PSAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Identifying Apostrophe 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

Possible Answers:

advertisement's

cleaning, and 

women

No error

1950s

Correct answer:

advertisement's

Explanation:

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 #2 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation

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 otherNo error

Possible Answers:

No error

each other

Gambardella's

they were

made sure to

Correct answer:

Gambardella's

Explanation:

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. 

Example Question #161 : 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.

Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday; so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. No error.

Possible Answers:

was feeling

No error.

particularly 

himself

Tuesday; so

Correct answer:

Tuesday; so

Explanation:

This is an incorrect use of a semi-colon. If you use a semi-colon, you should not follow it with a conjunction. In this case, it sounds best to keep the conjunction “so” and switch the semi-colon to a comma: "Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday, so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie."

Example Question #162 : 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 sidewalk is covered in black ice; so you should be careful when you walk outsideNo error.

Possible Answers:

is covered

should be 

black ice; so

No error.

when you walk outside

Correct answer:

black ice; so

Explanation:

Semicolons should be used to separate two independent clauses that are not connected by a conjunction. "So" is a conjunction here, so a semicolon is not appropriate. Use a comma instead: "The sidewalk is covered in black ice, so you should be careful when you walk outside."

Example Question #2 : Identifying Semicolon Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Resting under the shade of the elm tree, Troy felt relaxed; but he knew it would soon be time to go home. No error.

Possible Answers:

Resting under

the elm tree,

relaxed;

No error.

would soon be

Correct answer:

relaxed;

Explanation:

The semicolon is used to combine two related sentences without a conjunction. This one should be replaced with a comma because the second part of the sentence would not be a complete sentence on its own. So, the correct answer is "relaxed ;" because this part of the sentence contains an error.

Example Question #163 : 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.

Knitting may appear complex, but even its most complicated patterns can be created from a combination of just two stitches; knit stitches and purl stitches. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

complex, but even

appear

just two stitches;

can be created

Correct answer:

just two stitches;

Explanation:

This sentence's error lies in the incorrect way in which it uses a semicolon to introduce a list. "Knit stitches and purl stitches" are the "two stitches" that the sentence introduces earlier, so a colon is the most appropriate punctuation mark to use in this instance. The corrected sentence reads, "Knitting may appear complex, but even its most complicated patterns can be created from a combination of just two stitches: knit stitches and purl stitches."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Semicolon Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Frances took a moment to collect herself; before pressing the button and sealing the pneumatic door foreverNo error

Possible Answers:

and

herself; before

No error

forever

took a moment

Correct answer:

herself; before

Explanation:

This sentence misuses a semicolon, which is generally used to separate two independent clauses. In this adverbial phrase, no punctuation is needed. The corrected sentence reads, "Frances took a moment to collect herself before pressing the button and sealing the pneumatic door forever."

Example Question #13 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The community members voiced various complaints; such as their distrust of the new energy company buying up local propertyNo error

Possible Answers:

their distrust

No error

buying up local property

complaints; such as

various

Correct answer:

complaints; such as

Explanation:

This sentence misuses a semi-colon. These should be used to separate two independent clauses, so either side should be able to stand on its own as a sentence. Here, the latter half of the sentence is not an independent clause and cannot stand on its own, so you should use a comma instead: "The community members voiced various complaints, such as their distrust of the new energy company buying up local property."

Example Question #164 : 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.

Everyone on the team agreed that the best option was to forfeit the game; without their best player; the team didn't have a chance of winningNo error

Possible Answers:

game; without

player; the

best option

No error

chance of winning

Correct answer:

player; the

Explanation:

A comma should be used instead of a semicolon to separate the introductory phrase "without their best player" from the rest of the second independent clause "the team didn't have a chance of winning."

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.

That book over there belongs to Eileen; so we should return it to her before she needs to study for the massive English test next week. No error

Possible Answers:

to study

No error

Eileen;

there

that

Correct answer:

Eileen;

Explanation:

A semicolon is meant to connect two thoughts that are both independent clauses. However, the second clause here is dependent and is connected by the word "so." In this situation, a comma would be appropriate to link that subordinate clause to the first independent clause. So, the corrected sentence would read, "That book over there belongs to Eileen, so we should help return it to her before she needs to study for the massive English test next week."

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