PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #5 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
Paella is a seafood dish from Spain that contains several delicious ingredients: pasta, shrimp, calamari, and the spice known as saffron.
ingredients. Pasta, shrimp, calamari, and the spice known as saffron.
ingredients; pasta, shrimp, calamari, and the spice known as saffron.
ingredients . . . pasta shrimp, calamari, and the spice known as saffron.
ingredients: pasta, shrimp, calamari, and the spice known as saffron.
ingredients, pasta, shrimp, calamari, and the spice known as saffron.
ingredients: pasta, shrimp, calamari, and the spice known as saffron.
This sentence contains no error. The colon is the best punctuation for denoting a list of things that do not form a complete sentence.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Appositive 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Jimmy was afraid that Butch the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy, was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch the biggest bully in school wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!
An appositive phrase sits next to a noun and renames it. An appositive phrase is surrounded by commas, and the sentence would still be grammatically correct if it were taken out. Because the appositive phrase "the biggest bully in school" renames "Butch" it should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, making the correct sentence "Jimmy was afraid that Butch, the biggest bully in school, wanted to fight him on the playground; Jimmy did not have a death wish!" Note that while a period would not be incorrect in this instance, the exclamation point is also, technically, grammatically correct, and also note that a semicolon is correctly used to connect two independent clauses.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase Errors
Select the option that best replaces the underlined word or phrase.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered, speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement, delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered, speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered, speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement, delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later.
An appositive phrase sits next to a noun and renames it. An appositive phrase is surrounded by commas, and the sentence would still be grammatically correct if it were taken out. Because the appositive phrase "one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement" renames "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," it should have a comma at the beginning and a comma at the end, making the correct sentence "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the leading activists in America's Civil Rights Movement, delivered speeches that continue to inspire listeners more than 40 years later." In the example sentence, the comma was incorrectly placed after a word that was not a part of the appositive phrase.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Cindy found that she like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that, she like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she, like her older brothers as well, enjoying to collect art more than creating it.
Cindy found, like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she, like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
Cindy found that she, like her older brothers, enjoyed collecting art more than creating it.
In this sentence, the subject is "Cindy," also referred to with the pronoun "she." The phrase "like her older brothers" is an interrupting phrase, giving additional information that is not necessary for the sentence to be grammatically complete. Therefore, this phrase should be separated from the main clause with two commas. The correct answer choice separates the interrupting phrase without introducing any new errors.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Appositive And Interrupting Phrase 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along, with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams had taken months to prepare, for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
Maura, along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams, had taken months to prepare for the intramural sports meet.
The phrase "along with the rest of her school's swimming and soccer teams" gives additional information that should be set off from the subject and predicate of the sentence with commas. It is an interrupting phrase, and the correct answer choice separates it from the subject of the sentence, "Maura." The sentence, as it is written currently, misuses a comma, separating the subject of the sentence from the verb.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
One of Robert's role models is his father, a fireman, local hero, and small business owner, he started a popular clothing retail store.
owner having started
owner who started
owner, he started
owner, having started
owner, starting
owner who started
Grammatically, it is best to avoid use of verbs ending in "-ing" where they are not necessary. The correct answer avoids this by using the phrase "owner who started." It is also the most efficient (and least wordy) option.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Although I was raised in an English-speaking household, I always found French and Spanish much more beautiful.
Although I, raised in an English-speaking household, always found French and Spanish much more beautiful.
Although I was raised in an English-speaking household; I always found French and Spanish much more beautiful.
Although I was always raised in an English-speaking household, found French and Spanish much more beautiful.
Although I was raised in an English-speaking household, I always found French and Spanish much more beautiful.
I was raised in an English-speaking household, I always found French and Spanish much more beautiful.
Although I was raised in an English-speaking household, I always found French and Spanish much more beautiful.
The original sentence contains a subordinate clause, "Although I was raised in an English-speaking household," and an independent clause, "I always found French and Spanish much more beautiful." Therefore the comma separating them is correct, and the sentence contains no error. The word "although," especially when used at the beginning of a sentence, is an easy marker for subordinate clauses.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
I find myself very drawn to the sea, I try to visit it often.
I find myself very drawn to the sea, I try to visit it often.
I find myself very drawn to the sea; I try to visit it often.
I, finding myself very drawn to the sea, I try to visit it often.
I find myself, and very drawn to the sea, so I try to visit it often.
To find myself very drawn to the sea, I try to visit it often.
I find myself very drawn to the sea; I try to visit it often.
In this question, the original sentence was actually formed by two independent clauses combined with a comma (a comma splice). In order to unite two independent clauses, either one clause must be subordinated, or stronger punctuation must be used. Only the correct answer choice connects the independent clauses with the correct punctuation, in this case, a semicolon.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Angles, Jutes, and Saxons, were the dominant tribes that invaded Britain during that era.
Angles, Jutes, and Saxons, were
Angles, Jutes, Saxons, were
Angles Jutes, and Saxons were
Angles Jutes Saxons were
Angles, Jutes, and Saxons were
Angles, Jutes, and Saxons were
The list that forms the subject of the sentence, "Angles, Jutes, and Saxons," appropriately separates its items with commas. The comma between "Saxons" and "were" splits the subject of the sentence from the verb, and should be removed. This makes "Angles, Jutes, and Saxons were" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
Jane Sally and Suzy all went to the zoo together, making the experience one they all three would treasure.
Jane, Sally, and Suzy all went to the zoo together
Jane Sally, and Suzy all went to the zoo together
Jane Sally and Suzy all went to the zoo together
Jane Sally and Suzy, all went to the zoo together
Jane, Sally, and Suzy, all went to the zoo together
Jane, Sally, and Suzy all went to the zoo together
The list of names that forms the subject of the sentence is written incorrectly. All lists need to have commas separating their parts from each other for purposes of clarity. The correct answer choice is "Jane, Sally, and Suzy all went to the zoo together."
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