GMAT Verbal : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #15 : Correcting Other 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.
Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take".
once said "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take."
once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take".
once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take."
once said: "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take".
once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.".
once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take."
This sentence contains an error in the placement of the period at the end. Periods and any ending punctuation should always appear inside of quotation marks. Note, there should never be two ending punctuation marks, as in the case with the choice that has a period on the inside and outside of the quotation marks. No additional corrections are necessary. The correct choice is, "once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." "
Example Question #16 : Correcting Other 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.
He titled his new book "Leaves Fall Where They May."
Leaves Fall Where They May.
"Leaves Fall Where They May."
Leaves Fall Where They May.
"Leaves Fall Where They May."
'Leaves Fall Where They May.'
Leaves Fall Where They May.
This sentence contains an error in the punctuation of the title of the book. Titles of books/full works should be underlined or italicized. The correct choice is, "Leaves Fall Where They May." Note that quotations are used for things like songs or poems - things generally a part of a larger body of work.
Example Question #17 : Correcting Other Punctuation Errors
Please choose the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the options will remain unchanged.
Twenty odd people came to the poetry reading at the theater.
Twenty, odd, people came to the poetry reading at the theater.
Twenty odd people came to the poetry reading at the theater.
Twenty odd, people came to the poetry reading at the theater.
Twenty, odd people came to the poetry reading at the theater.
Twenty-odd people came to the poetry reading at the theater.
Twenty-odd people came to the poetry reading at the theater.
We need to use the hyphen punctuation in this sentence to avoid ambiguity. "Twenty-odd people' and 'Twenty odd people' makes a big difference to the meaning of the sentence! Therefore, we need to somehow connect the words. We do that with a hyphen.
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