ACT English : Colon Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
All ACT English Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Correcting Colon 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The bride divided her wedding binder into four sections, venue, catering, decorations, and dress.
four sections, venue, catering, decorations, and dress.
four sections: venue; catering; decorations; and dress.
four sections: venue, catering, decorations, and dress.
four sections; venue; catering; decorations; and dress.
four sections; venue, catering, decorations, and dress.
four sections: venue, catering, decorations, and dress.
Because âThe bride divided her wedding binder into four sectionsâ is an independent clause (a complete sentence that stands on its own) and because itâs 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 wasnât 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 thatâs not the case here, we use commas to separate the items in this list.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Colon 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
I donât know if I want: the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party, what do you think?
I donât know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party: what do you think?
I donât know if I want: the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party; what do you think?
I donât know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party; what do you think?
I donât know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party, what do you think?
I donât know if I want: the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party, what do you think?
I donât know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party; what do you think?
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 âI donât know if I wantâ isnât an independent clause, no colon is needed before listing the meal choices. And, since âI donât know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this partyâ and âwhat do you think?â are both independent clauses, they must be separated by a semicolon.
Example Question #71 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
I donât know what I want, a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd, my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I donât know what I want; a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd. My sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I donât know what I want, a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd, my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I donât know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd, my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I donât know what I want; a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd; my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I donât know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd. My sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I donât know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd. My sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
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 âI donât know what I wantâ is an independent clause, we must use a colon before listing the dog breeds. Because âI donât know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherdâ and âMy sister tells me that each breed has its meritsâ are both independent clauses, they must be separated by a semicolon or broken into two complete sentences.
Example Question #72 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined section with the answer that best results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Have you ever tried: pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? Theyâre all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried, pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? Theyâre all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried: pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? Theyâre all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella; theyâre all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine?
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? Theyâre all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella, theyâre all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine?
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? Theyâre all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Because âHave you ever triedâ isnât 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.
Example Question #81 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined section with the answer that best results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
While Iâm away at the convention, I need you to do the following chores: mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While Iâm away at the convention, I need you to do the following chores: mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While Iâm away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean the gutters which are clogged.
While Iâm away at the convention I need you to do the following chores: mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While Iâm away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While Iâm away at the convention, I need you to do the following chores, mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While Iâm away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
Because âmow the lawn and clean out the gutters,â isnât a list of three or more items, no colon is necessary to introduce it. âWhile Iâm away at the conventionâ and âwhich are cloggedâ are dependent clauses, so they must be separated from the main clause with a comma. A better sentence would read as follows: âWhile Iâm away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean out the gutters, which are clogged.â
Example Question #4 : Correcting Colon Errors
Replace the underlined section with the answer that best results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Randall wasnât sure if the choir should: meet to rehearse at his house, hold a dress rehearsal in the auditorium, or take a day off so everyone could rest their voices.
Randall wasnât sure if the choir should: Meet to rehearse at his house, hold a dress rehearsal in the auditorium, or take a day off so everyone could rest their voices.
Randall wasnât sure if the choir should meet to rehearse at his house, hold a dress rehearsal in the auditorium, or take a day off so everyone could rest their voices.
Randall wasnât sure if the choir should: meet to rehearse at his house, hold a dress rehearsal in the auditorium, or take a day off so everyone could rest their voices.
Randall wasnât sure if the choir should, meet to rehearse at his house, hold a dress rehearsal in the auditorium, or take a day off so everyone could rest their voices.
Randall wasnât sure if the choir should; meet to rehearse at his house, hold a dress rehearsal in the auditorium, or take a day off so everyone could rest their voices.
Randall wasnât sure if the choir should meet to rehearse at his house, hold a dress rehearsal in the auditorium, or take a day off so everyone could rest their voices.
Because âRandall wasnât sure if the choir shouldâ isnât 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.
Example Question #121 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Replace the underlined section with the answer that best results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The company has several popular shampoo scents; summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine.
The company has several popular shampoo scents; summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine.
The company has several popular shampoo scents, summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, tangerine.
The company has several popular shampoo scents, summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine.
The company has several popular shampoo scents: summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine.
The company has several popular shampoo scents: Summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine.
The company has several popular shampoo scents: summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine.
Here, weâre separating an independent clause (âThe company has several popular shampoo scentsâ) from a list (âsummer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerineâ), 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 isnât a complete sentence, the first word shouldnât be capitalized.
Example Question #81 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined section with the answer that best results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Iâve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted and forget that thereâs food on the stove.
Iâve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted, and, forget that thereâs food on the stove.
Iâve never been a good chef: I tend to get distracted, and forget that thereâs food on the stove.
Iâve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted and forget that thereâs food on the stove.
Iâve never been a good chef: I tend to get distracted and forget that thereâs food on the stove.
Iâve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted, and forget that thereâs food on the stove.
Iâve never been a good chef: I tend to get distracted and forget that thereâs food on the stove.
A colon is the best choice to separate these two independent clauses, since the second clause is elaborating upon an idea introduced in the first clause. Because âforget that thereâs food on the stoveâ isnât an independent clause, a comma is not required before the conjunction (âandâ).
Example Question #29 : Colon Errors
Replace the underlined section with the answer that best results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker: she hates when conferences donât provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker: she hates when conferences donât provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker, she hates when conferences donât provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker: She hates when conferences donât provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker; she hates when conferences donât provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time, hearing the speaker. She hates when conferences donât provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker; she hates when conferences donât provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Because the first sentence isnât really introducing the second sentence but is instead a different thought altogether, a colon isnât the correct punctuation mark. Instead, a semicolon should be used to separate these two independent clauses.
Example Question #121 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Replace the underlined section with the answer that best results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Iâve always had a green thumb for vegetable, flower, and herb gardens: my mother, though, was barely able to keep a houseplant alive.
gardens: my mother, though, was barely able to keep a houseplant alive.
gardens; however, my mother, though, was barely able to keep a houseplant alive.
gardens, and my mother, though, was barely able to keep a houseplant alive.
gardens: My mother, though, was barely able to keep a houseplant alive.
gardens; my mother, though, was barely able to keep a houseplant alive.
gardens; my mother, though, was barely able to keep a houseplant alive.
Because the first sentence isnât actually introducing the second sentence but is rather a different thought altogether, a colon isnât the correct punctuation mark. Instead, a semicolon should be used to separate these two independent clauses. Adding a âhoweverâ to the second clause would be redundant, as we already have the word âthoughâ to indicate contrast.
Certified Tutor
All ACT English Resources
