ACT English : Semicolon Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #61 : Punctuation Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
The school invested nearly two thousand dollars establishing its after-school tutoring program, however, school evaluators concluded that the program was too poorly attended to be viable.
The school invested nearly two thousand dollars establishing its after-school tutoring program however, school evaluators concluded that the program was too poorly attended to be viable.
The school invested nearly two thousand dollars establishing its after-school tutoring program but, however, school evaluators concluded that the program was too poorly attended to be viable.
NO CHANGE
The school invested nearly two thousand dollars establishing its after-school tutoring program: however, school evaluators concluded that the program was too poorly attended to be viable.
The school invested nearly two thousand dollars establishing its after-school tutoring program; however, school evaluators concluded that the program was too poorly attended to be viable.
The school invested nearly two thousand dollars establishing its after-school tutoring program; however, school evaluators concluded that the program was too poorly attended to be viable.
When the conjunctive adverb "however" is used to join two independent clauses that seem to contrast, a semi-colon and a comma must accompany it. The semi-colon will precede the adverb, and a comma will follow it. When correctly punctuated, the conjunctive adverb "however" functions as a conjunction, joining two contrasting independent clauses and making other conjunctions unnecessary.
Example Question #91 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
It was about halfway through his last set of conferences that Mr. Man realizes (1) he did not (2) much like his current set of students. Unlike his students in the past, none of them seemed to care about their (3) grades, (4) none of them was able to tell a dangling modifier from a participle, (4) and, apart from a few, (4) they didn't know (5) how to start a paper. He would never tell any of them this, of course, (6) they might get offended, and if there was one thing that Mr. Man learned (7) about teaching, its (8) that in order to keep one's job, you couldn't offend your students (9). As yet another student whined about not understanding Mr. Mans (10) perfectly clearly written assignments, he sighed inwardly (and possibly outwardly as well), (11) and waited for the last (12) one to finish so that he could get to the next one, finish his conferences, and get back to daydreaming about being anything but a teacher.
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake(s). If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
Change all three commas to semicolons
Leave the first two commas as commas, leave the last one as a semicolon
NO CHANGE
Change the first two commas to semicolons, leave the last one as a comma
Change the first two commas to semicolons, leave the last one as a comma
The first two commas should be changed to semicolons in order not to conflict with the third comma, which is setting off information within its own clause.
Example Question #62 : Punctuation Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
The thunder clapping overhead dissuaded Mark from his afternoon jog, moreover, he had a term paper to write for his morning class.
The thunder clapping overhead dissuaded Mark from his afternoon jog, and moreover, he had a term paper to write for his morning class.
The thunder clapping overhead dissuaded Mark from his afternoon jog, and moreover, he had a term paper to write for his morning class.
The thunder clapping overhead dissuaded Mark from his afternoon jog moreover, he had a term paper to write for his morning class.
NO CHANGE
The thunder clapping overhead dissuaded Mark from his afternoon jog; moreover, he had a term paper to write for his morning class.
The thunder clapping overhead dissuaded Mark from his afternoon jog; moreover, he had a term paper to write for his morning class.
When the conjunctive adverb "moreover" is used to join two independent clauses, a semi-colon and a comma must accompany it. The semi-colon will precede the adverb, and a comma will follow it. When correctly punctuated, the conjunctive adverb "moreover" functions as a conjunction, joining two related independent clauses and making other conjunctions unnecessary.
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