at the height of the Depression, the Secret Service insisted that she carry a pistol in her purse.
(d) When First lady Eleanor Roosevelt received an alarming number of threatening letters soon after her husband became president at the height of the Depression, the secret service insisted that she carry a pistol in her purse.
3. Winston churchill, Franklin delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt were all Cousins through one connection or another.
(a) Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt were all cousins through one connection or another.
(b) Winston Churchill, Franklin delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt were all cousins through one connection or another.
(c) Winston churchill, Franklin delano roosevelt, theodore Roosevelt, and eleanor Roosevelt were all cousins through one connection or another.
(d) Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt were all Cousins through one connection or another.
4. After the civil war, the u.s. sued great britain for damages that were caused by them building ships for the confederacy.
(a) After the Civil War, the U.S. sued Great Britain for damages that were caused by them building ships for the Confederacy.
(b) After the civil war, the U.S. sued Great Britain for damages that were caused by them building ships for the Confederacy.
(c) After the Civil War, the U.S. sued Great britain for damages that were caused by them building ships for the Confederacy.
(d) After the Civil war, the U.S. sued Great Britain for damages that were caused by them building ships for the confederacy.
5. The U.S. originally asked for $1 Billion but settled on $25 Million.
(a) The U.S. originally asked for $1 billion but settled on $25 Million.
(b) The U.S. originally asked for $1 billion but settled on $25 million.
(c) The u.s. originally asked for $1 Billion but settled on $25 Million.
(d) the U.s. originally asked for $1 billion but settled on $25 million.
6. John quincy Adams took his last skinny-dip in the potomac on his Seventy-Ninth birthday.
(a) John quincy Adams took his last skinny-dip in the Potomac on his seventyninth birthday.
(b) John Quincy Adams took his last skinny-dip in the Potomac on his seventyninth birthday.
(c)John Quincy Adams took his last skinny-dip in the potomac on his seventyninth birthday.
(d) John Quincy adams took his last skinny-dip in the Potomac on his Seventyninth birthday.
7. The panama canal was excavated from the coasts inland; the final short segment was cleared by explosives detonated by president Woodrow Wilson, who sent the signal by wire from New York city.
(a) The Panama canal was excavated from the coasts inland; the final short segment was cleared by explosives detonated by President woodrow Wilson, who sent the signal by wire from New york City.
(b) The panama Canal was excavated from the coasts inland; the final short segment was cleared by explosives detonated by President Woodrow Wilson, who sent the signal by wire from new york city.
(c) The Panama Canal was excavated from the coasts inland; the final short segment was cleared by explosives detonated by President Woodrow Wilson, who sent the signal by wire from New York City.
(d) The Panama canal was excavated from the Coasts inland; the final short segment was cleared by explosives detonated by president Woodrow Wilson, who sent the signal by wire from New York city.
8. When john wilkes booth leaped onto the stage after shooting the president, he tripped—on the american flag.
(a) When John Wilkes Booth leaped onto the stage after shooting the President, he tripped—on the American flag.
(b) When John wilkes Booth leaped onto the stage after shooting the President, he tripped—on the American flag.
(c) When John Wilkes Booth leaped onto the stage after shooting the President, he tripped—on the American Flag.
(d) when John Wilkes Booth leaped onto the stage after shooting The President, he tripped—on the American Flag.
9. robert todd lincoln, son of president abraham lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three u.s. presidents: lincoln, garfield, and mckinley.
(a) Robert todd Lincoln, Son of President Abraham Lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three U.S. presidents: Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley.
(b) Robert Todd Lincoln, son of president Abraham Lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three U.S. presidents: Lincoln, Garfield, and MCKinley.
(c) Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three U.S. presidents: lincoln, garfield, and MCKinley.
(d) Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three U.S. presidents: Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley.
10. james k. polk was the only president to have been speaker of the house.
(a) James k. Polk was the only President to have been Speaker of the House.
(b) James K. Polk was the only president to have been Speaker Of The House.
(c) James k. Polk was the only President to have been Speaker Of The House.
(d) James K. Polk was the only President to have been Speaker of the House.