ACT English : Punctuation Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
All ACT English Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #3781 : Sat Writing
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
The field rations were evenly distributed between the sailors marines and soldiers.
sailors, marines, and soldiers.
sailors marines and soldiers.
sailors, marines, soldiers.
sailors marines, and soldiers.
sailors marines soldiers.
sailors, marines, and soldiers.
The underlined words make up a list. Such lists need to have each element separated for clarity and understanding. "Sailors, marines, and soldiers" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #3782 : Sat Writing
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Many nineteenth century texts on military strategy focused extensively on supplies troops and ammunition.
on supplies troops, and ammunition.
on supplies, troops, and, ammunition.
on: supplies troops and ammunition.
on supplies troops and ammunition.
on supplies, troops, and ammunition.
on supplies, troops, and ammunition.
The underlined phrase contains a series, or a list of grouped items. All series in a sentence must be divided by each other for linguistic and logical clarity. The best way to do this is with commas, making "on supplies, troops, and ammunition," the correct answer.
Example Question #431 : Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The typical advice to the screenwriter is to keep an audience engaged alert and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert, and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert but interested.
to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alerted and interested.
to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested.
The list that finishes the sentence needs to have its three parts, "engaged" and "alert" and "interested," separated by commas. There are no other corrections that need to happen in the sentence. This makes the correct answer choice "to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested."
Example Question #3783 : Sat Writing
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The key to having a succesful road trip is bringing plenty of medicine snacks and water.
plenty of medicine, snacks, and water.
plenty medicine snacks and water.
plenty of medicine snacks and water.
plenty of medicine snacks, and water.
plenty, of medicine snacks and water.
plenty of medicine, snacks, and water.
A list like the one presented in the underlined portion of the sentence needs to be separated somehow, usually by commas. The only choice that appropriately separates the three items is "plenty of medicine, snacks, and water," which is the correct answer.
Example Question #3791 : Sat Writing
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Much of the time, only the most discerning animal trainer cannot tell the difference between thoroughbreds Arabians and saddlebred horses.
between thoroughbreds Arabians and saddlebred horses.
between thoroughbreds Arabians, and saddlebred horses.
between thoroughbreds Arabians and saddlebred, horses.
between, thoroughbreds, Arabians and saddlebred horses.
between thoroughbreds, Arabians, and saddlebred horses.
between thoroughbreds, Arabians, and saddlebred horses.
The three items in the list of the underlined portion of the sentence, "thoroughbreds" and "Arabians" and "saddlebred horses," are lumped together in one large pile. All such lists need to be separated by commas, to show the separate items clearly. The only answer choice that correctly does this is "between thoroughbreds, Arabians, and saddlebred horses."
Example Question #371 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The writer was considered washed up, with a style that was outdated stale and unsatisfying.
with a style, that was outdated stale and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated stale and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated, stale, and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated stale, and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated, stale, and, unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated, stale, and unsatisfying.
A list like the one that makes up the object of the underlined phrase must be have its items appropriately separated by commas, which the sentence does not do as it is written. The only answer choice that correctly separates the three items by using commas is "with a style that was outdated, stale, and unsatisfying."
Example Question #311 : Comma Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The study of popular culture involves analyzing many different phenomena, including television advertising, and social media.
including, television advertising, and social media.
including television, advertising, and social media.
includes television, advertising, and social media.
includes television advertising and social media.
including television advertising, and social media.
including television, advertising, and social media.
The underlined portion of the sentence includes a list of three items. All such lists must have the items in them separated in some fashion; therefore, the correct answer is "including television, advertising, and social media."
Example Question #1842 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The hardest thing, for most new pianists to learn is the correct hand position.
The hardest thing, for most new pianists to learn is the correct hand position.
The hardest thing for most new pianists to learn is the correct hand position.
The hardest thing, for most new pianists to learn, is the correct hand position.
The hardest thing, for most new pianists, to learn is the correct hand position.
The hardest thing for most new pianists to learn, is the correct hand position.
The hardest thing for most new pianists to learn is the correct hand position.
The comma in the sentence is incorrectly deployed, as it divides a continuous phrase into two parts. The sentence should actually have no commas in it, as the sentence works as a continual phrase. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "The hardest thing for most new pianists to lean is the correct hand position."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Other Commas
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
"What goes around comes around" is an idiom that often does not make sense outside of a larger context.
"What goes around comes around" are idioms
What goes around comes around is an idiom
"What goes, around, comes around" is an idiom
"What goes around comes around" is an idiom
"What goes around, comes around" is an idiom
"What goes around, comes around" is an idiom
The phrase in quotation marks, "What goes around comes around," is the subject of the sentence, but described as an idiom. This means that it needs to be treated as a full sentence, because it is being referred to as a singular whole. To be a complete sentence, a comma needs to be put between its two parts, making ""What goes around, comes around" is an idiom," the correct answer choice.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Other Commas
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Making a great deal of money, is rarely a path to happiness.
Making a great deal of money, is rarely a path to happiness.
Making a great deal of money is rarely a path to happiness.
Making a great deal of money, being rarely a path to happiness.
Making, a great deal of money, is rarely a path to happiness.
Making a great deal of money, rarely a path to happiness.
Making a great deal of money is rarely a path to happiness.
The use of the comma in the middle of this sentence is completely unnecessary and weirdly divides the sentence into two. No punctuation is needed in this sentence, and the best choice is to remove the comma. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Making a great deal of money is rarely a path to happiness."
Certified Tutor
All ACT English Resources
