SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #211 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

There’s so much I want to do today: go to the beach, mow the lawn, bake a cake; and play chess. No error

Possible Answers:

today:

lawn,

beach,

cake;

No error

Correct answer:

cake;

Explanation:

Because the part of the sentence before the list is an independent clause, a colon is the correct punctuation mark to use to introduce the list. Because the items in the list are “simple” (in other words, they don’t contain multiple phrases and commas), commas, not semicolons, are the correct punctuation mark to use between each item. Also, since the non-underlined portion of the list already uses commas, the semicolon needs to be changed to a comma to match.

Example Question #211 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Tripping on the sidewalk, breaking down in a public place, spilling a drink on oneself, having something caught between one's teeth—all are humiliating moments for a person. No error

Possible Answers:

place,

teeth—all

sidewalk,

yourself

No error

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

The items in this list should each be separated by a comma. (An "and" could appear between the last two items in the list, but it's not strictly necessary.) The list itself is correctly separated from the second part of the sentence by an em-dash, although a colon would also be acceptable. Therefore, the sentence is correct without any changes.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

You have: a stunning smile, a charming laugh, and a great personality; what’s not to like? No error

Possible Answers:

No error

personality;

have:

smile,

laugh,

Correct answer:

have:

Explanation:

Because the part of the sentence before the list (“You have”) is not an independent clause (a complete sentence that could stand on its own), a colon should not be used to introduce the list in this sentence. Colons are only used to introduce lists that come after independent clauses.

Example Question #53 : 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.

Sam, Quinn, and their sister, Leah, decided to start their own garden in the vacant lot next to their house. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

Leah,

sister,

Sam,

Quinn,

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

Here, the list is punctuated correctly. There should be a comma between each item in the list and an additional comma on either side of “Leah,” which modifies “their sister.” (If “their sister, Leah,” was the first or second item in the list, a semicolon would be needed to separate the items for clarity’s sake, but in this version of the sentence it’s not necessary; the relationship of the three people is perfectly clear in this order.)

Example Question #54 : 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 was hoping we wouldn’t have to go over the preliminary sketches blueprints, or plans. No error

Possible Answers:

go over

sketches

blueprints,

was hoping

No error

Correct answer:

sketches

Explanation:

A comma is needed to separate each item in the list: “preliminary sketches,” “blueprints,” and “plans.”

Example Question #55 : 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.

Which do you think is best: coffee, tea, or juice? No error

Possible Answers:

best,

No error

Which

tea,

coffee,

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence is properly punctuated, since a comma is required between each item in a list and the colon is properly used to introduce the list.

Example Question #211 : Identifying Punctuation 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 Día de los Muertos event at school featured a dinner consisting of a burrito bar a taco station, and three varieties of flan. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

featured 

three varieties

consisting of 

bar a 

Correct answer:

bar a 

Explanation:

The list of features of the event is missing a comma between "bar" and "a" that would correctly distinguish all three features.

Example Question #57 : 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.

The large fish, the turtles, and the small fish, all got along well in the same tank; there were no attacks of any sort by one species against another. No error

Possible Answers:

tank; there

No error

turtles, and

small fish, all

by one species against another

Correct answer:

small fish, all

Explanation:

A comma should never end a list. The corrected first clause of the sentence would read: "The large fish, the turtles, and the small fish all got along well." A semicolon is appropriate in this sentence to separate the two independent clauses. 

Example Question #58 : 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.

Math, physics, and biology are Marco's three favorite subjects in school. No error

Possible Answers:

in

Marco's

Math, physics, and biology

No error

favorite

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

Whenever you have a list of more than two items in a sentence, each item in the list needs to be separated by commas. An apostrophe is correctly used to indicate that the preferences are "Marco's." "In" is the correct preposition in this context. This sentence is correct as it is written.

Example Question #217 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I really hate three chores in particular: cleaning, doing laundry and mowing the lawn. No error

Possible Answers:

particular:

No error

three chores

I

cleaning, doing laundry and mowing the lawn.

Correct answer:

cleaning, doing laundry and mowing the lawn.

Explanation:

Whenever you have a list of more than two items in a sentence each item in that list needs to be separated by commas. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "I really hate three chores in particular: cleaning, doing laundry, and mowing the lawn." Note that "doing laundry" and "mowing the lawn" constitute single items in the list. Also note that parallel structure must be maintained within the list.

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