SAT Writing : SAT Writing
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #472 : 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.
For the rest of his career he regretted never completing that specific sale.
For the rest of his career he regretted never completion of that specific sale.
For the rest of his career he regretted never completing that specific sale.
For the rest, of his career, he regretted never completing that specific sale.
For the rest of his career, he regretted never completing that specific sale.
For the rest of his career he regretted never completing that specific sale.
For the rest of his career, he regretted never completing that specific sale.
The phrase "For the rest of his career" is an introductory phrase, a phrase that conditions the meaning of the rest of the sentence but is not crucial to the sentence's structure. All introductory phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "For the rest of his career, he regretted never completing that specific sale."
Example Question #473 : 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.
More than any other sport soccer requires immense amounts of stamina from its players.
More than any other sport soccer requiring immense amounts of stamina from its players.
More than any other sport, soccer requires immense amounts of stamina from its players.
More than any other sport soccer requires immense amounts of stamina from its players.
More than any other sport soccer requires immense amounts of stamina from the players.
More than any other sport soccer requires immense amounts of stamina, from its players.
More than any other sport, soccer requires immense amounts of stamina from its players.
The phrase "More than any other sport" is an introductory phrase, a phrase that conditions the meaning of the sentence, but is separate from the structure of the sentence. All introductory phrases must be set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma, making the correct answer "More than any other sport, soccer requires immense amounts of stamina from its players."
Example Question #61 : 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.
Unlike his predecessor the new CEO created a climate of openness and camaraderie.
Unlike his predecessor the new CEO, created a climate of openness and camaraderie.
Unlike his predecessor, the new CEO, created a climate of openness and camaraderie.
Unlike his predecessor the new CEO created a climate of openness and camaraderie.
Unlike his predecessor the new CEO created a climate of openness, and camaraderie.
Unlike his predecessor, the new CEO created a climate of openness and camaraderie.
Unlike his predecessor, the new CEO created a climate of openness and camaraderie.
The phrase "unlike his predecessor" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the meaning of the sentence, but remains apart from the sentence's structure. All introductory phrases must be set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "Unlike his predecessor, the new CEO created a climate of openness and camaraderie."
Example Question #91 : 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.
To placate his father the teenager signed up to take Latin courses in college.
To placate his father the teenager signed up to take Latin courses in college.
To placate his father, the teenager, signed up to take Latin courses in college.
To placate his father, the teenager signed up to take Latin courses in college.
To placate his father the teenager signed up to take Latin courses, in college.
To placate his father the teenager signed up, to take Latin courses in college.
To placate his father, the teenager signed up to take Latin courses in college.
The phrase "To placate his father" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions and explains the main action of the sentence. All introductory phrases need to be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that does this is "To placate his father, the teenager signed up to take Latin courses in college."
Example Question #476 : 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.
Having been running around the same area the boy was thoroughly familiar with all the landmarks.
Having run around the same area the boy
Having been running around the same area, the boy
Having been running around that same area the boy
Having been running around the same area as the boy
Having been running around the same area the boy
Having been running around the same area, the boy
The phrase "Having been running around the same area" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the action of the sentence. All introductory phrases need to be set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that does this is "Having been running around the same area, the boy."
Example Question #477 : 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.
To be better prepared the debate club was required to follow all current events and political news.
To being better prepared the debate club
To be better prepared, the debate club
To be better prepared as the debate club
To be, better prepared, the debate club
To be better prepared the debate club
To be better prepared, the debate club
The phrase "To be better prepared" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the main action of the sentence, but remains apart from the sentence's main structure. Any introductory phrase needs to be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "To be better prepared, the debate club."
Example Question #261 : 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.
Seen from the outside the board's selection process appeared to be a massive case of nepotism and favoritism.
Seen from the outside the board's selection process appeared to be a massive case of nepotism and favoritism.
Seen from the outside the board's selection process appeared to be a massive case, of nepotism and favoritism.
Seen from the outside the board's selection process appeared, to be a massive case of nepotism and favoritism.
Seen from the outside the board's selection process appeared to be, a massive case, of nepotism and favoritism.
Seen from the outside, the board's selection process appeared to be a massive case of nepotism and favoritism.
Seen from the outside, the board's selection process appeared to be a massive case of nepotism and favoritism.
The phrase "Seen from the outside" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the main part of the sentence but is not a crucial element of its structure. All introductory phrases must be set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma. As this is the only place a comma should be inserted, the correct answer is "Seen from the outside, the board's selection process appeared to be a massive case of nepotism and favoritism."
Example Question #478 : 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.
Unlike his predecessor the college's president was a succesful fundraiser that enjoyed talking with donors.
Unlike his predecessor, the college's president
Unlike, his predecessor, the college's president
Unlike his predecessor the college's president
Unlike his predecessor the colleges' president
Unlike his predecessor the colleges president
Unlike his predecessor, the college's president
The phrase "Unlike his predecessor" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the main action of the sentence while remaining separate from the sentence's main body. All introductory phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. "Unlike his predecessor, the college's president" is the only answer choice that appropriately does this.
Example Question #479 : 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.
Much like his father he had no use for opera or classical music in general.
Much like his father he had no use for opera, or classical music, in general.
Much like his father he had no use for opera or classical music in general.
Much like his father he had no use for opera or classical music, in general.
Much like his father, he had no use for opera or classical music in general.
Much like his father he had no use, for opera or classical music in general.
Much like his father, he had no use for opera or classical music in general.
The phrase "Much like his father" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the meaning of the sentence but remains apart from its structure. Any introductory phrase must be set apart from the main part of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that appropriately uses such a comma is "Much like his father, he had no use for opera or classical music in general."
Example Question #72 : 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.
In his public corruption trial the ex-governor swore he had no knowlege of what his chief of staff was doing.
In his public corruption trial the ex-governor, swore he had no knowlege of what his chief of staff was doing.
In his public corruption trial, the ex-governor swore he had no knowlege of what his chief of staff was doing.
In his public corruption trial the ex-governor swore he had no knowlege, of what his chief of staff was doing.
In his public corruption trial the ex-governor swore he had no knowlege of what his chief of staff was doing.
In his, public corruption trial, the ex-governor swore he had no knowlege of what his chief of staff was doing.
In his public corruption trial, the ex-governor swore he had no knowlege of what his chief of staff was doing.
The phrase "In his public corruption trial" is an introductory phrase, one that conditions the meaning of the sentence, but remains apart from its structure. All introductory phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "In his public corruption trial, the ex-governor swore he had no knowlege of what his chief of staff was doing."
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