SAT Writing : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #61 : 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.
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to become a great chef, chefs are often underappreciated as artists.
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to become a great chef, but chefs are often underappreciated as artists.
It takes a lot of time effort and money to become a great chef chefs are often underappreciated as artists.
It takes a lot of time, effort and money to become a great chef, chefs are often underappreciated as artists.
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to become a great chef, chefs are often underappreciated as artists.
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to become a great chef chefs are often underappreciated as artists.
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to become a great chef, but chefs are often underappreciated as artists.
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma it results in an error known as a comma splice. In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. The options to join two independent clauses into one sentence are either a comma followed by a conjunction or a semicolon (with no conjunction).
Example Question #62 : 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.
Cooking is really rather more art than science, it's extremely difficult to become an expert cook.
Cooking is really rather more art than science, its extremely difficult to become an expert cook.
Cooking is really rather more art than science; it's extremely difficult to become an expert cook.
Cooking is real rather more art than science, it's extremely difficult to become an expert cook.
Cooking, is really rather more art than science, it's extremely difficult to become an expert cook.
Cooking is really rather more art than science, it's extremely difficult to become an expert cook.
Cooking is really rather more art than science; it's extremely difficult to become an expert cook.
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma it results in an error known as the "comma splice." In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. In terms of smoothness, the best choice would be a semicolon.
Example Question #61 : 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.
Bourbon is an exceptional kind of whiskey, it may only be produced in the United States.
Bourbon is an exceptional kind of whiskey; and it may only be produced in the United States.
Bourbon is an exceptional kind of whiskey, with it may only be produced in the United States.
Bourbon is an exceptional kind of whiskey; while it may only be produced in the United States.
Bourbon is an exceptional kind of whiskey; it may only be produced in the United States.
Bourbon is an exceptional kind of whiskey, it may only be produced in the United States.
Bourbon is an exceptional kind of whiskey; it may only be produced in the United States.
Independent clauses are grammatically complete sentences that could stand on their own. For a variety of reasons (most of them related to content and context) you may, on occasion, wish to combine two independent clauses into one compound sentences. In such cases, the two grammatically correct options available are to use a semicolon (with no coordinating conjunction) or to use a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction. For the example above, a semicolon is the only correct option provided.
Example Question #64 : 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.
The swamp fiends were extraordinarily dangerous, they had claimed several lives since last month.
The swamp fiends were extraordinarily dangerous, they had claimed several lives since last month.
The swamp fiends were extraordinarily dangerous; they had claimed several lives since last month.
The swamp fiends were extraordinarily dangerous, them had claimed several lives since last month.
The swamp fiends were extraordinarily dangerous, they will have claimed several lives since last month.
The swamp fiends were extraordinarily dangerous; them had claimed several lives since last month.
The swamp fiends were extraordinarily dangerous; they had claimed several lives since last month.
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma it results in a comma splice error. Commas (by themselves) should be used to separate dependent clauses from main clauses, but should never be used to connect two independent clauses. A semicolon or a comma WITH a conjunction can connect two independent clauses into one compound sentence. In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses.
Example Question #65 : 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.
There are essentially two ways to cook an octopus, the better way is to cook it quickly over high heat.
There are essentially two ways to cook an octopus, the better way is to cook it quickly over high heat.
There are essentially two ways to cook an octopus, and the more good way is to cook it quickly over high heat.
There are essentially two ways to cook an octopus, the best way is to cook it quickly over high heat.
There are essentially two ways to cook an octopus; and the better way is to cook it quickly over high heat.
There are essentially two ways to cook an octopus, but the better way is to cook it quickly over high heat.
There are essentially two ways to cook an octopus, but the better way is to cook it quickly over high heat.
Comma splice errors occur when two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma. In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses, since both clauses could stand on their own as grammatically complete sentences. The only correct option provided corrects the comma splice in the example by simply adding a coordinating conjunction after the comma.
Example Question #1571 : 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.
The man surveyed the party wolfishly, he was looking for the appetizer plates.
The man surveyed the party wolfishly...
The man surveyed the party wolfishly; he was looking for prey.
The man surveyed the party; and
The man surveyed the party wolfishly,
The man surveyed the party wolfishly and,
The man surveyed the party wolfishly; he was looking for prey.
A comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a single comma. One option is to simply make the two independent clauses into separate sentences. If you wish to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you may either use a comma followed by an appropriate coordinating conjunction or you may use a semicolon without a conjunction. The only correct option provided replaces the comma with a semicolon.
Example Question #67 : 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.
I'm really enjoying the latest crop of television shows, I wish I had more time to watch them all.
I'm really enjoying the latest crop of television shows, I wish I had more time to watch them all.
I'm really enjoying the latest crop of television shows, that I wish I had more time to watch them all.
I'm really enjoying the latest crop of television shows, and I wish I had more time to watch them all.
I'm really enjoying the latest crop of television shows: so I wish I had more time to watch them all.
I'm really enjoying the latest crop of television shows, with I wish I had more time to watch them all.
I'm really enjoying the latest crop of television shows, and I wish I had more time to watch them all.
A comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a single comma. One option is to simply make the two independent clauses into separate sentences. If you wish to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you may either use a comma followed by an appropriate coordinating conjunction or you may use a semicolon without a conjunction. The only correct option provided adds an appropriate coordinating conjunction, although replacing the comma with a semicolon would also make the sentence grammatically correct. In your own writing, your choice between these options is a matter of personal prose style, not grammatical correctness.
Example Question #68 : 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.
Karoline is my best friend; and I wish she were still around.
Karoline is my best friend, I wish she were still around.
Karoline is my best friend; I wish she were still around.
Karoline is my best friend; but I wish she were still around.
Karoline is my best friend; and I wish she were still around.
Karoline is my best friend and, I wish she were still around.
Karoline is my best friend; I wish she were still around.
A comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a single comma. One option is to simply make the two independent clauses into separate sentences. If you wish to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you may either use a comma followed by an appropriate coordinating conjunction or you may use a semicolon without a conjunction. The example sentence makes an error by adding a coordinating conjunction after a semicolon. The correct answer simply deletes the conjunction.
Example Question #69 : 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.
I'm extremely tired today, I have a lot of work to do before I can sleep.
I'm extremely tired today, I have a lot of work to do before I can sleep.
I'm extremely tired today; and I have a lot of work to do before I can sleep.
I'm extremely tired today; but I have a lot of work to do before I can sleep.
I'm extremely tired today, but I have a lot of work to do before I can sleep.
I'm extremely tired today while unfortunately I have a lot of work to do before I can sleep.
I'm extremely tired today, but I have a lot of work to do before I can sleep.
A comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a single comma. One option is to simply make the two independent clauses into separate sentences. If you wish to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you may either use a comma followed by an appropriate coordinating conjunction or you may use a semicolon without a conjunction.
In the example above, both clauses are independent, thus something more than a comma is needed to connect them into a compound sentence. The only correct option does so with a comma and the coordinating conjunction "but."
Example Question #70 : 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.
I'm committed to enjoying every bite of my meal, I'm extremely excited about eating.
I'm committed to enjoying every bite of my meal; and I'm extremely excited about eating.
I'm committed to enjoying every bite of my meals, I'm extremely excited about eating.
I'm committed to enjoying every bite of my meal, I'm extremely excited about eating.
I'm committed to enjoying every bite of my meal, I'm extremely excited about eating them.
I'm committed to enjoying every bite of my meal; I'm extremely excited about eating.
I'm committed to enjoying every bite of my meal; I'm extremely excited about eating.
A comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a single comma. One option is to simply make the two independent clauses into separate sentences. If you wish to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you may either use a comma followed by an appropriate coordinating conjunction or you may use a semicolon without a conjunction.
In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses, and the only correct option provided uses a semicolon. Note that semicolons should never be followed by a coordinating conjunction.
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