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NVRA Realtime Verbatim Reporter study materials
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NVRA Realtime Verbatim Reporter practice questions

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Question 1Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader breaks off a character's speech mid-sentence to signal an interruption by another speaker. Which punctuation mark should the realtime reporter insert at the break?

  1. an ellipsis
  2. an em dash Correct answer.
  3. a semicolon
  4. a comma

Explanation

An em dash is the conventional mark for a sudden interruption or abrupt cutoff in literary dialogue. An ellipsis signals a trailing-off or an omission, while a semicolon and a comma do not mark interrupted speech.

Question 2Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates the phrase 'a well known author' immediately before the noun it modifies. Which rendering should the reporter produce in the literary transcript?

  1. a wellknown author
  2. a well known-author
  3. a well-known author Correct answer.
  4. a well known author

Explanation

A compound modifier placed before the noun it modifies is normally hyphenated, so 'well-known author' is the standard literary rendering. The hyphen links the words that together describe the noun; without it, the phrase reads as two separate modifiers.

Question 3Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

The reader dictates a line of dialogue followed by an attribution: the spoken words are 'I cannot go' and the attribution is 'she said.' Which rendering correctly punctuates the quoted speech and attribution in literary prose?

  1. "I cannot go" - she said.
  2. "I cannot go"; she said.
  3. "I cannot go." she said.
  4. "I cannot go," she said. Correct answer.

Explanation

When a speech tag follows a quoted sentence, a comma replaces the period inside the closing quotation mark, and the tag begins with lowercase 'she.' A period would wrongly separate the quotation from its attribution, a semicolon is not used for speech tags, and an em dash would imply an interruption or dramatic pause not present in the dictation.

Question 4Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

A dictated literary passage contains a character quoting another speaker inside double quotation marks. Which rendering correctly shows the nested quotation in standard American literary style?

  1. "She told me, 'Leave now.'" Correct answer.
  2. 'She told me, "Leave now."'
  3. "She told me, "Leave now.""
  4. "She told me, «Leave now.»"

Explanation

In standard American style, the outer quotation takes double marks and a quotation nested inside it takes single marks, with the period kept inside the inner closing quote. Reversing the hierarchy, repeating double marks at both levels, or substituting guillemets does not follow that convention.

Question 5Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

A dictated literary sentence lists three titles, and each title contains an internal comma. Which instruction should the reporter follow to keep the series unambiguous in the transcript?

  1. separate them with commas
  2. separate them with both commas and semicolons
  3. separate them with semicolons Correct answer.
  4. separate them with colons

Explanation

Semicolons separate items in a series when the items themselves contain commas, because they preserve the boundaries between the titles. Commas alone would blur those boundaries, colons introduce rather than separate list items, and mixing commas with semicolons defeats the purpose of clear separation.

Question 6Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, two characters exchange brief lines of dialogue and the reader pauses only long enough to breathe between speakers. How should the verbatim reporter handle each change of speaker in the realtime transcript?

  1. Separate the two speakers with semicolons inside one paragraph.
  2. Indent only when the speaker's name is dictated.
  3. Run both speakers' lines together in one paragraph.
  4. Start a new paragraph at each change of speaker. Correct answer.

Explanation

In dictated literary dialogue every change of speaker begins a new paragraph, however brief the lines may be, because the paragraph break is the reader's main cue to who is talking. Run-in lines and semicolons blur the speaker boundary and are not part of standard dialogue formatting. The absence of a speech tag does not alter the rule.

Question 7Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

A dictated line of dialogue does not end abruptly; the character's voice fades and the reader lets the words die away before resuming narration. Which punctuation mark should close that line in the verbatim transcript?

  1. An em dash
  2. An ellipsis Correct answer.
  3. A colon
  4. A semicolon

Explanation

An ellipsis marks speech that trails off or falters and never reaches its end. The reporter should not substitute an em dash, since that signals an abrupt cut-off or interruption, which the stem explicitly rules out.

Question 8Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

The reader dictates a literary sentence describing gear that belongs to more than one soldier, using the plural possessive. Which rendering should the verbatim reporter key in?

  1. the soldiers' gear Correct answer.
  2. the soldiers gear
  3. the soldiers's gear
  4. the soldier's gear

Explanation

A plural noun ending in s forms its possessive with an apostrophe placed after that s, so the plural of soldier becomes soldiers'. An extra s is added only for plurals that do not end in s, as in men's or children's.

Question 9Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

A dictated literary passage contains "The senator who opposed the bill resigned" and later the same words with commas set around "who opposed the bill." Which distinction must the verbatim reporter preserve by keeping or omitting those commas?

  1. Whether the senator stepped down before or after the bill was finally voted on
  2. Whether the verb resigned works transitively or intransitively in the sentence
  3. Whether the sentence as written is compound or complex in its grammatical structure
  4. Whether the clause restricts which senator is meant or only adds description Correct answer.

Explanation

Commas around who opposed the bill make the clause nonrestrictive: it merely adds information about a senator already identified. Without the commas the same clause is restrictive and tells the reader which senator is meant, so the reporter must reproduce the dictated comma choice exactly.

Question 10Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence with a slight pause after 'finished': 'The draft was finished, however, the author refused to submit it.' Which rendering should the realtime verbatim reporter produce?

  1. The draft was finished; however, the author refused to submit it. Correct answer.
  2. The draft was finished - however, the author, refused to submit it.
  3. The draft was finished: however the author refused to submit it.
  4. The draft was finished, however, the author refused to submit it.

Explanation

A conjunctive adverb such as 'however' joining two independent clauses is preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma. A comma alone creates a comma splice, and a colon does not replace the semicolon in this contrast. The em dash version here also inserts a comma between subject and verb.

Question 11Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates the literary sentence 'He called the proposal unworkable' and signals that 'unworkable' is quoted. In American book style, which rendering should the verbatim reporter produce?

  1. He called the proposal "unworkable,".
  2. He called the proposal "unworkable." Correct answer.
  3. He called the proposal "unworkable".
  4. He called the proposal 'unworkable.'

Explanation

In American style, a period that ends a sentence also goes inside the closing double quotation mark when the final element is quoted. Double quotation marks are the default for a quoted word in literary prose, while single marks are reserved for a quotation within a quotation.

Question 12Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader pauses after 'manuscript' in this sentence: 'The editor read the manuscript and returned it with notes.' Which rendering should the realtime verbatim reporter produce?

  1. The editor read the manuscript, returned it with notes.
  2. The editor read the manuscript; returned it with notes.
  3. The editor read the manuscript and returned it with notes. Correct answer.
  4. The editor read the manuscript, and returned it with notes.

Explanation

The two verbs 'read' and 'returned' share the subject 'editor', so they form a compound predicate rather than two independent clauses. A comma is not used before the second verb, and a semicolon would wrongly suggest a new independent clause. A dictated pause alone does not justify punctuation.

Question 13Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates a literary sentence naming a short story: 'She recommended the short story The Lottery.' In American book style, which rendering should the verbatim reporter produce?

  1. She recommended the short story 'The Lottery'.
  2. She recommended the short story "The Lottery." Correct answer.
  3. She recommended the short story titled The Lottery.
  4. She recommended the short story *The Lottery*.

Explanation

In American book style, titles of short works such as short stories are enclosed in double quotation marks, while book-length works are italicized. The sentence period follows the title inside the closing quotation mark.

Question 14Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers a split quotation: 'The ending is too neat,' the critic said, 'for a first novel.' Which rendering should the realtime verbatim reporter produce?

  1. "The ending is too neat," the critic said "for a first novel."
  2. "The ending is too neat," the critic said, "for a first novel." Correct answer.
  3. "The ending is too neat," the critic said, "for a first novel,".
  4. "The ending is too neat", the critic said, "for a first novel".

Explanation

A split quotation keeps each spoken segment inside its own pair of double quotation marks. The first segment ends with a comma inside the closing quote, the attribution is followed by a comma, and the final period rests inside the last closing quote. Because this is realtime verbatim work, the reporter applies those marks as dictated rather than editing afterward.

Question 15Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this line of dialogue: 'Tell me Marla what you saw.' Marla is the person being addressed, and the reader does not pause around the name. Which instruction should the verbatim reporter follow?

  1. Insert a comma only after 'Marla' and leave the word before it unpunctuated.
  2. Leave the line unpunctuated because no pause was dictated around 'Marla'.
  3. Place a comma before and after 'Marla'. Correct answer.
  4. Insert a comma only before 'Marla' and leave the word after it unpunctuated.

Explanation

A name used in direct address is a vocative and must be enclosed by commas when it falls inside a sentence; the reporter supplies punctuation without altering the dictated words. The lack of an audible pause does not remove the need for the commas.

Question 16Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates this literary sentence without a pause after 'station': 'Walking to the station she noticed the lights go out.' Which rendering correctly punctuates the opening participial phrase?

  1. Walking, to the station, she noticed the lights go out.
  2. Walking to the station; she noticed the lights go out.
  3. Walking to the station she noticed, the lights go out.
  4. Walking to the station, she noticed the lights go out. Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase is set off from the main clause by a comma; 'Walking to the station' modifies 'she,' so the comma belongs immediately after 'station.' A semicolon would wrongly divide a dependent phrase from its main clause.

Question 17Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, a passage quotes an old letter: 'He told me [his] sister would arrive.' The word in brackets was supplied by the novelist because the original letter used only a pronoun. In verbatim literary dictation, what does the bracketed word signal?

  1. An editorial insertion clarifies or supplies a word within quoted material. Correct answer.
  2. The word is a stage direction that the typesetter should set in italics throughout the quoted letter.
  3. The word is an aside spoken by the narrator outside the quotation and should be set off by dashes.
  4. The reporter has misheard the dictated word and should replace it with a guess before filing.

Explanation

Brackets within a quotation mark an editorial addition or clarification that was not in the original source; the reporter transcribes the bracketed word as dictated. Parentheses would be part of the quoted text itself, not a signal of editorial intervention.

Question 18Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers one sentence containing two independent clauses: 'The rain stopped the travelers pressed on.' The clauses are parallel in weight, the second does not explain or list the first, and the reader intends a single sentence. Which mark should the reporter place at the break?

  1. A colon, because the second clause completes the thought of the first and therefore introduces it.
  2. A comma, because closely related independent clauses may be joined by a comma when the pause is brief enough.
  3. An em dash, because a dramatic pause between independent clauses should replace ordinary sentence punctuation.
  4. A semicolon, because it joins two independent clauses without a conjunction. Correct answer.

Explanation

A semicolon is the standard mark for joining two independent clauses that remain one sentence and are not connected by a coordinating conjunction. A comma alone would create a comma splice, while a colon or dash would imply a closer explanatory or dramatic relationship than the dictated sentence supports.

Question 19Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, a character's uninterrupted speech runs across three paragraphs. The reader pauses at each paragraph break and does not signal a new speaker. How should the verbatim reporter handle quotation marks?

  1. Open and close quotation marks in every paragraph so that each paragraph is visibly self-contained and balanced.
  2. Open quotation marks only at the first paragraph and close them at the end of each paragraph to show the pauses.
  3. Use no quotation marks after the first paragraph because the reader has not signaled a new speaker or a new scene.
  4. Open a quotation mark at the start of each paragraph and close it only at the end of the final paragraph. Correct answer.

Explanation

When a single speaker's quotation continues across paragraph breaks, each new paragraph opens with a quotation mark to remind readers that the speech continues, but no closing mark appears until the speech ends. Closing each paragraph would wrongly signal the end of the quotation.

Question 20Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence: 'The house lost its roof in the storm.' Which rendering should the verbatim reporter produce?

  1. The house lost its's roof in the storm.
  2. The house lost it's roof in the storm.
  3. The house lost its' roof in the storm.
  4. The house lost its roof in the storm. Correct answer.

Explanation

The possessive pronoun 'its' never takes an apostrophe; 'it's' is only a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.' In verbatim literary dictation the two sound identical, so the reporter must use the grammar of the sentence to choose the possessive form.

Question 21Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates the phrase 'twenty one' in this literary sentence: 'She waited twenty one years for an answer.' Which rendering of the number should appear in the transcript?

  1. twenty-one years
  2. twenty-one years Correct answer.
  3. twentyone years
  4. twenty one years

Explanation

Compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine are hyphenated in literary prose. The hyphen joins the tens and units into one number; an em dash would mark a break, not a compound.

Question 22Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers one sentence with a single subject and two verbs: 'She opened the letter and read it aloud.' Which punctuation should the reporter use before 'and'?

  1. She opened the letter; and read it aloud.
  2. She opened the letter and read it aloud. Correct answer.
  3. She opened the letter-and read it aloud.
  4. She opened the letter, and read it aloud.

Explanation

When one subject governs two verbs, the result is a compound predicate, not two independent clauses. No comma or semicolon should separate the verbs before 'and'; such punctuation would incorrectly suggest a clause boundary.

Question 23Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, a character speaks this line: 'Between you and me, the ending is weak.' Which rendering correctly observes pronoun case in the dialogue?

  1. Between you and myself, the ending is weak.
  2. Between yourself and me, the ending is weak.
  3. Between you and I, the ending is weak.
  4. Between you and me, the ending is weak. Correct answer.

Explanation

The preposition 'between' takes the objective case, so 'me' is correct rather than 'I.' Reflexive forms such as 'myself' and 'yourself' require a reflexive antecedent and are not the neutral object of a preposition here.

Question 24Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates this literary sentence: 'The manuscript was late however the editor accepted it.' Which punctuation correctly joins the two independent clauses?

  1. The manuscript was late; however, the editor accepted it. Correct answer.
  2. The manuscript was late; however the editor accepted it.
  3. The manuscript was late, however, the editor accepted it.
  4. The manuscript was late however, the editor accepted it.

Explanation

A conjunctive adverb such as 'however' joins two independent clauses with a semicolon before it and a comma after it. A comma before 'however' creates a comma splice, while omitting the comma after it obscures the interruptive force of the adverb.

Question 25Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence without a pause after 'said': 'Marta said The train leaves at noon.' Which realtime rendering correctly introduces the direct quotation?

  1. Marta said, “The train leaves at noon”.
  2. Marta said “The train leaves at noon.”
  3. Marta said; “The train leaves at noon.”
  4. Marta said, “The train leaves at noon.” Correct answer.

Explanation

In U.S. literary manuscript style, a comma sets off a speaker attribution from a direct quotation, and the terminal period stays inside the closing quotation marks. The attribution is not joined to the quotation with a semicolon, and the opening quote needs the comma before it.

Question 26Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence: 'The novelist final draft was lost in the fire.' The reader does not signal punctuation. Which rendering correctly marks the singular possessive?

  1. The novelist final’s draft was lost in the fire.
  2. The novelist’s final draft was lost in the fire. Correct answer.
  3. The novelists final draft was lost in the fire.
  4. The novelists’ final draft was lost in the fire.

Explanation

A singular noun takes an apostrophe plus s to show possession: 'novelist's.' The plural possessive would put the apostrophe after the s, but the dictated sentence refers to one novelist and one draft.

Question 27Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader delivers this line of literary dialogue: 'Did you finish the chapter she asked.' The reader pauses only after 'chapter.' Which rendering correctly punctuates the question and the attribution?

  1. “Did you finish the chapter?” she asked?
  2. “Did you finish the chapter,” she asked?
  3. “Did you finish the chapter?” she asked. Correct answer.
  4. “Did you finish the chapter?”, she asked.

Explanation

A question mark already closes the quoted question, so it replaces the comma that would normally precede the attribution. The question mark stays inside the quotation marks, and the attribution that follows begins lowercase and ends with a period.

Question 28Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, a character says: 'My father always told me Never sign a contract you have not read.' The reader indicates that 'Never sign a contract you have not read' is a quotation nested inside the character's spoken line. Which rendering correctly marks the nested quotation in U.S. style?

  1. “My father always told me, ‘Never sign a contract you have not read.’” Correct answer.
  2. “My father always told me, ‘Never sign a contract you have not read’.”
  3. “My father always told me, Never sign a contract you have not read.”
  4. “My father always told me “Never sign a contract you have not read.””

Explanation

In U.S. style, a quotation nested inside a line of dialogue takes single quotation marks, while the surrounding spoken line keeps double quotation marks. Because the nested words form a complete quoted sentence, the period sits inside the single quotation marks and before the outer closing double quote.

Question 29Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, one character is cut off mid-sentence by another speaker. The reader delivers 'I was going to tell you' and then stops abruptly; the next line is a different speaker. Which realtime rendering best follows standard literary convention for an interrupted line?

  1. “I was going to tell you-” Correct answer.
  2. “I was going to tell you,”
  3. “I was going to tell you...”
  4. “I was going to tell you.”

Explanation

An em dash at the end of a spoken line signals an abrupt interruption by another speaker, so it fits the cut-off delivery described. An ellipsis would suggest the voice fading or trailing off, and a comma or period would make the line sound completed.

Question 30Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers the sentence 'The reviews had a strong effect on sales.' Which rendering should the verbatim reporter enter in real time?

  1. The reviews had a strong effect on sales. Correct answer.
  2. The reviews had a strong effected on sales.
  3. The reviews had a strong affect on sales.
  4. The reviews had a strong affects on sales.

Explanation

In this sentence, 'effect' is a noun meaning result and is the object of 'had.' 'Affect' is normally a verb meaning to influence, so it cannot fill this noun slot. The reporter should preserve the word dictated in context, not substitute a similar-sounding form.

Question 31Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates 'The editor marked fewer errors in the final draft than in the first.' Which rendering uses the correct word for a countable quantity?

  1. The editor marked few errors in the final draft than in the first.
  2. The editor marked less errors in the final draft than in the first.
  3. The editor marked fewest errors in the final draft than in the first.
  4. The editor marked fewer errors in the final draft than in the first. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Fewer' modifies plural count nouns such as 'errors,' while 'less' is standard with mass nouns. The comparative 'than' also calls for 'fewer,' not the superlative 'fewest' or the positive 'few.'

Question 32Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers 'The author wrote a nineteenth century novel about a whaling voyage.' Which rendering follows standard punctuation for the compound modifier?

  1. The author wrote a nineteenth century novel about a whaling voyage.
  2. The author wrote a nineteenth–century novel about a whaling voyage.
  3. The author wrote a nineteenthcentury novel about a whaling voyage.
  4. The author wrote a nineteenth-century novel about a whaling voyage. Correct answer.

Explanation

A compound adjective placed before a noun is normally hyphenated: 'nineteenth-century novel.' The en dash is reserved for ranges or connections, not for this compound modifier, and closing it up is nonstandard.

Question 33Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers 'The draft that the editor lost was never found.' Which rendering correctly treats the clause as essential to identifying the draft?

  1. The draft, that the editor lost, was never found.
  2. The draft, that the editor lost was never found.
  3. The draft that the editor lost was never found. Correct answer.
  4. The draft that the editor lost, was never found.

Explanation

The clause 'that the editor lost' is restrictive because it identifies which draft is meant. Restrictive clauses are not set off by commas, and 'that' is not used with a comma pair in this way. Either an opening or closing comma alone also creates an incorrect interruption.

Question 34Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader dictates a literary awards sentence: 'The nominees were Anna from Vienna Boris from Prague and Celia from Rome.' Because each name is followed by a place phrase that itself needs a comma, which rendering correctly separates the series items?

  1. The nominees were Anna, from Vienna; Boris, from Prague; and Celia, from Rome. Correct answer.
  2. The nominees were Anna; from Vienna, Boris; from Prague, and Celia; from Rome.
  3. The nominees were Anna, from Vienna, Boris, from Prague, and Celia, from Rome.
  4. The nominees were Anna, from Vienna: Boris, from Prague: and Celia, from Rome.

Explanation

When items in a series contain internal commas, semicolons separate the major items so the boundaries remain clear. A semicolon also precedes the conjunction before the final item in this construction. Plain commas blur the name-and-place groupings, while colons are not series separators.

Question 35Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence: "The open manuscript ___ on the desk all night." The reporter must supply the simple past tense of the verb meaning that the book was resting there. Which word belongs in the blank?

  1. has laid
  2. had lain
  3. lay Correct answer.
  4. lied

Explanation

Lay is the past tense of the intransitive verb lie, which means to recline or rest, so a manuscript that simply rested on the desk "lay" there all night. Laid is the past tense of lay, a transitive verb that requires a direct object, as in someone laid the book down. Lain is a past participle and cannot serve as the lone simple past verb, and lied belongs to the unrelated verb meaning to tell an untruth.

Question 36Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, a character in a novel reports what someone once told her: "She told me I never sign anything and then she left." The reader's inflection marks "I never sign anything" as a direct quotation nested inside the character's spoken line. Following standard US style for dialogue, which rendering is correct?

  1. She told me, 'I never sign anything,' and then she left. Correct answer.
  2. She told me, "I never sign anything," and then she left.
  3. She told me, "I never sign anything", and then she left.
  4. She told me, 'I never sign anything', and then she left.

Explanation

In US style the main spoken passage sits in double quotation marks, so a quotation inside it must be set in single quotation marks to keep the two levels distinct. The comma closing the inner quoted words belongs inside the single marks, because American practice keeps commas and periods inside quotation marks regardless of nesting level.

Question 37Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers a sentence naming three panelists, each followed by an identifying phrase: "The panel included Maria Cortez a novelist from Texas Owen Pike a poet from Maine and Ruth Ames a critic from Ohio." No punctuation is spoken, so the reporter must parse the series. Which rendering is correct?

  1. The panel included Maria Cortez, a novelist from Texas, Owen Pike, a poet from Maine, and Ruth Ames, a critic from Ohio.
  2. The panel included Maria Cortez, a novelist from Texas; Owen Pike, a poet from Maine; and Ruth Ames, a critic from Ohio. Correct answer.
  3. The panel included Maria Cortez; a novelist from Texas; Owen Pike; a poet from Maine; and Ruth Ames; a critic from Ohio.
  4. The panel included Maria Cortez: a novelist from Texas, Owen Pike: a poet from Maine, and Ruth Ames: a critic from Ohio.

Explanation

When items in a series already carry internal commas, semicolons must separate the items so the reader can see where one panelist ends and the next begins. The identifying phrase for each name is set off by commas within the item, leaving the semicolons to mark the boundaries of the list. This keeps three distinct items visible instead of a string of seven comma-separated fragments.

Question 38Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence about a family of collectors: "The Aldridges collection of first editions went to the university." The reader intends the plural possessive of the surname, not a singular owner. Which rendering is correct?

  1. The Aldridges's collection of first editions went to the university.
  2. The Aldridge's collection of first editions went to the university.
  3. The Aldridges collection of first editions went to the university.
  4. The Aldridges' collection of first editions went to the university. Correct answer.

Explanation

Form the plural of the surname first, Aldridges, then add only an apostrophe because the plural already ends in s. The apostrophe after the plural s signals that the collection belongs to the whole family. A singular possessive or a plural without any apostrophe changes who owns the books.

Question 39Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers a sentence about a poet who keeps letters in a box of writing paper and envelopes on the desk. Which rendering correctly spells the word for those writing materials?

  1. The poet kept her letters in a box of stationaries on the desk.
  2. The poet kept her letters in a box of stationery on the desk. Correct answer.
  3. The poet kept her letters in a box of stationery's on the desk.
  4. The poet kept her letters in a box of stationary on the desk.

Explanation

Stationery with an e is the mass noun for writing materials such as paper and envelopes; stationary with an a means not moving. The context of letters kept in a box selects the e spelling, and the noun does not take a possessive or a plural -s here.

Question 40Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this line of dialogue without marking the name vocally: 'I told you Marta to wait by the door.' Which rendering correctly sets off the name?

  1. I told you Marta to wait by the door.
  2. I told you, Marta, to wait by the door. Correct answer.
  3. I told you Marta, to wait, by the door.
  4. I told you, Marta to wait, by the door.

Explanation

Marta is a vocative because the speaker is addressing her directly, so the name must be set off by commas on both sides. The opening comma follows 'you' and the closing comma follows 'Marta'; the infinitive phrase 'to wait by the door' then continues without an internal comma.

Question 41Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers a sentence in which the author trusted a particular editor, and that editor returned the manuscript. Which rendering correctly uses the relative pronoun in formal literary prose?

  1. The editor whose the author trusted returned the manuscript.
  2. The editor whom the author trusted returned the manuscript. Correct answer.
  3. The editor who the author trusted returned the manuscript.
  4. The editor which the author trusted returned the manuscript.

Explanation

In 'whom the author trusted,' the relative pronoun is the object of 'trusted,' so formal written English uses the object form 'whom.' 'Who' is the subject form, 'which' is not used for a person in this kind of clause, and 'whose' is possessive.

Question 42Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence: 'The critic praised the well known poet for her restraint.' Which rendering correctly punctuates the compound modifier before the noun?

  1. The critic praised the well known-poet for her restraint.
  2. The critic praised the well known poet for her restraint.
  3. The critic praised the well-known poet for her restraint. Correct answer.
  4. The critic praised the well-known-poet for her restraint.

Explanation

A compound modifier made of 'well' plus a participle is hyphenated when it comes before the noun it modifies: 'well-known poet.' The hyphen joins only the modifier, and it is not repeated between the modifier and the noun.

Question 43Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers a sentence about a novelist who wrote on each day of the winter. Which rendering correctly transcribes the phrase meaning 'on each day'?

  1. The novelist wrote every day's during the winter.
  2. The novelist wrote every-day during the winter.
  3. The novelist wrote every day during the winter. Correct answer.
  4. The novelist wrote everyday during the winter.

Explanation

The adverbial phrase meaning 'on each day' is written as two words, 'every day.' The one-word 'everyday' is an adjective meaning ordinary or routine, and the possessive 'every day's' would change the meaning.

Question 44Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence about a new edition: 'The novelist wrote a foreword for the new edition.' Which rendering should the reporter produce?

  1. The novelist wrote a forword for the new edition.
  2. The novelist wrote a foreward for the new edition.
  3. The novelist wrote a forward for the new edition.
  4. The novelist wrote a foreword for the new edition. Correct answer.

Explanation

A foreword is the introductory note printed at the front of a book. 'Forward' means toward the front or ahead, and the other spellings are not standard words in this publishing sense. At realtime speed, the reporter must select the correct homophone from context.

Question 45Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence about a publisher: 'The publishing house moved its archive to the basement.' Which rendering should the reporter produce?

  1. The publishing house moved its' archive to the basement.
  2. The publishing house moved it's archive to the basement.
  3. The publishing house moved its archive to the basement. Correct answer.
  4. The publishing house moved its's archive to the basement.

Explanation

'Its' is the possessive form of 'it,' while 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.' The archive belongs to the house, so the possessive pronoun is required, and possessive pronouns do not take apostrophes.

Question 46Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At realtime speed, the reader delivers this literary sentence without a pause after 'chapter': 'Having finished the final chapter the novelist closed her notebook.' Which rendering should the reporter produce?

  1. Having finished the final chapter: the novelist closed her notebook.
  2. Having finished the final chapter; the novelist closed her notebook.
  3. Having finished the final chapter, the novelist closed her notebook. Correct answer.
  4. Having finished the final chapter the novelist closed her notebook.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase is set off from the main clause by a comma. The phrase 'Having finished the final chapter' modifies 'the novelist,' and a semicolon or colon would wrongly separate it as though it were an independent clause. No punctuation leaves the opening phrase fused to the main clause.

Question 47Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers a phrase whose context makes clear that a workshop is operated by several writers: 'the writers workshop.' Which rendering should the reporter produce?

  1. the writers workshop
  2. the writers's workshop
  3. the writers' workshop Correct answer.
  4. the writer's workshop

Explanation

A workshop belonging to or operated by several writers requires the plural possessive, formed by adding an apostrophe after the plural -s. The singular possessive 'writer's' would indicate only one writer, while the unpunctuated form does not show possession. 'Writers's' is not the standard plural possessive.

Question 48Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers this sentence about a prize: 'The number of submissions to the literary prize have risen sharply.' Which rendering should the reporter produce?

  1. The number of submissions to the literary prize has risen sharply. Correct answer.
  2. The number of submissions to the literary prize have risen sharply.
  3. A number of submissions to the literary prize has risen sharply.
  4. The number of submissions to the literary prize are rising sharply.

Explanation

The subject is 'the number,' which is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'has.' The phrase 'of submissions' modifies 'the number' and does not make the subject plural. By contrast, 'a number of submissions' would take a plural verb because it means 'many submissions.'

Question 49Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

During a 180-wpm literary dictation, the reader delivers a character's line as 'Between you and I, the ending still surprises me.' Which rendering follows realtime verbatim practice?

  1. Between you and me, the ending still surprises me.
  2. Between you and I, the ending still surprises me. Correct answer.
  3. Between you and I [sic], the ending still surprises me.
  4. Between you and me [sic], the ending still surprises me.

Explanation

A verbatim reporter transcribes the speaker's exact words, so grammatical correction is an editorial change and is not permitted during realtime dictation. Adding [sic] would also insert text that the reader did not dictate. The nonstandard pronoun is therefore preserved as spoken.

Question 50Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing)

At 180 wpm, the reader dictates a sentence meaning that the editor read the manuscript closely late into the night. Which rendering uses the correct word?

  1. The editor poured over the manuscript late into the night.
  2. The editor porred over the manuscript late into the night.
  3. The editor pored over the manuscript late into the night. Correct answer.
  4. The editor pawed over the manuscript late into the night.

Explanation

'Pore over' means to study or read something closely, which fits an editor examining a manuscript. 'Pour over' describes liquid, and 'paw over' suggests handling something clumsily. 'Porred' is not a standard spelling.