Correcting Colon Errors - GMAT Verbal

The underlined portion includes both a descriptive phrase, "two separate sports," and what it describes, "soccer and cricket." These two phrases need to be separated in a grammatically correct fashion. "Two separate sports: soccer and cricket," is the only answer choice that appropriately separates them,

The sentence is incorrect as it is written because it is using a colon to combine two independent clauses into a compound sentence. When combining two independent clauses into a compound sentence, one should use either a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. The only answer choice that employs one of these strategies is "Some laud wind power as a clean, renewable energy source; others worry about the environmental effect of setting up rows of turbines, or “wind farms,” either offshore or on land."

A colon can be used to separate these two clauses. A semi-colon cannot be used, because the second clause cannot stand independently as a full sentence. Both of the verbs used need to be conjugated in the same way. The only answer choice that corrects both of these issues is, "Upon entering the room, you will have two choices: either drink from the chalice or drink from the mug."

The sentence is structured so that the list is given as the examples of the "three areas" the sentence mentions. When a list follows a phrase that can be a complete sentence and adds new information to the sentence, a colon should precede the list. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "in three areas: municipal finances, emergency services, and traffic enforcement."

The colon in this sentence is used incorrectly, as it divides a sentence that should be uninterrupted. While colons are used to introduce lists, they are used to introduce lists after independent clauses, and "Among the many odd experiments being demonstrated at the exhibition were" is not an independent clause. The correct punctuation mark for the underlined portion of this sentence is no punctuation mark. As the only answer choice that removes, rather than replaces, the colon, "demonstrated at the exhibition were a" is the correct answer choice.

A colon can only follow a grammatically complete, independently valid sentence. The only option that meets this requirement is "The menu includes the following items . . ."

Because “The bride divided her wedding binder into four sections” is an independent clause (a complete sentence that stands on its own) and because it’s followed by a list, a colon is needed. If the independent clause were followed by another independent clause, a semicolon would be needed. If the beginning of the sentence wasn’t an independent clause, then a colon would not be necessary before the list. Semicolons are only used to separate items in a list if those items contain commas, and since that’s not the case here, we use commas to separate the items in this list.

Only use a colon to enumerate items in a list if the part of the sentence preceding the list is an independent clause (one that could stand as a complete sentence on its own). Since “I don’t know if I want” isn’t an independent clause, no colon is needed before listing the meal choices. And, since “I don’t know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party” and “what do you think?” are both independent clauses, they must be separated by a semicolon.

Only use a colon to enumerate items in a list if the part of the sentence preceding the list is an independent clause (one that could stand as a complete sentence on its own). Since “I don’t know what I want” is an independent clause, we must use a colon before listing the dog breeds. Because “I don’t know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd” and “My sister tells me that each breed has its merits” are both independent clauses, they must be separated by a semicolon or broken into two complete sentences.

A colon is used to introduce a series of items in a list, or when a second independent clause is necessary to explain a preceding clause. Semicolons are used to join two independent clauses into one compound sentence, and should not be used interchangeably with colons. It is is incorrect to capitalize the first item in a list after a colon.

The colon placed in the middle of the underlined portion of this sentence is incorrect and unnecessary. The sentence actually needs no punctuation in this location in the sentence, and the colon should be removed. This is because colons should only introduce lists that follow independent clauses, and "The novel was immensely confusing to most readers, featuring such complexities as" is not an independent clause (a sentence that can stand on its own). As the only answer choice that makes this change, the correct answer choice is "such complexities as characters with multiple names, expansive time jumps, and a non-linear story structure."

The example sentence requires a colon rather than a period to be correct. Colons are used to introduce, in general, lists and quotations. They must be preceded by an independent clause, but are often used to introduce sentence fragments or dependent clauses. In this case, "fixing the leak before the boat sank" cannot be preceded by either a period or semicolon because it is not a grammatically complete independent clause. Note that there is no need to capitalize the first word after a colon, unless that word is a proper noun (since proper nouns are always capitalized). The correct version of the sentence reads, "We were faced with one major issue: fixing the leak before the boat sank."

A semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction, not a colon, should be used to join the two independent clauses. Colons should follow independent clauses when introducing lists. A colon may be used to introduce an interrupting phrase at the end of a sentence that renames a thing or idea, in this case the "principle."

An explanation of a list after a colon needs to be introduced by an explanation of what that list is before the colon, and colons should follow independent clauses when introducing lists. In this case, semicolons ought to be used to separate the individual items in the list; colons are never used for this purpose.

Because “Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate” is an independent clause, the list that follows must be preceded by a colon, not a semicolon.

Because “Have you ever tried” isn’t an independent clause (a complete sentence that can stand on its own), the list that follows it should not be separated with a colon or with any other punctuation. You would only use a colon to introduce the list if the part of the sentence before the list was an independent clause.

Because “mow the lawn and clean out the gutters,” isn’t a list of three or more items, no colon is necessary to introduce it. “While I’m away at the convention” and “which are clogged” are dependent clauses, so they must be separated from the main clause with a comma. A better sentence would read as follows: “While I’m away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean out the gutters, which are clogged.”

Because “Randall wasn’t sure if the choir should” isn’t an independent clause, the list that follows it should not be separated with a colon or with any other punctuation. You would only use a colon to introduce the list if the part of the sentence before the list was an independent clause.

Because “Lacey has several basic babysitting rules" is an independent clause, the list that follows must be preceded by a colon. A semicolon is never used to separate a list from its antecedent.

Here, we’re separating an independent clause (“The company has several popular shampoo scents”) from a list (“summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine”), so the correct punctuation is a colon and not a semicolon. Semicolons are only used to separate two independent clauses, not an independent clause and a list. Since the list that follows the semicolon isn’t a complete sentence, the first word shouldn’t be capitalized.