Search For
   In Page


Correct sample sentences

All of these sentences are correctly written:

1. Comma Usage and Sentence Structure

  • Scientists are excited about exploring Mars.
  • They don’t know if it ever had life.
  • Scientists are excited about exploring Mars, but they don’t know if it ever had life.
  • Scientists are excited about exploring Mars because they don’t know if it ever had life.
  • While scientists are excited about exploring Mars, they don’t know if it ever had life.
  • Scientists are excited about exploring Mars; they hope to find evidence of life.
  • Scientists are excited about exploring Mars; moreover, they hope to find evidence of life.
  • Although they haven’t slept in days, scientists are excited about exploring Mars.
  • Despite a lack of sleep and nutritious food, scientists feel excited about exploring Mars.
  • The performer swallows knives, forks, fire and glass.
  • The politician, who had been acquitted many times before, was found innocent.
  • The politician was found innocent.

2. It’s and Its

  • It’s a nice day outside.
  • The dog dropped its bone.

3. Their, There, and They’re

  • Their still sleeping dog lies there while they’re home.

4. Verb-Subject Agreement

  • The data do not support the conclusion.

7. Quotation marks

  • "I bought some eggs," she said.
  • She said, "I bought some eggs."
  • "I went," he said angrily, "to the store and bought some eggs."

8. Direct Quotes

  • According to the author, "The sun will rise tomorrow" and "life will go on."
  • According to the author, "Cows are big chunks of methane" or "little methane factories."
  • A recent study found that "cats are more likely to rule the world than dogs are."
  • A recent study suggested, "cats are more likely to rule the world than dogs are."
  • The psychologists studied "…the impact of having household pets on subjective reports of loneliness and depression."
  • The psychologists studied "…the impact of having household pets on…loneliness and depression."
  • The psychologists studied the affects of  "…having household pets on loneliness and depression."
  • The authors write, "Our study examines the impact of having household pets on subjective reports of loneliness and depression."
  • The study "…[examined] the impact of having household pets on subjective reports of loneliness and depression."
  • "Write [sic] now is the greatest moment in history."
  • "When she [Liz] looked up at the ceiling…"
  • "The bones become ‘brittle’ without proper nutrients."
  • The first thing the doctor asked was, "How are you feeling today?"
  • The doctor bounced into the room and said, "I feel great today!"
  • Who said, "I feel great today"?
  • We will take the information and predigest it--break it down into its smallest component fragments.
  • The car was going faster than a speeding bullet.
  • The above paragraph discussed "single quotes."
  • If you see a note such as "Define technical term," or "Subdivide complex question," it instructs you to write a definition question or do whatever the note calls for.
  • A typical table of contents would have one main heading, such as "Geriatrics," under which there would be about eight topics, each of which would contain about eight subtopics.

10. Colons and Semicolons to the Right of Quotation Marks

  • The doctor concluded, "nicotine can cause cancer"; cigarette manufacturers disagreed. Their own experts gave the following "testimony": nicotine doesn’t cause cancer.
  • Remember: Colons do not replace semicolons.
  • For example: You can use colons to indicate an example.
  • The members presenting a speech today include Harry Baxter, Ph.D.; Jillian Argyle, MD; and George Williamson, MD
  • You can use semicolons in place of a coordinating conjunction; semicolons can also replace periods.

12. Apostrophes and Plural Nouns

  • Look at Jonathon’s car.
  • Look at James’s car.
  • That is the kids’ playroom.
  • That is the children’s playroom.
  • This semester the students’ grades dropped considerably.
  • This semester the student’s grades dropped considerably.
  • The body and the mind’s connection to each other is still a debated topic.
  • The body’s and the mind’s reactions to the same medication can differ.
  • Next year she will have two Ph.D.'s.
  • Next year she will have two PhDs.
  • How many 5’s are in the number 5000?
  • How many a’s are in this sentence?

13. Commonly misplaced words

  • I would rather use the toothbrush than the comb to clean my teeth.
  • I would rather comb my hair, and then brush my teeth.
  • I would rather comb my hair than brush my teeth.
  • Except for the budget section, I accept your proposal.
  • One effect of a hole in the ozone layer could be increased skin cancer.
  • One result of a hole in the ozone layer could be increased skin cancer.
  • His house comprises bricks, plaster and wood.
  • His house is composed of bricks, plaster and wood.

Back to Contents

line