GMAT Verbal : Correcting Semicolon Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #61 : 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.
Call me tomorrow morning; I will go over the work schedule with you.
Call me tomorrow morning: I will go over the work schedule with you.
Call me tomorrow morning; and I will go over the work schedule with you.
Call me tomorrow morning I will go over the work schedule with you.
Call me tomorrow morning, I will go over the work schedule with you.
Call me tomorrow morning; I will go over the work schedule with you.
Call me tomorrow morning; I will go over the work schedule with you.
The sentence is correctly punctuated. The semicolon separates two independent clauses in the absence of a conjunction.
Example Question #62 : 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.
Hannah traveled to Rome, Italy, Berlin, Germany, and Paris, France.
Rome Italy; Berlin Germany; and Paris France.
Rome, Ital, Berlin, Germany, and Paris, France
Rome, Italy; Berlin, Germany; and Paris, France.
Rome; Italy, Berlin; Germany, and Paris; France.
Rome Italy, Berlin Germany, and Paris France.
Rome, Italy; Berlin, Germany; and Paris, France.
In this example, the semicolon is used to separate the items. When listing items in a series that already utilizes internal punctuation, such as the comma's between the city and its respective country, use a semicolon to separate each item.
Example Question #63 : 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.
Please bring needed classroom supplies for example a notebook, pens or pencils, and looseleaf paper.
Please bring needed classroom supplies for example a notebook, pens or pencils, and looseleaf paper.
Please bring needed classroom supplies: for example, a notebook, pens or pencils, and looseleaf paper.
Please bring needed classroom supplies; for example; a notebook, pens or pencils, and looseleaf paper.
Please bring needed classroom supplies, for example, a notebook, pens or pencils, and looseleaf paper.
Please bring needed classroom supplies. For example; a notebook, pens or pencils, and looseleaf paper.
Please bring needed classroom supplies, for example, a notebook, pens or pencils, and looseleaf paper.
If introductory words like "for example," or "such as" follow a complete sentence/independent clause, you can use either a comma or semicolon to separate the remainder of the sentence. Also, comma's should always be placed after introductory word/phrases.
Example Question #61 : 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.
Due to the age of the defendant, the judge shortened his sentence. He was only fourteen.
shortened his sentence. He was only fourteen.
shortened his sentence, he was only fourteen.
shortened his sentence; he was only fourteen.
shortened his sentence he was only fourteen.
shortened his sentence: he was only fourteen.
shortened his sentence; he was only fourteen.
The conjunction between these two clauses works in parallel. The second part goes into further detail about the preceding statement. Since they are parallel statements, the punctuation needed between them is a semicolon. Separating the statements into two sentences, but that would hint at separate topics and be choppy. Therefore, the best version is the semicolon connector.
Example Question #62 : 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.
Cleo liked her cat food a bit too much, we had to put her on a diet.
much; so we had to put her on a diet.
much: and so therefore we had to put her on a diet.
much; we had to put her on a diet.
much we had to put her on a diet.
much . . . we had to put her on a diet.
much; we had to put her on a diet.
We need a punctuation that joins the two independent clauses in this sentence. In this case, the best option is the semicolon because each clause is a complete sentence in itself. Therefore, we can just use a semicolon to not impede the thought of passage. A comma and an appropriate coordinating conjunction ("like" and or "so") would have also been a correct option, but was not provided with the given answers. Coordinating conjunctions (like "so) cannot, however, follow semicolons when joining two independent clauses into one complex sentence.
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