SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors
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Example Question #41 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I've had an incredibly long day, I worked for almost eleven hours. No error
I've had
for
eleven hours.
day,
No error
day,
In the example sentence both "I've had an incredibly long day" and "I worked for almost eleven hours" are acting as grammatically complete, independent clauses. Thus, the comma after "day" must either be replaced with a semicolon, or have a coordinating conjunction added after it. The other option would be to replace the comma with a period and make this compound sentence into two separate sentences.
Example Question #42 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Paul found himself in a rather difficult situation the other day, he'd insulted nearly every other researcher on the base with his crass comments. No error
Paul found himself
No error
the other day, he'd
every other researcher
a rather difficult
the other day, he'd
In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses, as both clauses are independent, meaning they could act as their own grammatically complete sentence. Should you choose to connect two such clauses into a compound sentence your choices are to replace the comma with a semicolon (and no conjunction) or to add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "the other day, he'd"
Example Question #43 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It's been extraordinarily difficult to communicate with the outside world lately, I am worried that our communications tower has been damaged by the storms. No error
No error
our communications tower
It's been extraordinarily
been damaged by the storms.
world lately, I am
world lately, I am
The example sentence makes a comma splice error by attempting to connect two independent clauses into a single compound sentence using only a comma. The comma after lately either needs an appropriate coordinating conjunction added after it, or needs to be replaced with a semicolon (and no accompanying conjunction).
Example Question #44 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I got charged three hundred dollars at the box office, I had thought that one of the actors was going to purchase my ticket. No error
I got charged
office, I had
that one
dollars at
No error
office, I had
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this 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. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "office, I had"
The two, equally grammatically correct, options to fix this sentence would be to add an appropriate coordinating conjunction or to simply replace the comma with a semicolon.
Example Question #45 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I'm having a very hard time acting right now, I find myself easily distracted when I'm onstage. No error
easily distracted
I'm having
right now, I find
No error
very hard
right now, I find
This sentence includes a comma splice. The comma between "now" and "I" either needs to be replaced with a semicolon or have an appropriate coordinating conjunction added after it.
Note also that "I'm" is a correct contraction of "I am."
Example Question #46 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
You're one of the most irritating people I have ever met, I'm not a huge fan of the way you comport yourself. No error
No error
You're one
irritating people
you comport yourself.
met, I'm
met, I'm
Here, the comma between "met" and "I'm" creates a comma splice, since it joins two independent clauses without an appropriate coordinating conjunction. The best option, stylistically and grammatically, to fix this sentence would be to add the coordinating conjunction "and" after the comma.
Example Question #47 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Hank can't stand a snitch, if you tell the teacher what he did he's going to come after you. No error
he did he's
Hank can't stand
snitch, if
tell the teacher
No error
snitch, if
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this 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. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "snitch, if"
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Carlos, Jim, and their sister, decided not to visit the old shack by the beach; instead, they stayed home and shared ghost stories in the dark. No error
sister, decided
beach; instead,
No error
shared ghost stories
in the dark
sister, decided
A comma should never end a list: "Carlos, Jim, and their sister decided . . ."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sarah wanted to arrive at the store in time to buy the fresh bread cereal, and chocolate sauce. No error
Sarah
fresh bread
in time
No error
to arrive
fresh bread
Without a comma to make the "fresh bread" an item on the list, the item is unclear: is "fresh bread cereal" an item, or "fresh bread?" We need a comma to clarify.
Example Question #1071 : 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 adviser's job is to apprise the president of developing conflicts in the countries of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania. No error.
of developing
No error.
adviser's job
of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania
to apprise
of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania
The list "Kenya Somalia and Tanzania" contains this sentence's error because it does not use commas to separate its items. It should read "Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania."
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