ACT English : Colon Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #452 : Act English
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 “The bride divided her wedding binder into four sections” is an independent clause (a complete sentence that stands on its own) and because it’s 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 wasn’t 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 that’s not the case here, we use commas to separate the items in this list.
Example Question #21 : 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 don’t know if I want: the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party, what do you think?
I don’t know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party; what do you think?
I don’t know if I want: the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party, what do you think?
I don’t know if I want: the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party; what do you think?
I don’t know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party: what do you think?
I don’t know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party, what do you think?
I don’t 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 “I don’t know if I want” isn’t an independent clause, no colon is needed before listing the meal choices. And, since “I don’t know if I want the chicken, beef, or vegetarian option for this party” and “what do you think?” are both independent clauses, they must be separated by a semicolon.
Example Question #75 : 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 don’t know what I want, a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd, my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I don’t know what I want; a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd. My sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I don’t know what I want, a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd, my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I don’t know what I want; a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd; my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I don’t know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd, my sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I don’t know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd. My sister tells me that each breed has its merits.
I don’t 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 “I don’t know what I want” is an independent clause, we must use a colon before listing the dog breeds. Because “I don’t know what I want: a poodle, a cocker spaniel, or a German shepherd” and “My sister tells me that each breed has its merits” are both independent clauses, they must be separated by a semicolon or broken into two complete sentences.
Example Question #72 : 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.
Have you ever tried: pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? They’re all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? They’re all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella; they’re all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine?
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella, they’re all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine?
Have you ever tried: pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? They’re all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried, pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? They’re all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Have you ever tried pulpo, padron peppers, or paella? They’re all great examples of classic Spanish cuisine.
Because “Have you ever tried” isn’t 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 #71 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
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 I’m away at the convention, I need you to do the following chores: mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While I’m away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While I’m away at the convention I need you to do the following chores: mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While I’m away at the convention, I need you to do the following chores: mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While I’m away at the convention, I need you to do the following chores, mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
While I’m away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean the gutters which are clogged.
While I’m away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean the gutters, which are clogged.
Because “mow the lawn and clean out the gutters,” isn’t a list of three or more items, no colon is necessary to introduce it. “While I’m away at the convention” and “which are clogged” are dependent clauses, so they must be separated from the main clause with a comma. A better sentence would read as follows: “While I’m away at the convention, I need you to mow the lawn and clean out the gutters, which are clogged.”
Example Question #73 : 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.
Randall wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 “Randall wasn’t sure if the choir should” isn’t 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 #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.
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.
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.
Here, we’re separating an independent clause (“The company has several popular shampoo scents”) from a list (“summer watermelon, honeyed peach, coconut, and tangerine”), 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 isn’t a complete sentence, the first word shouldn’t 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.
I’ve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted and forget that there’s food on the stove.
I’ve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted, and forget that there’s food on the stove.
I’ve never been a good chef: I tend to get distracted, and forget that there’s food on the stove.
I’ve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted and forget that there’s food on the stove.
I’ve never been a good chef, I tend to get distracted, and, forget that there’s food on the stove.
I’ve never been a good chef: I tend to get distracted and forget that there’s food on the stove.
I’ve never been a good chef: I tend to get distracted and forget that there’s 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 “forget that there’s food on the stove” isn’t an independent clause, a comma is not required before the conjunction (“and”).
Example Question #82 : 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.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker: she hates when conferences don’t provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time, hearing the speaker. She hates when conferences don’t provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker, she hates when conferences don’t provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker: she hates when conferences don’t provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker; she hates when conferences don’t provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker: She hates when conferences don’t provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Jenelle was having a hard time hearing the speaker; she hates when conferences don’t provide good microphones and sound equipment for their lecturers.
Because the first sentence isn’t really introducing the second sentence but is instead a different thought altogether, a colon isn’t 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.
I’ve 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, 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; however, 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 isn’t actually introducing the second sentence but is rather a different thought altogether, a colon isn’t the correct punctuation mark. Instead, a semicolon should be used to separate these two independent clauses. Adding a “however” to the second clause would be redundant, as we already have the word “though” to indicate contrast.
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