Here’s a different kind of Christmas quiz: Usage questions with a holiday theme. Correct the errors in the sentences below. (Some items don’t have errors.) Scroll down for the answers, and have fun!
Part I Usage Errors
1. Last night I ran out of scotch tape while I was wrapping some gifts.
2. Two Christmas’ ago, each of the children received a new bicycle.
3. We’re invited to the Smith’s annual Christmas Eve party.
4. Aunt Carol gave us a beautiful pointsetta again this year.
5. Because some of our friends don’t celebrate Christmas, I always choose cards with a “Seasons Greetings” message.
Part II Excerpts from Christmas Songs
6. “God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay”
7. “Rudolph the red nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose”
8. “Hark, the herald angles sing, glory to the new-born King”
9. “The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay”
10. “It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas, everywhere you go”
ANSWERS
1. Last night I ran out of Scotch tape while I was wrapping some gifts. (Brand names are always capitalized)
2. Two Christmases ago, each of the children received a new bicycle. (To form the plural of a word ending in “s,” add “es”)
3. We’re invited to the Smiths’ annual Christmas Eve party. (“Party of the Smiths”: Put the apostrophe after the final “s”)
4. Aunt Carol gave us a beautiful poinsettia again this year. (Be careful not to misspell poinsettia)
5. Because some of our friends don’t celebrate Christmas, I always choose cards with a “Season’s Greetings” message. (“Greetings of the Season”: Put the apostrophe after the “n.”)
Part II Excerpts from Christmas Songs
6. “God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay” (It’s not a song about “merry gentlemen”: In this old song, the lyrics hope the men will “rest merry.”)
7. “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose” (Use a hyphen. He’s not a red reindeer or a nosed reindeer.)
8. “Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the new-born King” (Angels, not angles.)
9. “The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay” (Correct! The past tense of lie is lay.)
10. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go” (A lot is always two words: No exceptions.)
How did you do?
