SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Question #98 : 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.
There were rumors that the teacher’s lounge was getting a new vending machine, but these rumors were belied by an announcement about school budget cuts. No error
machine,
the teacher’s lounge
about school budget cuts.
but these
No error
the teacher’s lounge
Because multiple teachers work at the school and use the lounge, we need a plural possessive: “teachers’ lounge” is the correct form. (Since we have two independent clauses joined with a conjunction, the correct punctuation mark before “but” is a comma and not a semicolon.)
Example Question #99 : 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.
Students who have attended parochial school will often remember how to say Our Father’s and other prayers long after they leave; the constant repetition ensures that the words are ingrained in graduates’ memories. No error
parochial
Our Father’s
long after they leave;
graduates’
No error
Our Father’s
No apostrophe is needed to form this plural. The correct plural of “Our Father” is “Our Fathers.” The semicolon is correctly separating the two independent clauses here.
Example Question #100 : 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.
Some of my fondest childhood memories involve going over to the Singhs’ house and playing in the woods in their backyard; I imagined elaborate kingdoms full of dragons and princesses in the copses and thickets. No error
backyard
involve going over
No error
copses and thickets
Singhs’
Singhs’
The narrator of this sentence is talking about the house belonging to the Singhs (plural), not the Singh (singular), so the correct possessive form is “the Singhs’ house.” Here, a semicolon is correctly separating the two independent clauses.
Example Question #101 : 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.
Due to the many alumnis’ generous support, the campaign was a smashing success, and the university was able to build a new woodworking studio for the art department. No error
smashing
success,
woodworking
No error
the many alumnis’
the many alumnis’
The plural of alumnus is alumni, not alumnis, so the correct possessive is “alumni’s generous support.” Here, a comma is needed after the dependent clause (“Due to the many alumni’s generous support”) and between the two independent clauses that are separated by a conjunction.
Example Question #102 : 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 scientists, all eminent in their fields, were so busy entering figures into the computer that they failed to notice the datas’ glaring inconsistencies. No error
eminent
fields,
datas’
No error
scientists,
datas’
Data is the correct plural, not datas (the singular is actually datum), so the correct plural possessive is simple “data’s glaring inconsistencies.”
Example Question #103 : 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.
My work involves studying the common starlings prevalence in various urban and suburban habitats; as such, I do extensive fieldwork every year. No error
habitats;
My work involves studying
as such,
No error
common starlings
common starlings
In the original sentence, “the common starlings” is incorrect. It should be a singular possessive noun: “the common starling’s prevalence.” Although the scientist is obviously studying more than one starling, he or she is talking about the single species, so “the common starling” is a singular noun.
Example Question #104 : 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.
Many students are first exposed to Descarte’s philosophy in high school, but it isn’t until college or even graduate school that they can begin to fully articulate his more complex concepts. No error
Descarte’s
they can begin to
No error
high school
it isn’t until
Descarte’s
Here, an apostrophe is incorrectly breaking up philosopher René Descartes’ name. The apostrophe should come after the ‘s’ and not before it.
Example Question #105 : 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.
After watching your dog, I’ve reached the conclusion that it doesn’t like to have its’ head stroked or its belly rubbed. No error
its
No error
I’ve reached the conclusion that
dog,
its’
its’
The correct possessive of the pronoun “it” is “its” without an apostrophe. Therefore, the correct phrase should be “it doesn’t like to have its head stroked.” The rest of the punctuation and phrases in the sentence are correct.
Example Question #106 : 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.
Werent you supposed to be guarding the food stores last night? No error
night?
supposed
Werent
No error
be guarding
Werent
"Weren't" is a contraction of the words "were not" and must always contain an apostrophe. "Werent" is incorrect as written in the provided sentence, as it is missing this apostrophe.
Example Question #107 : 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 diners praised the chef for the entrée’s rich taste and the hors d’ouevre’s exquisite texture; they were astonished that her restaurant had not yet received a good review in a major newspaper. No error
had not yet received
exquisite texture;
entrée’s rich taste
hors d’ouevre’s
No error
hors d’ouevre’s
"Hors d’ouevres" is a word taken from French, and it is always spelled with the final "s." For that reason, the possessive apostrophe needs to come after the "s" and not before it.
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