PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Other 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.

 

Making a great deal of money, is rarely a path to happiness.

Possible Answers:

Making a great deal of money is rarely a path to happiness.

Making a great deal of money, is rarely a path to happiness.

Making a great deal of money, rarely a path to happiness.

Making a great deal of money, being rarely a path to happiness.

Making, a great deal of money, is rarely a path to happiness.

Correct answer:

Making a great deal of money is rarely a path to happiness.

Explanation:

The use of the comma in the middle of this sentence is completely unnecessary and weirdly divides the sentence into two. No punctuation is needed in this sentence, and the best choice is to remove the comma. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Making a great deal of money is rarely a path to happiness."

Example Question #2 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Other 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.

Many former army commanders came out against the plan, in newspapers as soon as the story was leaked.

Possible Answers:

Many former army commanders came out against the plan in newspapers as soon as the story was leaked.

Many, former army commanders, came out against the plan, in newspapers as soon as the story was leaked.

Many former army commanders, came out against the plan, in newspapers as soon as the story was leaked.

Many former army commanders came out against the plan, in newspapers as soon, as the story was leaked.

Many, former army commanders came out against the plan, in newspapers as soon as the story was leaked.

Correct answer:

Many former army commanders came out against the plan in newspapers as soon as the story was leaked.

Explanation:

The sentence does not need more commas inserted into it, but fewer. The sole usage in the sentence is a comma splice, or a random insertion of a comma where it should not be. The correct answer choice is "Many former army commanders came out against the plan in newspapers as soon as the story was leaked."

Example Question #781 : Improving Sentences

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.

Under no circumstances, would he let his child go to the public pool.

Possible Answers:

Under no circumstances' would he let

Under no circumstances, would he leave

Under no circumstances, would he let

Under no circumstances would he let

Under, no circumstances, would he let

Correct answer:

Under no circumstances would he let

Explanation:

The use of the comma after "circumstances" is incorrect, as the verb "would" connects the conditional phrase to the rest of the sentence. This means no punctuation is necessary, so "Under no circumstances would he let" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Other 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.

The worst part, about his new job, was working longer hours without overtime.

Possible Answers:

The worst part, about his new job, 

The worst part, about his new job

The worst part about his new job, 

The worst part about his new job

The worst part about, his new job, 

Correct answer:

The worst part about his new job

Explanation:

The phrase "about his new job" is vital to the construction of the sentence, as it provides information about the second part of the sentence; therefore, it should not be set apart by commas. The correct answer is "The worst part about his new job."

Example Question #141 : Correcting Punctuation 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 fourth place finisher at the Olympics receives nothing, but the satisfaction of representing their country and competing.

Possible Answers:

The fourth place finisher at the Olympics receives nothing but the satisfaction of representing his or her country and competing.

The fourth place finisher at the Olympics receives nothing, but the satisfaction of represented his or her country and competing.

The fourth place finisher at the Olympics receives nothing, but the satisfaction of representing his or her country, and competing.

The fourth place finisher at the Olympics receives nothing, but the satisfaction of representing his or her country and competing.

The fourth place finisher at an Olympics receives nothing, but the satisfaction of representing his or her country and competing.

Correct answer:

The fourth place finisher at the Olympics receives nothing but the satisfaction of representing his or her country and competing.

Explanation:

Inserting a comma between "nothing" and "but" is incorrect, as the sentence is one complete thought, and should not be broken up by a comma. The only thing that needs to be changed is that the comma needs to be removed from the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "The fourth place finisher at the Olympics receives nothing but the satisfaction of representing his or her country and competing."

Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

The manager had the deplorable habit of spitting constantly wherever he felt like it.

Possible Answers:

spits constantly wherever he felt like it.

spitting constantly, wherever he felt like it.

spitting constantly wherever he feels like it.

spitting constantly wherever he felt like it.

spits constantly, wherever he felt like it.

Correct answer:

spitting constantly, wherever he felt like it.

Explanation:

The phrase "wherever he felt like it" is a dependent clause that explains more about the main body of the sentence. All dependent clauses must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. As such, "spitting constantly, wherever he felt like it" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #562 : Correcting Punctuation 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 issue proved to be a hot topic for years as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.

Possible Answers:

The issue proved to be a hot topic for years and ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.

The issue proved to be a hot topic for years, ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.

The issue proved to be a hot topic for years, as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.

The issue proved to be a hot topic for years as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.

The issue proved to be a hot topic for years so ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.

Correct answer:

The issue proved to be a hot topic for years, as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.

Explanation:

The sentence in the question is a compound sentence, one that joins two complete thoughts to show their relationship to each other. While the conjunction "as" connects the two parts, it also needs a comma to join the two thoughts together correctly. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "The issue proved to be a hot topic for years, as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities."

Example Question #2 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

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.

Home cooks are at a disadvantage to professional chefs because the quality of their equipment is not at the same level.

Possible Answers:

Home cooks, are at a disadvantage to professional chefs, because the quality of their equipment is not at the same level.

Home cooks are at a disadvantage to professional chefs, because the quality of their equipment is not at the same level.

Home cooks are at a disadvantage to professional chefs because the quality of their equipment, not at the same level.

Home cooks are at a disadvantage to professional chefs because the quality of their equipment is not at the same level.

Home cooks are at a disadvantage to professional chefs as the quality of their equipment is not at the same level.

Correct answer:

Home cooks are at a disadvantage to professional chefs, because the quality of their equipment is not at the same level.

Explanation:

The sentence is written as a compound sentence, containing two complete independent clauses, but does not properly connect them. A compound sentence must be connected either by a semicolon or a comma and conjunction, which in this sentence is "because." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Home cooks are at a disadvantage to professional chefs, because the quality of their equipment is not at the same level."

Example Question #781 : Improving Sentences

Under the circumstances, people were completely willing to eat the poor meat as it was all they had to eat.

Possible Answers:

the poor meat it was all they had to eat.

the poor meat was all they had to eat.

the poor meat, as it was all they had to eat.

the poor meat as it was all they had for eating.

the poor meat as it was all they had to eat.

Correct answer:

the poor meat, as it was all they had to eat.

Explanation:

The phrase "as it was all they had to eat" is used as an explanatory phrase, which is unnecessary to the construction of the sentence. Such a phrase needs to be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma; therefore, the correct answer is "the poor meat, as it was all they had to eat."

Example Question #783 : Improving Sentences

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.

Unlike his contemporaries, the author abhorred fancy displays of his verbal acuity preferring to use simplified language.

Possible Answers:

displays of his verbal acuity, preferring to use simplified language.

displays of his verbal acuity preferring to use simplified language.

displaying of his verbal acuity preferring to use simplified language.

displays of his verbal acuity preferring to use simplifying language.

displays of his verbal acuity preferring to use a simplified language.

Correct answer:

displays of his verbal acuity, preferring to use simplified language.

Explanation:

The phrase "preferring to use simplifying language" is a dependent clause, a clause that cannot be used as a complete sentence but instead relies on other information. Although it cannot stand alone, it still needs to be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma; therefore, the correct answer is " displays of his verbal acuity, preferring to use simplified language."

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