Standard or Non-?

When it comes to putting words together, the difference between correct and incorrect—or standard and nonstandard—can be subtle. For this month’s workout, we dip back into chapter 5, which covers grammar.

Can you tell good grammar from less than good? Take the quiz to find out—and to hone your skills.

Subscribers to The Chicago Manual of Style Online may click through to the linked sections of the Manual (cited in the answers). (We also offer a 30-day free trial of CMOS Online.)

Note: Style guides sometimes disagree. Except for a few details that can be verified in standard dictionaries and encyclopedias and other readily available sources, the answers in this quiz rely on the information in the 17th edition of CMOS.

Chicago Style Workout 76: Good Grammar?

1. The test would be simple for you or I.

Looks good.

It should be “me” instead of “I.”

2. I’ll talk to whoever will listen.

Looks good.

It should be “whomever” instead of “whoever.”

3. If Napoleon was in fact poisoned with arsenic, historians will need to reevaluate his associates.

Looks good.

It should be “were” instead of “was.”

4. The bride as well as her bridesmaids were dressed in mauve.

Looks good.

It would be better to use “and” instead of “as well as.”

5. My painting your fence depends on your paying me first.

Looks good.

It should be “Me painting” and “you paying.”

6. I looked for my lost keys in the sock drawer, the laundry hamper, the bathroom, and under the bed.

Looks good.

Additional prepositions are needed for parallel structure.

7. Our guests not only ate all the turkey and dressing but both pumpkin pies as well.

Looks good.

The phrase “not only” should be moved to follow the verb “ate.”

8. You need to take your car to the mechanic.

Looks good.

It should be “bring” instead of “take.”

9. Some countries are endemic for malaria.

Looks good.

It should be “Malaria is endemic in some countries.”

10. Don’t assume yours is the predominant point of view.

Looks good.

It should be “predominate.”

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TV quiz show cartoon by ONYXprj / Adobe Stock.

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