All GMAT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #22 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Levi said, "Albert Einstein said, "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." "
"Albert Einstein said, "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." "
"Albert Einstein said, 'Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.' "
"Albert Einstein said 'Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.' "
"Albert Einstein said "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." "
"Albert Einstein said: "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." "
"Albert Einstein said, 'Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.' "
This sentence contains an error in the usage of quotation marks. Quotations within quotations must use single quotation marks. All other rules for quoting still apply. In this case, the quote should be introduced with a comma. The correct choice is, " "Albert Einstein said, 'Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.' " "
Example Question #711 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the underlined choices repeats the answer as it is written.
Did Larry just say, "I'm going to go see the Queen?"
Did Larry just say, "I'm going to go see the Queen"?
Did Larry just say, "I'm going to go see the Queen,"?
Did Larry just say, "I'm going to go see the Queen?"
Did Larry just say: "I'm going to go see the Queen?"
Did Larry just say "I'm going to go see the Queen?"
Did Larry just say, "I'm going to go see the Queen"?
The error in the above sentence is in the placement of the question mark. Larry's statement is not the question—the question is if Larry said the statement. Therefore, we need to remove the question mark from "I'm going to see the Queen?" and place it outside the second quotation mark to properly denote the correct question (Did Larry just say, "I'm going to go see the Queen"?)
Example Question #23 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Barbara heard that Carlton "would be coming to town soon."
that Carlton: "would be coming to town soon."
that Carlton, "would be coming to town soon."
that Carlton would be coming to town soon.
that Carlton 'would be coming to town soon.'
that Carlton, 'would be coming to town soon.'
that Carlton would be coming to town soon.
This sentence misuses quotation marks. The phrase "that Carlton would be coming to town soon" is an indirect statement; it is NOT a direct quotation. Quotations should not be used with indirect statements, so the correct choice is, "that Carlton would be coming to town soon."
Example Question #24 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
He spent much time reading "Jane Eyre" because it was his favorite book.
reading Jane Eyre because it was his favorite book.
reading JANE EYRE because it was his favorite book.
reading Jane Eyre because it was his favorite book.
reading "Jane Eyre" because it was his favorite book.
reading 'Jane Eyre' because it was his favorite book.
reading Jane Eyre because it was his favorite book.
This sentence misuses quotation marks. Titles of books should be underlined or italicized. The correct choice is, "reading Jane Eyre because it was his favorite book."
Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre was published in 1847.
Example Question #25 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Jacob 'studied' for his History test by watching movies set in the time period the test would cover.
Jacob studied for his History test by watching movies
Jacob "studied" for his History test by watching movies
Jacob "studied" for: his History test by watching movies
Jacob "studied" for his History test, by watching movies
Jacob 'studied' for his History test by watching movies
Jacob "studied" for his History test by watching movies
This sentence misuses quotation marks. Single quotation marks are only used when quoting something within a quotation. It is clear that quotation marks are necessary here in order to indicate that Jacob is not actually studying, but just watching movies, but no other changes are necessary. The correct choice is, "Jacob "studied" for his History test by watching movies."
Example Question #26 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Mickey told Stephanie that 'he would help her complete the project on Tuesday.'
that, 'he would help her complete the project on Tuesday.'
that he would help her complete the project on Tuesday.
that 'he would help her complete the project on Tuesday.'
that, "he would help her complete the project on Tuesday."
that "he would help her complete the project on Tuesday."
that he would help her complete the project on Tuesday.
This sentence misuses quotation marks in two ways:
- Single quotation marks should only be used within an already existing quotation.
- Quotation marks are not necessary because "he would help her complete the project on Tuesday" is not a direct quote.
The phrase "he would help her complete the project on Tuesday" is an indirect statement; quotation marks are never used for such statements and are only used to surround direct quotes or special words.
The correct choice is, "that he would help her complete the project on Tuesday."
Example Question #27 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Michelle and her friends loved listening to the song Hey Jude.
her friends loved listening to the song, "Hey Jude."
her friends loved listening to the song: Hey Jude.
her friends loved listening to the song "Hey Jude."
her friends loved listening to the song Hey Jude.
her friends loved listening to the song "Hey Jude".
her friends loved listening to the song "Hey Jude."
This sentence does not contain quotation marks where necessary: song titles should always be surrounded by quotation marks. Note that you should not add a comma before the song title and that ending punctuation (in this case, the period) should always be on the inside of quotation marks. The correct choice is, "her friends loved listening to the song "Hey Jude." "
Example Question #28 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The title of the poem, Spring, confused many of the students since the poem mentioned nothing about the weather.
The title of the poem, "Spring," confused many of the students
The title of the poem, Spring, confused many of the students
The title of the poem, "Spring", confused many of the students
The title of the poem, Spring, confused many of the students
The title of the poem, "Spring", confused many of the students
The title of the poem, "Spring," confused many of the students
This sentence does not contain quotation marks where it is necessary. Since the word "Spring" is the name of the poem, it should be in quotations. Note: it is books and complete works that should be underlined or italicized and you should never underline/italicize and quote a title. Also note that one choice is incorrect because the comma appears on the outside of the quotation marks after the word "Spring." Ending punctuation must always appear inside of quotation marks. The correct choice is, "The title of the poem, "Spring," confused many of the students."
Example Question #29 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
According to many, the book "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a literary classic.
the book: "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a literary classic.
the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a literary classic.
the book To Kill A Mockingbird is a literary classic.
the book: To Kill A Mockingbird is a literary classic.
the book "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a literary classic.
the book To Kill A Mockingbird is a literary classic.
This sentence misuses quotation marks. Titles of full books should never be surrounded by quotation marks; they should be italicized or underlined. The choice that fixes this issue is, "the book To Kill A Mockingbird is a literary classic."
Example Question #31 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Edgar Allen Poe's short story, The Tell-Tale Heart, is quite famous.
short story, The Tell-Tale Heart, is quite famous
short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart," is quite famous
short story, The Tell-Tale Heart, is quite famous
short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart," is quite famous
short story, The Tell-Tale Heart, is quite famous
short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart," is quite famous
This sentence does not use quotation marks where necessary. Quotation marks are always used around the titles of short stories, poems, excerpts, and so on. Note that ending punctuation should appear within quotation marks, so the comma at the end of the clause should appear within the ending quotation mark. The correct choice is, "short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart," is quite famous."