PSAT Writing › 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.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance, the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improving.
"Under the teacher's guidance" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the action of the sentence, but is apart from its main structure. Any introductory phrase needs to be set apart fom the main body of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that correctly uses a comma to separate the phrase is "Under the teacher's guidance, the students' reading ability improved."
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.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance, the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improving.
"Under the teacher's guidance" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the action of the sentence, but is apart from its main structure. Any introductory phrase needs to be set apart fom the main body of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that correctly uses a comma to separate the phrase is "Under the teacher's guidance, the students' reading ability improved."
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.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
A semi-colon separates two independent clauses. No punctuation between "individualism" and "and" is necessary.
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.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance, the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improved.
Under the teacher's guidance the students' reading ability improving.
"Under the teacher's guidance" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the action of the sentence, but is apart from its main structure. Any introductory phrase needs to be set apart fom the main body of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that correctly uses a comma to separate the phrase is "Under the teacher's guidance, the students' reading ability improved."
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.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
A semi-colon separates two independent clauses. No punctuation between "individualism" and "and" is necessary.
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.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
A semi-colon separates two independent clauses. No punctuation between "individualism" and "and" is necessary.
The athlete, a respected team leader was always the first person in the locker room before a game.
The athlete, a respected team leader, was
The athlete, a respected team leader was
The athlete a respected team leader was
The athlete, a respected team leader having been
The athlete, the respected team leader was
The phrase "a respected team leader" is what is known as an interrupting phrase, or a phrase that provides information but is unnecessary for the structure of the sentence. All interrupting phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas; therefore, the correct answer is "The athlete, a respected team leader, was."
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.
Under the old regime the action was perfectly legal and undertaken quite often.
Under the old regime, the action was
Under the old regime, the action was
Under the old regime the action was
Under the old regime the action was
Under the old regime the action had been
Under the old regime the action had been
Under, the old regime the action was
Under, the old regime the action was
Under, the old regime, the action was
Under, the old regime, the action was
The phrase "Under the old regime" is what is called a conditional phrase, as it gives the conditions which make the main body of the sentence possible. Such phrases always need to be set off from the main part of the sentence by a comma; therefore, "Under the old regime, the action was," is the correct answer choice.
The athlete, a respected team leader was always the first person in the locker room before a game.
The athlete, a respected team leader, was
The athlete, a respected team leader was
The athlete a respected team leader was
The athlete, a respected team leader having been
The athlete, the respected team leader was
The phrase "a respected team leader" is what is known as an interrupting phrase, or a phrase that provides information but is unnecessary for the structure of the sentence. All interrupting phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas; therefore, the correct answer is "The athlete, a respected team leader, was."
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.
Under the old regime the action was perfectly legal and undertaken quite often.
Under the old regime, the action was
Under the old regime, the action was
Under the old regime the action was
Under the old regime the action was
Under the old regime the action had been
Under the old regime the action had been
Under, the old regime the action was
Under, the old regime the action was
Under, the old regime, the action was
Under, the old regime, the action was
The phrase "Under the old regime" is what is called a conditional phrase, as it gives the conditions which make the main body of the sentence possible. Such phrases always need to be set off from the main part of the sentence by a comma; therefore, "Under the old regime, the action was," is the correct answer choice.