PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Correcting Parallel Structure 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.
Most people, even highly skilled craftsman, are not excellent at designing, building, and maintenance of a house.
designing, building, and maintenance of a house.
designing, build, and maintenance of a house.
designing building and maintaining a house.
designing building and maintenance of a house.
designing, building, and maintaining a house.
designing, building, and maintaining a house.
Any list like the one in the underlined portion of the sentence needs to have a parallel structure in their word forms, which the sentence does not have as written. Each item in such a list also needs to be separated by commas; therefore, the correct answer choice is "designing, building, and maintaining a house."
Example Question #101 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Statistics are not always a reliable source of information, many data are tailored to suit a person’s agenda.
information, many data are
information, many data is
information: many data are
information; many data are
information; many data is
information; many data are
A semicolon is an appropriate punctuation mark to use when separating two full sentences that are closely related, though this separation can also be accomplished with a comma followed by a conjunction. Although the word data does not end in “s,” it is actually plural, so “many data are" is correct.
Example Question #102 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand is considered the spark that led to World War I, however, there were many other factors that contributed to the onset of the war.
led to WWI: however, there were many other factors
led to WWI; however, there was many other factors
led to WWI; however, there were many other factors
led to WWI, however, there were many other factors
led to WWI: however, there was many other factors
led to WWI; however, there were many other factors
Only a semicolon can separate two full sentences that are closely related. “There was” is used when to talk about something singular (one factor), but “there were” is for plural ("factors").
Example Question #103 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 problem being that the office staff does not have enough time nor resources to prepare for large events.
The problem being that the office staff does not have
The problem, being that the office staff does not have
The problem is that the office staff is not having
The problem being that the office staff is not having
The problem is that the office staff does not have
The problem is that the office staff does not have
The original sentence is a fragment. Read it out loud, and it will probably sound like it is missing something. To fix this, change the verb “being” to “is.” This is more direct and fixes the fragment issue. The other choices either don’t fix “being” or add unnecessary progressive verbs (i.e. "is not having").
Example Question #157 : Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
She liked the finer things in life she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
She liked the finer things in life, and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food.
The sentence is a compound sentence, or one sentence that contains two complete thoughts joined together to highlight their relationship to each other. All compound sentences must be joined either by a semicolon or a comma and a conjunction. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "She liked the finer things in life, and she always had to have nice clothes and fine food."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic they were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic was restricted to staff only.
Patients not allowed in many different parts of the clinic were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic; they were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic they were restricted to staff only.
Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic; they were restricted to staff only.
The sentence as written is a compound sentence, or two complete sentences joined into one sentence to show the relationship between the two thoughts. All compound sentences need to be joined by either a semicolon or a comma and a conjunction. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "Patients were not allowed in many different parts of the clinic; they were restricted to staff only."
Example Question #112 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 television show became an overnight success and it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success, it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success and it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success; and it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success; it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The television show became an overnight success; it quickly became the network's biggest hit.
The sentence is a compound sentence, or two sentences that are joined into one sentence to show their relationship. The two independent clauses that form a compound sentence must be connected by either a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. The only answer choice that appropriately employs either of these ways of joining two independent clauses is "The television show became an overnight success; it quickly became the network's biggest hit."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Cats were traditionally used as pest control on small farms and the use of the animals was an inexpensive way to protect food stores.
on small farms, and the use of the animals
on small farms, the use of the animals
on small farms and the use of the animals
on small farms so the use of the animals
on small farms; and the use of the animals
on small farms, and the use of the animals
The sentence is written as a compound sentence, with two independent clauses joined together to show their relationship. All compound sentences must be joined either by a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. The correct answer is the only answer choice that features the appropriate joining, "on small farms, and the use of the animals."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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 smaller child never had any hope fighting his brother one-on-one but he kept picking fights anyway.
one-on-one; but he kept
one-on-one, but he kept
one-on-one he kept
one-on-one but he kept
one-on-one and he kept
one-on-one, but he kept
The sentence is a compound sentence, one that joins two independent clauses together to show their relationship. Any compound sentence needs to be joined by either a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. Only "one-on-one, but he kept" properly joins the two independent clauses of the compound sentence.
Example Question #11 : Sentence Fragment And Sentence Combination 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.
Her daughters were all exemplary students and she was always proud of their academic accomplishments.
exemplary students; and she was always proud
exemplary students so she was always proud
exemplary students, and she was always proud
exemplary students and she was always proud
exemplary students, she was always proud
exemplary students, and she was always proud
The sentence is written as a compound sentence, one that joins two indpendent clauses in one sentence in order to show their relationship. A compound sentence can only be joined by either a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. The only answer choice that properly joins the two clauses is "exemplary students, and she was always proud."
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