GMAT Verbal : Correcting Punctuation Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Correcting Colon 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.
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.
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.
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 #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.
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 #11 : Correcting Colon 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, 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, 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 #22 : Colon 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 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 #97 : 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 #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.
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; 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.
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.
Example Question #31 : Colon 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.
In the past three years, Jing has lived in Madison, Wisconsin: Ann Arbor, Michigan: and Laramie, Wyoming.
In the past three years, Jing has lived in: Madison, Wisconsin: Ann Arbor, Michigan: and Laramie, Wyoming.
In the past three years, Jing has lived in Madison, Wisconsin, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Laramie, Wyoming.
In the past three years, Jing has lived in Madison, Wisconsin; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Laramie, Wyoming.
In the past three years, Jing has lived in Madison, Wisconsin: Ann Arbor, Michigan: and Laramie, Wyoming.
In the past three years, Jing has lived in: Madison, Wisconsin; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Laramie, Wyoming.
In the past three years, Jing has lived in Madison, Wisconsin; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Laramie, Wyoming.
Because “In the past three years, Jing has lived in” is not an independent clause, no punctuation is needed to separate it from the list that follows. Because the items in the list are compound (each place name contains a comma), semicolons are needed to separate the items and provide clarity.
Example Question #32 : Colon Errors
Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate; he or she should be experienced, amiable, and willing to put in long hours.
Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate; he or she should be experienced, amiable, and willing to put in long hours.
Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate; He or she should be experienced, amiable, and willing to put in long hours.
Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate: he or she should be experienced, amiable, and willing to put in long hours.
Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate, He or she should be experienced, amiable, and willing to put in long hours.
Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate, he or she should be experienced, amiable, and willing to put in long hours.
Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate: he or she should be experienced, amiable, and willing to put in long hours.
Because “Julia had several requirements for the ideal job candidate” is an independent clause, the list that follows must be preceded by a colon, not a semicolon.
Example Question #1422 : Sat Writing
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.
Lacey has several basic babysitting rules, the children can only have one friend over at a time, the TV can’t be on during dinner, and bedtime is at eight o’clock sharp.
Lacey has several basic babysitting rules; The children can only have one friend over at a time, the TV can’t be on during dinner, and bedtime is at eight o’clock sharp.
Lacey has several basic babysitting rules, The children can only have one friend over at a time, the TV can’t be on during dinner, and bedtime is at eight o’clock sharp.
Lacey has several basic babysitting rules; the children can only have one friend over at a time, the TV can’t be on during dinner, and bedtime is at eight o’clock sharp.
Lacey has several basic babysitting rules: the children can only have one friend over at a time, the TV can’t be on during dinner, and bedtime is at eight o’clock sharp.
Lacey has several basic babysitting rules, the children can only have one friend over at a time, the TV can’t be on during dinner, and bedtime is at eight o’clock sharp.
Lacey has several basic babysitting rules: the children can only have one friend over at a time, the TV can’t be on during dinner, and bedtime is at eight o’clock sharp.
Because “Lacey has several basic babysitting rules" is an independent clause, the list that follows must be preceded by a colon. A semicolon is never used to separate a list from its antecedent.
Example Question #122 : 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.
The following students must report immediately to the principal’s office: Jamie Kendrick, Leon Duke, and Cesar Alonso.
The following students: must report immediately to the principal’s office, Jamie Kendrick, Leon Duke, and Cesar Alonso.
The following students must report immediately to the principal’s office; Jamie Kendrick, Leon Duke, and Cesar Alonso.
The following students must report immediately to the principal’s office, Jamie Kendrick, Leon Duke, and Cesar Alonso.
The following students must report immediately to the principal’s office: Jamie Kendrick, Leon Duke, and Cesar Alonso.
The following students must report immediately to the principal’s office: Jamie Kendrick; Leon Duke; Cesar Alonso.
The following students must report immediately to the principal’s office: Jamie Kendrick, Leon Duke, and Cesar Alonso.
Here, we’re separating an independent clause (“The following students must report immediately to the principal’s office”) from a list (the students’ names), 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. Although the list that follows the semicolon isn’t a complete sentence, the first word must still be capitalized because it’s a person’s name. The items in the list aren’t compound items, so a simple comma is fine to separate them.
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