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About This Quiz
There are certain grammatical mistakes in this world that are so severe, they should be illegal (cc: misusing "your" and "you're.") They render you speechless, making you feel as if the world is on the brink of extinction and ... OK, maybe this is a bit melodramatic, but nonetheless, grammar mistakes are awful. And, worst of all, everyone is guilty of committing some pretty embarrassing errors, but let's not talk about it. Essays, tweets, reports ... It seems that no matter where we look, there's always some sort of mistake taunting us. As much as we hate to admit it, our elementary school teachers were right when they told us we'd better pay attention in class.
If you need reassurance that you won't repeat a big blunder or just want to test your skills for the fun of it, you've come to the right place. This quiz is full of terrifying mistakes that you'll have to identify, from sentence fragments and misplaced semicolons to improper diction and (gasp) missing apostrophes. So tuck in, put your thinking cap on, and get ready for a fun (or harrowing) grammatical ride. Oh, and if you get some answers wrong, nobody's judging you, we promise.
Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
The yellow shirt
Sentence fragments don't express complete ideas but are incorrectly written as if they're complete sentences. This option doesn't contain an actual subject or verb, so there isn't a period at the end.
Despite his reluctance, he bought the yellow shirt.
The yellow shirt was bought by him.
He didn't want it. He still, however, bought the yellow shirt.
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Which of the following shouldn't contain a semicolon?
I don't like running; I like walking.
I don't like running; but I like walking.
Semicolons separate two closely related independent clauses and lists containing internal punctuation, such as the third option. They aren't needed before coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet).
The recipe calls for cheese, any kind; milk, preferably low fat; and puff pastry.
I'm not sure how I feel about this; I'll have to think it over.
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Can you identify the run-on sentence?
I want to go out for dinner, I also want to go dancing.
Contrary to popular belief, run-on sentences don't always have to be long. Commas shouldn't separate two independent clauses. If there had been a coordinating conjunction between the two clauses, a comma would be fine because the conjunction would render the second dependent on the first.
The floor is wet so be careful but don't worry too much about it.
Whatever happens, happens.
My Tinder date went horribly and he kept on talking about how much he loves fettuccine and, honestly, I really don't know how I feel about it but we'll see.
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Which of the following is grammatically incorrect?
She was talking to my friend and I.
The pronoun "I" is a subject pronoun, meaning that it should be doing the action, not receiving it. While the second option sounds wrong, "me" is actually an object pronoun and therefore correct.
She was talking to my friend and me.
I was talking to her and her friend.
She and I were talking to her and her friend.
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Do you know which one isn't an object pronoun?
Us
It
They
"They" is always a subject and never receives the action. For example, it would be wrong to say, "Let's talk to they." Its object counterpart is "them" because it would be fine to say, "Let's talk to them."
Them
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Where is the apostrophe missing?
Womens rights are becoming increasingly important.
Since "women" is already plural, it wouldn't make sense for there to be a "S" and apostrophe at the end, as there normally is for plural possessive nouns. This rule also applies to "men." Use "women's."
This mistake is yours!
Its tail is wagging, how adorable.
I think this sweater is hers.
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Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
Running fast, the cat tried to leave the house.
Making an effort to keep quiet, the child waited for Santa.
Leaning in slightly, the letter was written by the man.
Dangling modifiers are descriptive phrases that make it unclear which noun is being described, and are therefore misplaced. With this error, it appears as if the letter itself was leaning in slightly.
Waking up abruptly, the woman heard a noise.
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What's wrong with this sentence? "She was eager to swim, trail hiking, learn French and would attempt to do all simultaneously.
Comma splice
Lack of parallel structure
When listing items, they should always be grammatically equal. This sentence should be, "She was eager to swim, trail hike and learn French, and would attempt to do all simultaneously." The last element, doing it simultaneously, is distinct in verb tense from the list, and is offset by an extra comma.
Incorrect verb tenses
Split infinitive
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Do you know what's wrong with this sentence? "He attempted to slowly drive on the highway but felt like he was in a hurry."
Split infinitive
While not the worst of sins, split infinitives happen when "to" is not followed directly by the verb. This sentence technically should be, "He attempted to drive slowly on the highway but felt like he was in a hurry."
Incorrect verb tenses
Missing comma before "but"
Sentence fragment
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Can you identify the option with the wrong word choice?
I reached the peak of the mountain!
She peeked at the gift.
You've piqued my interest in this topic.
The peek of the movie is in fifteen minutes, don't leave!
"Peak" refers to the highest or sharpest point, including the climax. "Peek" means "to look briefly at something," and "pique" denotes "to stimulate" or "to trigger." We hope this quiz is piquing your interest!
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Which of the following is correct?
Who did you decide to go with?
Who's pen is this?
To whom was the letter written?
It sounds weird, but "whom" is an object pronoun so it receives the action of the sentence. In this case, someone was written a letter, meaning they were the recipient of the action "to write."
Whose going to the party?
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One of these is correct, which is it?
Alot of time is spent wasted.
I love hot sauce allot.
I need to learn how to better all lot my money.
She is getting better at allotting her time to different tasks.
While not commonly used, "allot" means "to allocate" or "set aside." People sometimes omit the space in "a lot" but it's always needed. Grammar nerds, who allot their time to studying sentences, like that space a lot.
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What's wrong with this sentence? "Even though I have less friends than you, I still have an active social life. Last week, I did the following: ran, swam and had lunch at the local diner."
Incorrect colon use
Incorrect use of "less"
It sounds a bit funky, but "fewer" should precede "friends" because it's used in front of countable nouns. Comparatively, "less" modifies abstract nouns. For example, it would be correct to say, "I have less sympathy than you."
Incorrect comma use after "week"
Trick question, nothing's wrong!
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Can you tell us what's wrong with this sentence? "Looking between his shirts, the man couldn't decide whether to choose a formal or casual top. He ended up asking his wife, but she couldn't decide either."
Wrong use of "whether"
Wrong comma use before "but"
Wrong use of "but"
Wrong use of "between"
"Between" is used when discussing a clearly quantifiable group of nouns ("He couldn't decide between the four shirts.") "Among" is for an uncertain number of nouns that are part of a mass of objects ("He couldn't decide among all his shirts.")
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An option here is correct, do you know which one?
I'll go to the movies, than I'll get my manicure.
I like mayonnaise more then ketchup.
She's a better swimmer than her mom.
"Than" is used for comparison, while "then" denotes time. A good way to remember the difference is that "then" contains the word "hen," which is similar to a rooster, the bird that acts like an alarm clock for farmers in the morning.
That cake was way worse then the muffin.
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Which contains the wrong use of "effect"?
This activist is attempting to effect positive change.
Which effect are you hoping to achieve?
I think that this album will have a really big effect on my life.
That album effected me deeply.
"Effect" can either be a noun, meaning "consequence," or verb, meaning "to trigger," hence why the first option is correct despite looking off. If you want to say "to impact," use the verb "affect."
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Oh snap! Can you tell us why this sentence is wrong? "The amount of times I've called you is obscene! I'm not sure why you weren't answering me — make sure you hear your phone next time, please and thank you!"
Wrong use of the dash
Wrong comma use
Wrong use of "amount"
"Amount" precedes nouns that aren't countable, are abstract or are part of a mass group that's hard to measure. For example, "amount of water" and "amount of money" are correct. In contrast, "number" precedes nouns that are quantifiable, such as "number of lakes" and "number of bills."
Trick question, there's nothing wrong!
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Which of the following is incorrect?
She's insured the house so I think we're okay.
I can assure you that we'll arrive on time.
We can't ensure a proper turnout because of the rain.
I'm trying to assure that the broccoli is in fact cooked.
"Insure" means "to take out insurance," while ensure means "to make something certain" or "to guarantee." "Assure" denotes saying something confidently or making a promise.
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There's a mistake in this sentence. Do you know what it is? "The cat which has a gray tail is very adorable. I'm still not sure if I want to adopt her, but I'll definitely think about it. Regardless, thanks for your consideration, my friend."
Missing commas before and after "which has a gray tail"
There should be two commas surrounding "which has a gray tail." These commas are referred to as parenthetical commas because they encase non-essential information that you can remove without changing the sentence's grammatical correctness.
Unnecessary comma before "my friend"
Incorrect us of "but"
Incorrect use of "regardless"
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Can you identify the incorrect option?
That is such a lovely compliment you just gave me!
This cheese really complements the figs.
I hate complementing people, so I just send emojis.
Okay ya'll, this one's a bit crazy: "compliment" can either be a noun, like a statement praising someone, or a verb meaning "to express praise." Comparatively, "complement" is used for something that improves another thing or makes it more complete.
That wallpaper really complements the couch, I'm impressed.
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Do you know which one contains incorrect colon use?
I have a secret: despite what I said, I'm not actually a mermaid.
Remember that time when we: went diving, snorkeling and horseback riding?
Colons should always follow complete sentences or proclamations. While the last option doesn't start with an independent clause, it is a declaration. The other correct options contain clauses with colons that are interchangeable with periods, meaning the clauses express complete thoughts.
This is the thing: I don't know how to make lasagna, I'm so sorry.
We need the following: a table, lamp and chair.
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Which of the following contains an Oxford comma?
Look, no matter what happens, I still want my ten-piece nuggets, OK?
Be quiet, Tiffany! Be quiet! I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!
I specifically asked for a car, boat, and trunk. Is that too much to ask, or am I being unreasonable?
Ah, the Oxford comma: one of the most contested pieces of punctuation in history. Some say it's unnecessary, while others lose sleep over its absence. It's the comma you find (or sometimes don't) between the second and last elements in a list.
Despite the forecast, you still have to see your mother-in-law. I know, I know, believe me, I'm not happy about it.
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Can you identify the mistake in this sentence? "I'm not sure, because I don't know the answers. I could of found them earlier, but I was too lazy — next time will be different, I promise."
Unneeded comma before "because"
"Could of"
This also applies to "should of," "would of," and "must of": "could have" precedes verbs and is the correct term because "have" often accompanies verb conjugations, whereas "of" is a preposition.
Unneeded dash
Wrong use of "too"
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One of these is correct, can you tell us which one?
Look over their!
There right, you're wrong.
They're going to be here any minute.
"There" refers to a place, while "their" is a possessive pronoun and "they're" is a contraction for "they are." "They're getting their things over there" is a perfect example.
Their's one!
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Do you know the incorrect response?
She's a baker who likes to decorate cupcakes.
This is a view that looks phenomenal.
My mom is someone that likes to be there for me.
This is a grammar mistake that's unfortunately too prevalent. When referring to a person, "who" is the correct pronoun, whereas "that" is used for non-human nouns. Imagine saying, "A grammar mistake who's unfortunately too prevalent," that's actually kind of funny.
Oh man, we have a venue that's sure to be a hit.
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Which of the following is incorrect?
At first I couldn't decide but now I know.
"At first" is an introductory clause, which is always followed by a comma. Introductory clauses function in the same way as dependent clauses: they can't stand alone as a sentence, so they require some sort of punctuation to connect them to the independent clause.
The dog is very cute, which is definitely a bonus.
I still want to go, despite everything.
Despite everything, I still want to go.
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Which sentence contains the passive voice?
He ordered the winter tires but then changed his mind and asked the mechanic to keep the originals.
The garlic bread was placed at the table, before the spaghetti, and the father of the bride was inexplicably irate.
The passive voice is largely maligned, in part because it often makes sentences unnecessarily long and clunky. Passive voice constructions follow an "object + verb + subject model," whereas active voice is "subject + verb + sometimes object."
The movie is set in the 1970's but the acting is timeless, in part because it's so awful.
I made her promise not to tell anyone about that time I fell down the stairs in grade eight, but the next day everyone knew!
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Do you know the mistake in this sentence? "I, too, am really excited for this trip. I just hope I remember my hiking shoes. Irregardless, I'm sure I'll still enjoy myself. We're visiting one of the most fun places on Earth."
Wrong capitalization of "Earth"
Improper commas between "too"
Use of the word "irregardless"
No matter what anyone tells you, "irregardless" isn't actually a word — the correct term is "regardless." Irregardless, lots of people will still probably say it in the future. Oh wait...
Misspelling of "hiking"
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Can you tell us the wrong option?
Whatever happens, happens.
I'll be waiting here, too.
I don't know how to make fajitas; however, I will definitely find out soon.
I wouldn't consider this a mistake per say.
It's counter-intuitive, but "per say" is actually spelled "per se." It's maintained its original Latin spelling, possibly because it has nothing to do with saying anything and instead means "intrinsically" or "by and in itself."
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What's wrong with the following sentence? "I also think we should paint the living room yellow, but we need to be careful about whom we hire. As long as we exhibit do diligence, we'll be okay. I'm still not sure if it'd be better to go with a light or dark shade of yellow."
Incorrect use of "exhibit"
Missing comma after "light"
Unneeded comma after "diligence"
Misspelling of "do diligence"
A legal term, "do diligence" should be spelled as "due diligence." It refers to the precautions and discretion a business or person should apply before entering into an agreement with a third party.
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Which of the following is correct?
Thanks for all your hard work, Sarah.
A comma should precede the name of the person a speaker is talking to. Awkward situations could ensue without the comma. Think of, "We want to eat, grandma!" vs. "We want to eat grandma!" In the former, the speakers are obviously talking to the grandma, whereas the second refers to eating the grandma.
Thanks Sarah for all your hard work.
Thanks, Sarah for all your hard work.
Thanks for all your hard work Sarah.
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Which one contains correct internal quotations?
"My boss said, "Let's go!" That's when I knew we should leave."
"After I went for a jog, my mom told me [to clean my room.]"
"I looked at you and you said, 'There's hummus on your cheek.' That's when I knew we were soulmates."
When using a quotation within a quotation, only use single quotation marks around the internal expression. Just don't ask us what to do when using a quotation within a quotation within a quotation.
"You said, Don't worry, everything will be fine. "And then I drove into a ditch."
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Can you identify the wrong option?
First and foremost, I need to thank my mom.
Please be forthrite when answering questions.
Indeed, "forthrite" should be spelled as "forthright." Meaning "upfront" or "straightforward," it's probably only been used in the world a total of four times, but now we've made it five.
You aren't being forthcoming about eating the last slice of pizza.
My forearm hurts from playing too much badminton.
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Which of the following is correct?
Bill and Kate's house is so nice!
When two nouns share ownership of a common thing, only the second noun has to be possessive. When they each have their own respective things, both nouns should be possessive.
Bill and Kate's careers are so interesting!
Bill's and Kate's house is so nice!
Bill's and Kate careers are so interesting!
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Which option contains an incorrect compound adjective?
Her three-page paper is due tomorrow.
She is a horribly-behaved dog.
Compound adjectives are needed when two adjectives modify the same noun. No hyphenation is required in this option because "horribly" is an adverb that modifies "behaved" and not the noun.
We are in a French-speaking country.
Some middle-aged parents don't know how to connect with their young kids.
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You Got:
/35
