All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #3561 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Prison reform is one issue the senator is expected to address in his upcoming bill, the bill would include long awaited laws to preserve inmates’ basic human rights. No error
bill,
No error
is one issue the senator is expected to address
inmates’
long awaited laws
bill,
Here we have a comma splice: two independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by a comma and should instead be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. Written correctly, this sentence would read: “Prison reform is one issue the senator is expected to address in his upcoming bill; the bill would include long-awaited laws to preserve inmates’ basic human rights.” The apostrophe is correctly forming a plural possessive.
Example Question #3562 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Ever since he learned how to speak, my little brother has been asking for a dog, my parents think he should wait until he’s old enough to take care of a pet, though. No error
pet,
dog,
until he’s old enough
speak,
No error
dog,
This is another comma splice. In other words, we have two independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by a comma and should instead be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. The first and last commas in this sentence are both correct, since they separate dependent clauses from the main independent clause. The correct sentence is “Ever since he learned how to speak, my little brother has been asking for a dog, my parents think he should wait until he’s old enough to take care of a pet, though.”
Example Question #3563 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
With drought threatening crops, livestock, and landscaping across the state, California had no choice but to enact water restrictions, residents complained, but most understood the necessity of the measures. No error
state,
No error
complained,
restrictions,
the necessity of the measures.
restrictions,
Here is another comma splice. We have two independent clauses (“With drought threatening crops, livestock, and landscaping across the state, California had no choice but to enact water restrictions” and “residents complained, but most understood the necessity of the measures”) that are incorrectly separated by a comma and should instead be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. The list is correctly punctuated with commas.
Example Question #1058 : 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.
As most people learn in elementary school, butterflies undergo astounding metamorphoses in their short lifetimes, they begin as larvae and quickly transform into pupae and then beautiful, multicolored adults. No error
metamorphoses
No error
lifetimes,
elementary school,
beautiful, multicolored
lifetimes,
This is another comma splice. In other words, we have two independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by a comma and should instead be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. The first and last commas in this sentence are both correct: The first one separates the dependent from the independent clause, and the last one separates two adjectives that are modifying the same noun. they separate dependent clauses from the main independent clause. The correctly punctuated sentence is “As most people learn in elementary school, butterflies undergo astounding metamorphoses in their short lifetimes; they begin as larvae and quickly transform into pupae and then beautiful, multicolored adults.”
Example Question #3564 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Contrary to popular belief, chicken soup does not prevent one from contracting the common cold, it simply strengthens the immune system by providing nutrition. No error
by providing
Contrary to popular belief,
prevent one from
common cold,
No error
common cold,
A comma correctly separates a dependent clause (“Contrary to popular belief”) from an independent clause (“chicken soup does not prevent one from contracting the common cold”), but it incorrectly separates two independent clauses (“chicken soup does not prevent one from contracting the common cold” and “it simply strengthens the immune system by providing nutrition”). This is called a comma splice, and it can be fixed by replacing the comma with a semicolon.
Example Question #3565 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My manager says it’s always better to apologize than to argue with our customers, they’re not always right, but it’s our job to pretend they are. No error
right,
it’s
customers,
they’re not
No error
customers,
Here we have a comma splice: two independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by a comma. Two independent clauses in the same sentence must be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. Correctly punctuated, this sentence would read: “My manager says it’s always better to apologize than to argue with our customers; they’re not always right, but it’s our job to pretend they are.”
Example Question #3566 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jeremiah always tried to avoid cleaning the toilets, sometimes he would volunteer to do other chores instead, like washing the dishes. No error
other
avoid
toilets, sometimes
instead, like
No error
toilets, sometimes
This sentence features two independent clauses separated by a comma, otherwise known as a comma splice. The sentence needs to be separated by a conjunction like "and" or "so," or by a punctuation mark that divides the sentence into two, like a period or a semicolon.
Example Question #3567 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The incompetent plumber did not know the source of the problem, he wasted an hour of my day while he called his supervisor in hopes of hearing a second, wiser opinion. No error
a second, wiser
problem, he
No error
The incompetent plumber
source
problem, he
This is a comma splice. The two clauses in this sentence are both independent clauses, meaning each could stand on its own as a full sentence. For that reason, they must be joined by either a semicolon or a comma WITH a conjunction.
Example Question #3568 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite its complexities, the bill should lead to a vastly improved living standard for the population, it will be happy and wealthy. No error
vastly improved living standard
should lead
its
population, it will
No error
population, it will
Because the comma after "population" separates two independent clauses, there must be a coordinating conjunction after the comma. Alternatively, a semicolon could be inserted in lieu of the comma. Using just a single comma to join two independent clauses creates a comma splice.
Example Question #3569 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I have a lot of diverse and unique interests, perhaps the strangest interest of them all is that I really enjoy chopping peppers. No error
I have a lot
I really
strangest interest
No error
unique interests,
unique interests,
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this results in an error known as a "comma splice." In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. Replacing the comma with a semicolon is probably the most concise way to fix this sentence, while keeping it one sentence. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "unique interests,"