Semicolons and colons: The following text contains several errors in the use of semicolons and colons. Use proofreading symbols to make your corrections.
Japan has long been one of the most homogeneous of the modern industrial nations; many Japanese protect their cultural identity so strongly that foreigners are rarely allowed to feel a part of Japan, no matter how long they and their families remain in the country. Foreign nationals who make Japan their home are not required to send their children to school as Japanese parents must; in addition, non-Japanese are not covered by Japan’s national health insurance. Many foreign nationals, consequently, consider Japan only a temporary home. However, the Japanese population is getting older, with more retirees than new babies throughout the country: currently, the Japanese birthrate is one of the lowest in the world. To keep the economy alive and pay for pensions for retired workers and their families, Japan must find more workers. The United Nations now recommends that Japan begin to encourage immigration. Many Japanese emigrants in the early nineteenth century went to Brazil to work. In the 1990s, Japan began to allow Brazilians of Japanese descent to return to Japan on temporary work visas; today, there are a quarter of a million Brazilians in Japan, and many of them now hold permanent visas. Japan has two Brazilian television channels, four Brazilian newspapers, and forty-one Brazilian schools. Although many of these Brazilians have Japanese ancestors, they are culturally Brazilian, and the Brazilian and Japanese cultures occasionally clash. Some Japanese in cities with large Brazilian populations complain that Brazilians do not comply with Japanese regulations; some Brazilians say that the Japanese make them feel unwelcome. Accepting cultural diversity is rarely easy, and it may be more difficult in Japan, where a single culture has been dominant for centuries. One thing, however, is certain; Japan must accommodate foreign workers if the nation’s economy is to survive the population slump.
Apostrophes: The following paragraph contains several errors in the use of apostrophes. Use proofreading symbols to make your corrections.
There’s nothing that Jane and Angus like more than taking Toby to the park. They go whenever they can: whenever it’s sunny, you’ll find them there. Toby enjoys it, too. Dogs usually like to run around, and Toby’s no exception. Jane’s friends sometimes go to the park with their own dogs, but her friends’ dogs don’t behave as well as Toby. When Angus or Jane throws the ball, Toby catches it, and if he doesn’t catch it, he chases it to wherever it has gone. He then chews it until its seams are about to break. Jane and Angus only leave when the park’s gates are about to close. Commas:
There are days during these fall months when the air starts cool and warms to reveal a placid, tranquil autumn afternoon. On days such as these, I dream about packing my backpack, trekking up a winding path, and finding a serene spot where I can sleep among the trees. When I have the fortune to go camping, there is nothing I enjoy more than being able to wake up with the sunrise, unhindered by city smog, breaking lightly through the trees. Instead of the jarring alarm clock, my morning song is sung by the birds perched atop the canopy, whistling through the treetops. Not long ago, I was surprised to find I had students who thought my idea of relaxation in nature resembled a warped mind. While the forest conjured a yearning for fresh air for me, they were more likely to think of horror movies, the kinds where four teenagers go into the woods and three return. The Blair Witch Project, a mock- documentary about three teenagers looking for trouble in the woods, had just been released in theaters, creating a flood of slasher films with the woods as a primary setting. To them, I was asking for trouble every time I set foot in the forest, as if a chainsaw- wielding maniac, dark magic, or a serial killer were lurking behind every tree.
Combined: Much ink, sweat, and blood have been shed over the storied basketball rivalry between the Tar Heels of UNC and the Blue Devils of Duke. For many who side with one squad or the other, allegiance to one’s school requires a seething, fuming hatred of all things associated with the enemy. Ironically, the players themselves are often quite cordial with each other. Located eight miles apart on Highway 15-501, the two campuses are so close that players often eat at the same restaurants, shop in the same stores, and socialize in the same circles. But even as the campuses are close, there are very distinct differences. Carolina is the oldest public university in the nation; Duke is a private institution. Carolina is largely populated by native North Carolinians; Duke has a high percentage of out-of-state students. Carolina has the Old Well; Duke has the Duke Chapel Carolina was created on grounds fertilized by the joyous tears of the baby Jesus himself; Duke was hewn from a hardening lava oozing from the ground. Over the last decade, many of the nation’s leading geologists descended on Durham to analyze the origins of the original lava, which the scientists have named “Cocytuan Flume,” and have concluded that it originated from deep within the depths of the earth somewhere near great reserves of underground sources of misery and suffering. Okay, maybe I fudged a little on the facts. It’s near impossible for a fan to be impartial, even when writing a grammar exercise. I have a friend whose phone works as a top-notch communicator of taunting obscenities when Duke wins, but mysteriously fails to reach a signal when they lose. I wretch at the sight of royal blue: it makes my most primal hatreds rise within me. Truthfully, it is all I can do to not taunt students who enter my classroom wearing the hideous hue. No one who cheers for either team is immune. Even Roy Williams, Carolina’s venerable coach, took sly shot at Duke on the day of his hiring: “Now, I know Duke is a four letter word, but do you spell it D-U-K-E or D-O-O-K?” Soon November will roll around. With it will come the traditional signs of autumn in the South: beautiful leaves on the Blue Ridge Parkway, idiotic news stories of people buying up all the bread at the hint of snow, and long-held animosity erupting over a variation on a shade of blue.
1. Stephen King is considered by many to be one of the most prolific writers in America. Primarily, he is a writer of horror. (appositive with commas)
Stephen King, primarily a writer of horror, is considered by many to be one of the most prolific writers in America.
2. Many of King’s books have been converted into successful motion pictures. Some of these films have been among the most successful films in the horror genre. These films include Misery, The Shining, and Carrie. (paired dashes and colon) Some of King’s films—adapted from his books—have been among the most successful films in the horror genre: Misery, The Shining, and Carrie.
3. Stanley Kubirck’s adaptation of The Shining is perhaps one of King’s most famous film adaptations. Kubrick is also famous for films such as Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange. (paired dashes) Stanley Kubrick—who is also famous Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange— is responsible for adapting one of King’s most famous adaptations with The Shining.
4. In the book, Jack takes a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. His recent job as a debate coach ended when he beat a kid who had slashed his tires. (paired dashes) In the book Jack—having recently lost his debate coach job for beating a kid who slashed his tires—takes a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel.
5. Danny is the son of Jack and Wendy. Danny has telepathic abilities and often reads his parents thoughts. (semicolon or appositive with commas) Danny, the son of Jack and Wendy, has telepathic abilities and often reads his parents’ thoughts.
6. The Overlook is a fancy resort hotel. Due to its locations on snow, mountain roads, it is cut off from most transportation all winter long. (paired dashes) The Overlook—cut off from most transportation all winter long due to its snowy mountain location—is a fancy resort hotel.
7. The film version depicts Danny as having many strange behaviors. He sees blood running flowing down the halls and chants “Red Rum”. He also goes into trancelike states and has an imaginary friend named Tony. (colon) The film depicts Danny as having many strange behaviors: seeing blood flowing down the halls, chanting “Red Rum,” going into trancelike states, and imagining a friend named Tony.
8. Generally speaking, King’s film adaptations are not as violent as the original books. The protagonist in the film Misery has his ankle crushed while it is chopped off and seared in the book. The protagonist is an author. (semicolon and appositive with commas)
Generally speaking, King’s film adaptations are not as violent as the original books; the protagonist in the film Misery, an author, has his ankle crushed while it is chopped off and seared in the book.
9. King is a life-long Red Sox fan. Red Sox fans are superstitious by nature. King wrote a book called The Girl who loved Tom Gordon. Tom Gordon was the Red Sox closer and he suffered a season-ending injury early the next year. (two sentences…your choice) As a life-long Red Sox fan, superstitious by nature, King wrote a book called The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon; the next year, Gordon, the Red Sox closer, suffered a season-ending injury.
10. King was once run over in rural Maine near his home. King later described the man in his interview as a quirky rural Mainer with two Rottweilers in his van. King later said the guy reminded him of characters in his book. (semicolon, dash)
King was once run over in rural Maine near his home; he later described the man in his interview as a quirky rural Mainer with two Rottweilers in his van—like a character from his books.