This short quiz will help you sharpen your writing skills. Answers are posted below.

PART I  What improvements do these sentences need?

1. Gratton said he heard a scuffle in the men’s room. Upon hearing this, I entered the men’s room and searched it. I found a bloody knife in a trash container.
2. During the search I also found: a rag covered with blood and an empty whiskey bottle.
3.  Bateman sounded angry when I questioned him about the scuffle.

Part II  Choose the correct word:

1. The uniform was missing one of its/it’s buttons.
2. I told Perkins to breath into the tube.

ANSWERS

PART I

1. Gratton said he heard a scuffle in the men’s room. I searched the men’s room and found a bloody knife in a trash container.  [Omit “upon hearing this” and “I entered the men’s room.” Both actions are obvious.]
2. No colon: During the search I also found a rag covered with blood and an empty whiskey bottle. [Don’t use a colon unless the sentence stops, like this one: “During the search I also found something important: a rag covered….”]
3.  Bateman called me a stupid pig and spat on the ground when I questioned him about the scuffle. [“Sounded angry” is an opinion. Write down what you saw and heard Bateman do.]

Part II

1. The uniform was missing one of its buttons. [It’s means “it is.” Its (possessive) works like his: no apostrophe.]
2. I told Perkins to breathe into the tube. [Breath is a thing: “Take a deep breath.” Breathe is an action.]

How did you do?