SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #14 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
There are three qualities that make a truly great tennis player: coordination athleticism, and discipline. NO ERROR
great
NO ERROR
coordination athleticism, and discipline.
are
tennis player:
coordination athleticism, and discipline.
Whenever you have a list of three or more things in a sentence, each item of the list should be separated by a comma. As such, there should be a comma between "coordination" and "athleticism" in the sentence above.
Example Question #15 : 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.
The restaurant's ice cream selection was quite unconventional; the only three flavors they offered were, peanut butter, blackberry, and grass. No error
was
unconventional;
restaurant's
No error
were,
were,
There should be no comma directly after "were." Commas are used to separate items in a list but not to introduce the list. No punctuation is necessary here.
Example Question #16 : 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.
On her summer road trip, Kayli visited Boston, and New York for a week each, and she stayed in Baltimore for three days. No error
stayed in
trip,
Boston,
a week each,
No error
Boston,
This question tests knowledge of commas in lists. In Standard American English, it is convention to not put commas in lists if there are only two items and to put them in if there are three or more items. Since there are only two cities in the first part of the sentence (Boston and New York), there is no need for a comma. A corrected sentence would be "On her summer road trip, Kayli visited Boston and New York for a week each, and she stayed in Baltimore for three days."
Example Question #65 : 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.
For the Fourth of July picnic on the White House lawn, Luke's father packed salads, sandwiches with peanut butter and pickles for the children, but unfortunately, he forgot to pack water. No error
No error
and pickles
children,
Fourth of July
unfortunately
and pickles
This sentence is testing knowledge of the use of commas in lists. The standard practice is to use commas after the first and second items in a third (or more) item list. Sometimes the comma is omitted after the second item, but this omission can be confusing because it can suggest a unintended connection between the second and third items, as it does in this sentence. Presumably the father is not packing sandwiches with peanut butter as well as pickles on them, and instead he is packing sandwiches with peanut butter as well as pickles seperately. Therefore, the sentence should read: "For the Fourth of July picnic on the White House lawn, Luke's father packed salads, sandwiches with peanut butter, and pickles for the children, but unfortunately, he forgot to pack water."
Example Question #62 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Max took his dog out to play walk, and ride the bike. No error
took
play
ride
No error
Max
play
Since there is a list in the sentence, there needs to be a comma after "play." Without a comma, the reader would read "play walk" as one activity.
Example Question #63 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Please choose the part of the sentence that needs to be corrected. Some sentences may have no error at all.
My grandmother taught us the importance of listening to others, being compassionate, and remaining quiet when needed. No error
grandmother
us
to others
No error
, and
No error
This sentence has no error. Commas correctly separate all items in the list, and there are no other grammatical errors.
Example Question #64 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
At camp, the children played games, built tents and shared ghost stories. No error
camp
No error
tents
shared
games,
tents
There needs to be a comma after "tents" since this sentence contains a list of activities the children completed. Items in a list of tree or more items must all be separated with commas.
Example Question #65 : 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.
Laura will need, stencils, paint, and gloves. No error
need,
gloves.
and,
No error
stencils,
need,
Since "need" is a verb, it is not a part of the list of nouns. There does not need to be a comma after the word "need."
Example Question #66 : 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.
Martha said she wanted to go shopping, eat ice cream and play leggos with her babysitter. No error
No error
said
wanted
play
ice cream
ice cream
There should be a comma after "ice cream" since this is a list of activities Martha would like to do. A list of three or more items should have a comma followed by an "and" right before the last item in the list.
Example Question #71 : 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.
Tom likes to swim, read, and hike in his free time. No error
read,
No error
free
to swim
likes
No error
The sentence is correct. Since there is a list of activities that Tom enjoys doing, it is important to make sure the commas are in the correct places, which, in this case, they are.
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