SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #44 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
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.
Please stop cheating on tests being rude in class and treating your brother poorly.
Please stop cheating on tests, being rude in class, and, treating your brother poorly.
Please stop cheating on tests being rude in class and treating your brother poorly.
Please stop cheating on tests, being rude in class, and treating your brother poorly.
Please, stop cheating on tests being rude in class and treating your brother poorly.
Please stop, cheating on tests, being rude in class, and treating your brother poorly.
Please stop cheating on tests, being rude in class, and treating your brother poorly.
Every time there is a list of three or more things in a sentence, those things must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. The best way to correct the underlined portion above is: "Please stop cheating on tests, being rude in class, and treating your brother poorly."
Note that while colons are often used to introduce lists, it is only correct to use a colon following an independent clause that does not end with a verb.
Example Question #44 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
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 several factors that contribute to poor health later in life: eating fatty foods poor exercise habits and spending too much time indoors.
in life: eating fatty foods poor exercise habits and spending too much time indoors.
in life: eating fatty foods, poor exercise, habits and spending too much time indoors.
in life: eating fatty foods, poor exercise habits and, spending too much time indoors.
in life: eating fatty foods, poor exercise habits, and spending too much time indoors.
in life eating fatty foods, poor exercise habits, and, spending too much time indoors.
in life: eating fatty foods, poor exercise habits, and spending too much time indoors.
Every time there is a list of three or more things in a sentence, those things must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. When lists include only two items, no comma is required. The best way to correct the underlined portion above is, "in life: eating fatty foods, poor exercise habits, and spending too much time indoors."
Example Question #1653 : 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.
Doctors can specialize in a variety of different disciplines including cardiology pediatrics and podiatry.
Doctors can specialize in a variety of different disciplines, including cardiology, pediatrics and podiatry.
Doctors can specialize in a variety of different disciplines including: cardiology pediatrics and podiatry.
Doctors can specialize in a variety of different disciplines including cardiology, pediatrics, and podiatry.
Doctors can specialize in a variety of different, disciplines including cardiology pediatrics and podiatry.
Doctors can specialize in a variety of different disciplines including cardiology pediatrics and podiatry.
Doctors can specialize in a variety of different disciplines including cardiology, pediatrics, and podiatry.
Every time there is a list of three or more things in a sentence, those things must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. If only two items are in a list a comma should not separate the items. The best way to correct the underlined portion above is, "Doctors can specialize in a variety of different disciplines including cardiology, pediatrics, and podiatry."
Example Question #45 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
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 love all kinds of food, but I especially enjoy pasta pizza and hamburgers.
and I especially enjoy pasta pizza and hamburgers.
but I especially enjoy: pasta pizza and hamburgers.
but I especially enjoy pasta, pizza, and hamburgers.
and I especially enjoy pasta pizza, and hamburgers.
but I especially enjoy pasta pizza and hamburgers.
but I especially enjoy pasta, pizza, and hamburgers.
Each item in a list of three or more items must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. The best way to correct the underlined portion above is, "but I especially enjoy pasta, pizza, and hamburgers."
Example Question #1655 : 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 am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to take out the trash do your homework and clean your room.
I am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to take out the trash do your homework and clean your room.
I am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to take out the trash, do your homework, and clean your room.
I am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to, take out the trash, do your homework, and clean your room.
I am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to; take out the trash, do your homework, and clean your room.
I am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to: take out the trash, do your homework, and clean your room.
I am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to take out the trash, do your homework, and clean your room.
Items in lists of three or more be separated from each other by commas, conjunctions, or both. The example sentence includes no such commas (although it does have a conjunction before the final item, this conjunction must be preceded by a comma in order to be correct). The best way to correct the examples sentence is, "I am extraordinarily frustrated that you failed to take out the trash, do your homework, and clean your room."
Example Question #46 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
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 find it difficult to stay focused in class when the other students talk chew gum or write too loudly.
I find it difficult to stay focused in class when the other students talk chew gum or write too loud.
I find it difficult to stay focused in class when: the other students talk, chew gum, or write too loudly.
I find it difficult to stay focused in class when the other students talk, chew gum or write too loud.
I find it difficult to stay focused in class when the other students talk chew gum or write too loudly.
I find it difficult to stay focused in class when the other students talk, chew gum, or write too loudly.
I find it difficult to stay focused in class when the other students talk, chew gum, or write too loudly.
Items in lists of three or greater be separated from each other by commas, conjunctions, or both. The example sentence is thus clearly wrong, since it has no commas at all in it. The best way to correct the underlined portion above is, "I find it difficult to stay focused in class when the other students talk, chew gum, or write too loudly."
Note that the main clause in this sentence ends with a verb, therefore a comma rather than a colon is correctly precedes the list.
Example Question #51 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
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.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water eat fruit and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you; drink water; eat fruit; and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you; drink water eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water, eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water, eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Items in lists of three or greater be separated from each other by commas, conjunctions, or both. The items in the list above are, "drink water," "eat well," and "think positive thoughts." These items are correctly phrased using a parallel structure, but are not correctly separated with commas.
The best way to correct the example sentence is, "Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water, eat fruit, and think positive thoughts."
Example Question #1651 : 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.
The typical advice to the screenwriter is to keep an audience engaged alert and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alerted and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert, and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert and interested.
to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert but interested.
to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested.
The list that finishes the sentence needs to have its three parts, "engaged" and "alert" and "interested," separated by commas. There are no other corrections that need to happen in the sentence. This makes the correct answer choice "to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested."
Example Question #201 : Comma 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.
In many thrilling mystery novels the good guy, actually turns out to be the bad guy.
mystery novels the good guy actually, turns out
mystery novels the good guy, actually turns out
mystery novels, the good guy actually turns out
mystery, novels the good guy actually turns out
mystery novels, the good guy actually turns out
Use a comma to separate the introductory phrase "In many thrilling mystery novels" from the independent clause that in this case makes up the rest of the sentence, "the good guy actually turns out to be the bad guy."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas For Introductory Or Interrupting Phrases
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.
The coach always careful with his words intentionally avoided saying anything that a reporter could quote in the newspaper.
The coach always careful with his words, intentionally avoided
The coach, always careful with his words, intentionally avoided
The coach, always careful with his words intentionally avoided
The coach always careful, with his words, intentionally avoided
The coach always careful with his words intentionally avoided
The coach, always careful with his words, intentionally avoided
The phrase "always careful with his words" is an interrupting phrase, one that adds information to the sentence, but remains apart from its structure. All interrupting phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. "The coach, always careful with his words, intentionally avoided" is the only answer choice to appropriately use commas around the interrupting phrase.
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