PSAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Quotation Mark Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Liam told his study group that "he needed to take a break from studying," so the group's members all decided to get sandwiches before beginning to take notes on the textbook's next chapter. No error
No error
the group's members
before beginning to take notes on
"he needed to take a break from studying,"
the textbook's
"he needed to take a break from studying,"
This sentence incorrectly uses quotation marks to set off an indirect quotation from the sentence when no quotation marks are needed. If the sentence said "Liam told his study group, 'I need to take a break from studying,'" then quotation marks would be necessary. However, because the sentence is indirectly telling us what Liam said, and not giving us his exact words, no quotation marks are needed. Removing the quotation marks around "he needed to take a break from studying" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Quotation Mark Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"Help me lift this", she whispered, knowing the request would be her last if she were overheard. No error
were
this", she
would be
me
No error
this", she
Punctuation always goes inside the quotation marks in American English.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Is vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry your favorite flavor of ice cream, or do you prefer another flavor. No error
No error
vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry
another flavor.
do you prefer
your favorite flavor of ice cream
another flavor.
The issue here has to do with punctuation. This sentence needs to end with a question mark because it is a question. The corrected sentence reads, "Is vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry your favorite flavor of ice cream, or do you prefer another flavor?"
Example Question #1 : Identifying Other Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
How did Bosco the chihuahua get her name. The story begins with an act of heroism, a great surprise, and a feast of tamales. No error
tamales.
No error
, and
The
name.
name.
"How did Bosco the chihuahua get her name?" is a rhetorical question and must be punctuated with a question mark. The rest of the sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
There was outrage in the elementary school; the childrens’ recess was shortened by a full ten minutes. No error.
shortened by a full ten minutes.
childrens' recess
No error.
There was
school; the
childrens' recess
Because “children” is an irregularly formed plural, the normal apostrophe rules do not apply. The apostrophe goes before the "s": "There was outrage in the elementary school; the children’s recess was shortened by a full ten minutes."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The football teams near defeat instigated riots through the streets of the city. No error
instigated
No error
football teams
through the streets
near defeat
football teams
This sentence has an apostrophe mistake. Since "football teams defeat" has a possesive in it, it needs an "'s" ending. The corrected sentence reads, "The football team's near defeat instigated riots through the streets of the city."
Example Question #128 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The boy's teacher had forgotten to correct their homework; she had spent the entire night planning the new geography lesson. No error
had forgotten
No error
The boy's
planning
homework; she
The boy's
Be watchful of possessive plural nouns: here, the correct apostrophe will be at the end of the word: "boys'" is correct because the subject is plural.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The Scottish highland cow is infamous for it’s prodigious methane production. No error
infamous for
No error
is
it's prodigious
Scottish
it's prodigious
Here, the wrong form of “its/it’s” is used. With the apostrophe, "it's" means “it is.” The possessive form of "it" is "its." The corrected sentence reads: "The Scottish highland cow is infamous for its prodigious methane production."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Magazine advertisement’s from the 1950s frequently portrayed women cooking, cleaning, and playing with children. No error
women
No error
cleaning, and
1950s
advertisement's
advertisement's
The error in the sentence is “advertisement’s,” which should be written as “advertisements.” An apostrophe should be used to show possession (e.g. "Bob’s cat") or when combining two words in a contraction (ex. "it is" can be written as "it’s"). This sentence is referring to magazine advertisements from the 1950s, but the “women cooking, cleaning, and playing” in the magazine advertisements do not belong to the magazine advertisements.
Example Question #5 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Distance was never an obstacle to the Gambardella's; no matter where they were, they made sure to stay in touch with each other. No error
each other
Gambardella's
No error
made sure to
they were
Gambardella's
It is clear from the excerpt that "Gambardella's" is a plural surname. It is not possessive and should not contain an apostrophe. The rest of the sentence is correct as written.
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