SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #17 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: 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The writer was considered washed up, with a style that was outdated stale and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated, stale, and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated stale, and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated stale and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated, stale, and, unsatisfying.
with a style, that was outdated stale and unsatisfying.
with a style that was outdated, stale, and unsatisfying.
A list like the one that makes up the object of the underlined phrase must be have its items appropriately separated by commas, which the sentence does not do as it is written. The only answer choice that correctly separates the three items by using commas is "with a style that was outdated, stale, and unsatisfying."
Example Question #18 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: 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 study of popular culture involves analyzing many different phenomena, including television advertising, and social media.
including, television advertising, and social media.
includes television advertising and social media.
includes television, advertising, and social media.
including television advertising, and social media.
including television, advertising, and social media.
including television, advertising, and social media.
The underlined portion of the sentence includes a list of three items. All such lists must have the items in them separated in some fashion; therefore, the correct answer is "including television, advertising, and social media."
Example Question #1621 : 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 four most important Romans of all time are Scipio, Marius Sulla and Caesar.
Scipio, Marius, Sulla, and Caesar,
Scipio Marius Sulla and Caesar.
Scipio, Marius Sulla; and Caesar.
Scipio, Marius Sulla and Caesar.
Scipio, Marius, Sulla, and Caesar.
Scipio, Marius, Sulla, and Caesar.
From the context of the rest of the sentence, you should know that there are four items in the list in the latter half of the sentence. Each item in this list should be separated by commas, therefore the best construction of the underlined portion is, "Scipio, Marius, Sulla, and Caesar." Each of these proper nouns are separate grammatical objects, and should thus be separated with punctuation when used together in a list.
Example Question #1622 : 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.
I like to go camping fishing and hiking, but I just don't have the time.
I like to go, camping fishing and hiking, but
I like to go camping fishing and hiking, but
I like, to go camping, fishing and hiking, but
I like to go camping, fishing, and hiking, but
I like to go camping fishing, and hiking, but
I like to go camping, fishing, and hiking, but
Whenever you have a list of things in a sentence, each item on the list—whether they are nouns, verbs, phrases, etc.—must be separated by commas. Therefore, "I like to go camping, fishing, and hiking, but" is the best way to construct the first part of this sentence. After all, "camping," "fishing," and "hiking," are all separate grammatical items.
Example Question #1623 : 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.
Andrew bought cheese, and milk from the store that afternoon. No error
cheese and milk
Cheese, and Milk
cheese, and, milk,
No error
cheese, or milk
cheese and milk
When there are only two items in a list, it is unnecessary to separate them with a comma. Therefore, the best way to write the underlined section above is, "cheese and milk" with no comma.
Example Question #1624 : 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.
My favorite cities are Boston and, Chicago. No error
No error
Boston and Chicago,
Boston and Chicago.
Boston, and, Chicago.
boston and chicago.
Boston and Chicago.
When there are only two items in a list, it is unnecessary and confusing to separate them with a comma. Therefore, the best way to write the underlined section above is, "Boston and Chicago." with no comma. Lists of three or more items must, on the other hand, be separated with commas.
Example Question #1625 : 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.
Billy is a phenomenal outdoorsman: he has been camping in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Florida. No error
No error
Minnesota, new Mexico, and Florida.
Minnesota and New Mexico, and Florida.
Minnesota, New Mexico and, Florida.
Minnesota, New Mexico, and Florida,
No error
When there are three or more items in a list, each item should be separated with a comma. If there is a conjunction in a list of three or more, the comma should precede the conjunction. Therefore, the best way to write the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "Minnesota, New Mexico and, Florida." The best answer is no error.
Example Question #121 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: 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.
Lana is an amazing athlete: she loves running swimming and pole vaulting. No error
running swimming, and pole vaulting.
running, swimming, pole, and vaulting.
running, swimming, and pole vaulting.
running swimming and pole vaulting,
No error
running, swimming, and pole vaulting.
When there are three or more items in a list, each item should be separated with a comma. If there is a conjunction in a list of three or more, a comma should precede the conjunction. Therefore, the best way to write the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "running, swimming, and pole vaulting." Note that "pole vaulting," even though it's a phrase comprised of two different words, only makes up a single item of the list in question.
Example Question #484 : Correcting Grammatical 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Reading writing, and arithmetic have long been considered the most basic building blocks of elementary education.
Reading writing and arithmetic, have
Reading, writing, and arithmetic have
Reading writing and arithmetic have
Reading, writing, and arithmetic, have
Reading writing, and arithmetic have
Reading, writing, and arithmetic have
The list that is the subject of the sentence contains three separate elements, but only appropriately separates two of them. All lists of three or more elements need to have commas between each component. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "Reading, writing, and arithmetic have."
Example Question #381 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Paul's favorite books include histories; biographies; and paperback romances.
histories biographies and paperback romances.
histories, biographies, and paperback romances.
histories; biographies; and paperback romances.
histories, biographies; paperback romances.
histories and biographies, paperback romances.
histories, biographies, and paperback romances.
When using a list of three or more things in a sentence, a comma must be placed between each item of the list. The best way to write the underlined portion of the above sentence is, "histories, biographies, and paperback romances."
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