GMAT Verbal : Correcting Punctuation Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #701 : Correcting Grammatical 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 underlined choices repeats the answer as it is written. 

"What if the lost puppy really does belong to Jane," we thought as we drove to the veterinarian. 

Possible Answers:

"What if the lost puppy really does belong to Jane"

"What if the lost puppy really does belong to Jane,"

"What if the lost puppy really does belong to Jane?"

"What if the lost puppy really does belong to Jane"?

"What if the lost puppy really does belong to Jane",

Correct answer:

"What if the lost puppy really does belong to Jane?"

Explanation:

The error in this sentence comes from the fact that the underlined phrase is a question and therefore should end with a question mark, even when it is inside double quotation marks; therefore, the correct answer is "What if the lost puppy really does below to Jane?"

Example Question #702 : Correcting Grammatical 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 underlined choices repeats the answer as it is written. 

"I don't believe you really wanted to drop the cake," Elena said, "In fact, I think it was totally an accident."

Possible Answers:

said, "In fact, I think it was totally an accident." 

said? "In fact, I think it was totally an accident." 

said - "In fact, I think it was totally an accident." 

said. "In fact, I think it was totally an accident." 

said; "In fact, I think it was totally an accident." 

Correct answer:

said. "In fact, I think it was totally an accident." 

Explanation:

The error in this sentence is the incorrect punctuation used to separate Elena's first sentence from her second sentence. Since both sentences are complete thoughts, we should change the comma after "said" to a period ("said. 'In fact, I think it was totally an accident.'")

Example Question #703 : Correcting Grammatical 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.

I told my friends that “I was too tired to go out,” but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.

Possible Answers:

I told my friends that “I was too tired to go out,” but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.

I told my friends that I was too tired to go out, but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.

I told my friends that I was too tired to go out but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.

I told my friends that “I was too tired to go out” but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.

I told my friends that, “I was too tired to go out,” but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.

Correct answer:

I told my friends that I was too tired to go out, but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.

Explanation:

“I was too tired to go out” is an indirect quotation; we know this because it’s preceded by the word “that.” Since indirect quotations don’t require quotation marks, and since a comma is needed before the conjunction (“but”) to separate these two independent clauses, the correct answer is “I told my friends that I was too tired to go out, but really I just wanted to catch up on my favorite TV series.”

Example Question #11 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.

He bought a new book, "Brave New World," to read in his free time.

Possible Answers:

He bought a new book, "Brave New World," to read in his free time.

He bought a new book, "Brave New World," to read in his free time.

He bought a new book, Brave "New" World, to read in his free time.

He bought a new book, Brave New World, to read in his free time.

He bought a new book, Brave New World, to read in his free time.

Correct answer:

He bought a new book, Brave New World, to read in his free time.

Explanation:

This sentence contains a misuse of quotation marks. The words "Brave New World" is an example of the title of a book (written by Aldous Huxley in 1932), which should either be italicized or underlined. The correct answer is, "He bought a new book, Brave New World, to read in his free time."

Example Question #12 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.

He said, "She said, "We will make the decision by Monday.""

Possible Answers:

"She said, 'we will make the decision by Monday.'"

"She said, 'We will make the decision by Monday.'"

"She said, we will make the decision by Monday."

"She said, "We will make the decision by Monday.""

"She said, We will make the decision by Monday."

Correct answer:

"She said, 'We will make the decision by Monday.'"

Explanation:

This sentence contains a misuse of quotation marks. When a quote is inside of another quotation, single quotation marks must be used for the inner quotation. All other rules for capitalization and punctuation are also followed for quotes within quotes. The correct answer is: ""She said, 'We will make the decision by Monday.'"

Example Question #13 : Correcting Quotation Mark Errors

Which option best replaces the underlined sentence?

The poem The Road Not Taken is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems.

Possible Answers:

The poem "The Road Not Taken" is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems.

The poem "The Road Not Taken" is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems.

The poem The Road Not Taken, is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems.

The poem The Road Not Taken is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems.

The poem The Road Not Taken is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems.

Correct answer:

The poem "The Road Not Taken" is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems.

Explanation:

This sentence contains a quotation error. Stories, poems, and excerpts (along with other forms of media) should have quotes around them. Unlike books, they are not underlined/italicized. The correct answer is, "The poem "The Road Not Taken" is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems."

The "Road Not Taken" was first published in 1916.

Example Question #14 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.

My 'friend' gave me a visit today.

Possible Answers:

friend, gave

friend gave,

"friend" gave

"friend," gave

",friend" gave

Correct answer:

"friend" gave

Explanation:

This sentence misuses single quotation marks. Single quotation marks can only be used within an existing quotation. Double quotes should be used instead, since it is indicating here that the word "friend" is being used in some special  or ironic way. The best choice is, " "friend" gave."

Example Question #711 : Correcting Grammatical 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.

“Words like prejudice and bigotry are too negative for this publication,” she said.

Possible Answers:

“Words like ‘prejudice,’ and ‘bigotry,’ are too negative for this publication,” 

“Words like ‘prejudice’ and ‘bigotry’ are too negative for this publication,”

“Words like "prejudice" and ‘bigotry’ are too negative for this publication,”

“Words like “prejudice” and “bigotry” are too negative for this publication,”

“Words like ‘prejudice’ and ‘bigotry’ are too negative for this publication”

Correct answer:

“Words like ‘prejudice’ and ‘bigotry’ are too negative for this publication,”

Explanation:

Double quotation marks are conventionally used to indicate speech, and commas are conventionally used inside the quotation marks to separate a line of speech from its dialogue tag. Double quotation marks (without commas) are also conventionally used around a word or term to indicate discussion of that word or term in speech. However, because “prejudice” and “bigotry” are already within a set of double quotation marks here, single quotation marks must be used.

Example Question #15 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.

Kendra's pair of "Nunn Bush" shoes arrived in the mail today.

Possible Answers:

Nunn Bush, shoes arrived in the mail today.

Nunn Bush shoes, arrived in the mail today.

Nunn Bush shoes arrived in the mail today.

"Nunn Bush" shoes arrived in the mail today.

"Nunn Bush" shoes, arrived in the mail today.

Correct answer:

Nunn Bush shoes arrived in the mail today.

Explanation:

This sentence misuses commas. It is clear that the words "Nunn Bush" is supposed to be the brand name of the shoes. Brand names are never put in quotations and no additional punctuation is necessary. The correct choice is, "Nunn Bush shoes arrived in the mail today."

Example Question #16 : Correcting Quotation Mark 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.

"The Hunger Games" is a very popular series of novels, revolving around the adventures of Katniss Everdeen in the dystopian country of Panem.

Possible Answers:

The Hunger Games is a very popular series of novels

"The Hunger Games" is a very popular series of novels

"The Hunger Games," is a very popular series of novels

The Hunger Games is a very popular series of novels

"The Hunger Games" is a very popular series of novels

Correct answer:

The Hunger Games is a very popular series of novels

Explanation:

This sentence misuses quotation marks. Since The Hunger Games is the title of a series of books, it should be underlined OR italicized (not both). "The Hunger Games is a very popular series of novels" is the correct choice since it is the only choice that punctuates this series of words properly.

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