SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1061 : 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've had an incredibly long day, I worked for almost eleven hours. No error
for
day,
eleven hours.
No error
I've had
day,
In the example sentence both "I've had an incredibly long day" and "I worked for almost eleven hours" are acting as grammatically complete, independent clauses. Thus, the comma after "day" must either be replaced with a semicolon, or have a coordinating conjunction added after it. The other option would be to replace the comma with a period and make this compound sentence into two separate sentences.
Example Question #1062 : 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.
Paul found himself in a rather difficult situation the other day, he'd insulted nearly every other researcher on the base with his crass comments. No error
a rather difficult
Paul found himself
every other researcher
the other day, he'd
No error
the other day, he'd
In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses, as both clauses are independent, meaning they could act as their own grammatically complete sentence. Should you choose to connect two such clauses into a compound sentence your choices are to replace the comma with a semicolon (and no conjunction) or to add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "the other day, he'd"
Example Question #1063 : 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.
It's been extraordinarily difficult to communicate with the outside world lately, I am worried that our communications tower has been damaged by the storms. No error
been damaged by the storms.
No error
It's been extraordinarily
our communications tower
world lately, I am
world lately, I am
The example sentence makes a comma splice error by attempting to connect two independent clauses into a single compound sentence using only a comma. The comma after lately either needs an appropriate coordinating conjunction added after it, or needs to be replaced with a semicolon (and no accompanying conjunction).
Example Question #1064 : 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 got charged three hundred dollars at the box office, I had thought that one of the actors was going to purchase my ticket. No error
No error
I got charged
office, I had
dollars at
that one
office, I had
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this results in an error known as the "comma splice." In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "office, I had"
The two, equally grammatically correct, options to fix this sentence would be to add an appropriate coordinating conjunction or to simply replace the comma with a semicolon.
Example Question #1065 : 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'm having a very hard time acting right now, I find myself easily distracted when I'm onstage. No error
No error
right now, I find
very hard
easily distracted
I'm having
right now, I find
This sentence includes a comma splice. The comma between "now" and "I" either needs to be replaced with a semicolon or have an appropriate coordinating conjunction added after it.
Note also that "I'm" is a correct contraction of "I am."
Example Question #1066 : 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.
You're one of the most irritating people I have ever met, I'm not a huge fan of the way you comport yourself. No error
You're one
met, I'm
you comport yourself.
irritating people
No error
met, I'm
Here, the comma between "met" and "I'm" creates a comma splice, since it joins two independent clauses without an appropriate coordinating conjunction. The best option, stylistically and grammatically, to fix this sentence would be to add the coordinating conjunction "and" after the comma.
Example Question #1071 : 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.
Hank can't stand a snitch, if you tell the teacher what he did he's going to come after you. No error
tell the teacher
snitch, if
No error
he did he's
Hank can't stand
snitch, if
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this results in an error known as the "comma splice." In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "snitch, if"
Example Question #1072 : 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.
Carlos, Jim, and their sister, decided not to visit the old shack by the beach; instead, they stayed home and shared ghost stories in the dark. No error
beach; instead,
shared ghost stories
sister, decided
in the dark
No error
sister, decided
A comma should never end a list: "Carlos, Jim, and their sister decided . . ."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sarah wanted to arrive at the store in time to buy the fresh bread cereal, and chocolate sauce. No error
No error
to arrive
fresh bread
in time
Sarah
fresh bread
Without a comma to make the "fresh bread" an item on the list, the item is unclear: is "fresh bread cereal" an item, or "fresh bread?" We need a comma to clarify.
Example Question #1073 : 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 adviser's job is to apprise the president of developing conflicts in the countries of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania. No error.
No error.
adviser's job
of developing
of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania
to apprise
of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania
The list "Kenya Somalia and Tanzania" contains this sentence's error because it does not use commas to separate its items. It should read "Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania."
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