SAT Writing : SAT Writing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices

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

I've had an incredibly long day, I worked for almost eleven hours. No error

Possible Answers:

for

day,

eleven hours.

I've had

No error

Correct answer:

day,

Explanation:

In the example sentence both "I've had an incredibly long day" and "I worked for almost eleven hours" are acting as grammatically complete, independent clauses. Thus, the comma after "day" must either be replaced with a semicolon, or have a coordinating conjunction added after it. The other option would be to replace the comma with a period and make this compound sentence into two separate sentences.

Example Question #42 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices

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

Paul found himself in a rather difficult situation the other day, he'd insulted nearly every other researcher on the base with his crass comments. No error

Possible Answers:

a rather difficult

No error

every other researcher

Paul found himself

the other day, he'd

Correct answer:

the other day, he'd

Explanation:

In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses, as both clauses are independent, meaning they could act as their own grammatically complete sentence. Should you choose to connect two such clauses into a compound sentence your choices are to replace the comma with a semicolon (and no conjunction) or to add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "the other day, he'd"

Example Question #43 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices

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

It's been extraordinarily difficult to communicate with the outside world lately, I am worried that our communications tower has been damaged by the storms. No error

Possible Answers:

our communications tower

been damaged by the storms.

world lately, I am

It's been extraordinarily

No error

Correct answer:

world lately, I am

Explanation:

The example sentence makes a comma splice error by attempting to connect two independent clauses into a single compound sentence using only a comma. The comma after lately either needs an appropriate coordinating conjunction added after it, or needs to be replaced with a semicolon (and no accompanying conjunction).

Example Question #44 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices

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

I got charged three hundred dollars at the box office, I had thought that one of the actors was going to purchase my ticket. No error

Possible Answers:

office, I had

that one

No error

dollars at 

I got charged 

Correct answer:

office, I had

Explanation:

When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this results in an error known as the "comma splice." In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "office, I had" 

The two, equally grammatically correct, options to fix this sentence would be to add an appropriate coordinating conjunction or to simply replace the comma with a semicolon.

Example Question #45 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices

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

I'm having a very hard time acting right now, I find myself easily distracted when I'm onstage. No error

Possible Answers:

easily distracted

very hard

I'm having

No error

right now, I find

Correct answer:

right now, I find

Explanation:

This sentence includes a comma splice. The comma between "now" and "I" either needs to be replaced with a semicolon or have an appropriate coordinating conjunction added after it. 

Note also that "I'm" is a correct contraction of "I am."

Example Question #46 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices

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

You're one of the most irritating people I have ever met, I'm not a huge fan of the way you comport yourself. No error

Possible Answers:

met, I'm

No error

You're one

you comport yourself.

irritating people

Correct answer:

met, I'm

Explanation:

Here, the comma between "met" and "I'm" creates a comma splice, since it joins two independent clauses without an appropriate coordinating conjunction. The best option, stylistically and grammatically, to fix this sentence would be to add the coordinating conjunction "and" after the comma.

Example Question #47 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices

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

Hank can't stand a snitch, if you tell the teacher what he did he's going to come after you. No error

Possible Answers:

Hank can't stand

No error

snitch, if

tell the teacher

he did he's

Correct answer:

snitch, if

Explanation:

When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this results in an error known as the "comma splice." In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "snitch, if"

Example Question #3571 : 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.

Carlos, Jim, and their sister, decided not to visit the old shack by the beach; instead, they stayed home and shared ghost stories in the darkNo error

Possible Answers:

in the dark

shared ghost stories

No error

beach; instead,

sister, decided

Correct answer:

sister, decided

Explanation:

A comma should never end a list: "Carlos, Jim, and their sister decided . . ."

Example Question #3572 : 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.

Sarah wanted to arrive at the store in time to buy the fresh bread cereal, and chocolate sauce. No error

Possible Answers:

Sarah 

in time

No error

fresh bread

to arrive

Correct answer:

fresh bread

Explanation:

Without a comma to make the "fresh bread" an item on the list, the item is unclear: is "fresh bread cereal" an item, or "fresh bread?" We need a comma to clarify. 

Example Question #51 : 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 adviser's job is to apprise the president of developing conflicts in the countries of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania. No error.

Possible Answers:

of developing

of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania

No error.

to apprise

adviser's job

Correct answer:

of Kenya Somalia and Tanzania

Explanation:

The list "Kenya Somalia and Tanzania" contains this sentence's error because it does not use commas to separate its items. It should read "Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors