The following exercises help you improve your knowledge of and power over English grammar, mechanics, and usage. Turn to the Handbook of Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage at the end of this book and review all of Sections 2.10 (Quotation Marks), 2.11 (Parentheses), and 2.12 (Ellipses). Then look at the following 10 items and indicate the preferred choice in the following groups of sentences.

i.

a. Be sure to read (How to Sell by Listening) in this month’s issue of Fortune.

b. Be sure to read “How to Sell by Listening” in this month’s issue of Fortune.

c. Be sure to read “How to Sell by Listening . . . ” in this month’s issue of Fortune.

ii.

a. Her response . . . see the attached memo . . . is disturbing.

b. Her response (see the attached memo) is disturbing.

c. Her response “see the attached memo” is disturbing.

iii.

a. We operate with a skeleton staff during the holidays

(December 21 through January 2).

b. We operate with a skeleton staff during the holidays

“December 21 through January 2”.

c. We operate with a skeleton staff during the holidays

(December 21 through January 2.)

iv.

a. “The SBP’s next conference . . .” the bulletin noted,

“. . . will be held in Minneapolis.”

b. “The SBP’s next conference,” the bulletin noted, “will be held in Minneapolis.”

c. “The SBP’s next conference,” the bulletin noted, “will be held in Minneapolis”.

v.

a. The term “up in the air” means “undecided.”

b. The term “up in the air” means undecided.

c. The term up in the air means “undecided.”

vi.

a. Her assistant (the one who just had the baby) won’t be back for four weeks.

b. Her assistant (the one who just had the baby), won’t be back for four weeks.

c. Her assistant . . . the one who just had the baby . . . won’t be back for four weeks.

vii.

a. “Ask not what your country can do for you,” begins a famous John Kennedy quotation.

b. “. . . Ask not what your country can do for you” begins a famous John Kennedy quotation.

c. “Ask not what your country can do for you . . .” begins a famous John Kennedy quotation.

viii.

a. Do you remember who said, “And away we go?”

b. Do you remember who said, “And away we go”?

ix.

a. Refinements may prove profitable. 

b. Refinements may prove profitable. 

x.

a. The resignation letter begins, “Since I’ll never regain your respect . . .,” and goes on to explain why that’s true.

b. The resignation letter begins, “Since I’ll never regain your respect, . . .” and goes on to explain why that’s true.

c. The resignation letter begins, “Since I’ll never regain your respect . . .” and goes on to explain why that’s true.