SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #193 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"I can't stand the old man's behavior in public," cried Angelina. He is so rude." No error
rude."
No error
"I can't stand
Angelina. He
man's behavior
Angelina. He
Quotation marks, used to convey that someone is speaking, should always precede the first letter of the quotation, and follow the final punctuation mark of the quotation. If there is an intervening part of the sentence in the middle of a quotation, then it should be separated from the quotation marks by punctuation. The best way to correct the sentence above is: "I can't stand the old man's behavior in public," cried Angelina. "He is so rude."
Example Question #194 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The very old man said "I need a lot of help to get through my day, but that doesn't get me down." No error
down."
said "I
No error
The very old man
my day, but
said "I
Quotation marks, used to convey speech or direct quotation of written discourse, should always precede the first letter of the quotation, and follow the final punctuation mark of the quotation. If there is an intervening part of the sentence in the middle of a quotation, then it should be separated from the quotation marks by punctuation. The best way to correct the sentence above is: "The very old man said, 'I need a lot of help to get through my day, but that doesn't get me down.'"
Example Question #25 : Identifying Quotation Mark Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"I can't stand it when my patients say to me, 'I don't want to take that medicine,' as if they are experts on the subject," said the doctor. No error
said the doctor.
my patients say to me
No error
"I can't stand
'I don't want to take that medicine,'
No error
Quotation marks, used to convey that someone is speaking, should always precede the first letter of the quotation, and follow the final punctuation mark of the quotation. If there is an intervening part of the sentence in the middle of a quotation, then it should be separated from the quotation marks by punctuation. Additionally, when there is a quotation in the middle of another quotation, all of the normal rules apply, you merely have to use single quotation marks instead of double quotation marks. The sentence above is correct as written.
Example Question #195 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no errors at all.
"How much farther do we have to go?", she panted, her breathing coming hard as they began to run up a steep hill. No error
go?",
panted,
farther
No error
have
go?",
In standard American English, quotations that end in an exclamation point or question mark require no further punctuation to set them off from the rest of the sentence; the comma following the quotation marks can be eliminated.
Example Question #196 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the following sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"Do any of us know where to go," he shrieked, desperate, as the rest of the group caught up with him. No error
desperate,
go,"
shrieked,
with
No error
go,"
The speaker in the sentence is asking a question, and questions that are inside quotation marks should always be ended with a question mark. The comma is unnecessary when the quotation is not a statement, so the fixed sentence should read, "'Oh no, do any of us know where to go?' he shrieked..."
Example Question #197 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the following sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As he washed his hands of the dye, he glanced up at a sign reminding employees "to wash their hands and report any health issues" before returning to their work. No error
No error
"to wash their hands and report any health issues"
their
dye,
reminding
"to wash their hands and report any health issues"
Although the sentence does refer to what the sign says, quotation marks are inappropriate because the reference is an indirect quotation. The quotation marks can simply be removed to correct the sentence. If the sentence were rewritten to refer to the specific language the sign used, quotation marks would be correct. For example: As he washed his hands of the dye, he glanced up at a sign blaring, "EMPLOYEES: Remember to wash your hands and report any health concerns to your superiors before returning to work."
Example Question #198 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My doctor said, "If you continue to drink this much soda, you're going to suffer later in life. No error
My doctor said,
No error
soda, you're
continue to drink this
in life.
in life.
Quotation marks, used to convey that direct speech or wording, should always precede the first letter of the quotation, and follow the final punctuation mark of the quotation. If there is an intervening part of the sentence in the middle of a quotation, then it should be separated from the quotation marks by punctuation. This sentence is missing a close-quote after the period.
Example Question #141 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"The King will remain King, said Lord Wilson, "until the end of his life." No error
King,
of his life."
No error
"The King
Lord Wilson, "until
King,
Quotation marks, used to convey that someone is speaking, should always precede the first letter of the quotation, and follow the final punctuation mark of the quotation. If there is an intervening part of the sentence in the middle of a quotation, then it should be separated from the quotation marks by punctuation. In this case, "said Lord Wilson" acts as such an intervening phrase, and thus there should be a quotation mark after "King,"
Example Question #2 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Is vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry your favorite flavor of ice cream, or do you prefer another flavor. No error
No error
vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry
another flavor.
do you prefer
your favorite flavor of ice cream
another flavor.
The issue here has to do with punctuation. This sentence needs to end with a question mark because it is a question. The corrected sentence reads, "Is vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry your favorite flavor of ice cream, or do you prefer another flavor?"
Example Question #1 : Identifying Other Punctuation Errors
Choose the punctuation mark that, when inserted into the blank, makes the sentence meet the requirements of standard written English.
I decided it was worthwhile to buy the expensive fish tank that covers the entire wall instead of the little bowl __________ I wanted my goldfish to feel free to explore.
: (colon)
/ (slash)
, (comma)
No punctuation
; (semi-colon)
; (semi-colon)
Here, there are two independent clauses with no conjunctions between them. A semi-colon (or a period and new sentence) is correct.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All SAT Writing Resources
