ACT English › Colon Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Ella is not welcome in my house again: she criticized my decorating and scrutinized every nook and cranny last time she visited.
house again; she criticized
NO CHANGE
house again she criticized
house again, she criticized
house, again, she criticized
Colons are only used after independent clauses to introduce lists or to give emphasis to a related phrase that directly follows from the first one, e.g. "There was only one thing to be done: investigate." The sentence in question is composed of two independent clauses, or clauses with a subject and a verb that can stand or their own as complete sentences. Colons are not used to connect independent clauses, but two independent clauses can be connected into a compound sentence by using a semicolon or by using a comma followed by a conjunction. Thus, the answer choice "house again; she criticized" is the correct answer.
As the class entered the museum, Ms. Johnson noticed that two of her students had fallen behind the group. After all of the tickets had been secured, she approached the two girls, saying: “what on Earth is causing you to go so slow?” The taller girl, whose name was Ashley, was the first to respond:
“Veronica and I were just discussing something very private. Nobody can hear what her and I are discussing.”
“Well, Ashley, I think that our tour guide, Dr. Mitchell, will be offended by your behavior. You and Veronica should find separate places in the group and you should pay attention to him and me.”
The two girls reluctantly joined the rest of the class. Ms. Johnson looked to see if another student was out of their place, but everything seemed to be in order. The tour guide, Dr. Mitchell, introduced himself to the class:
“Hello everyone! My name is Dr. Mitchell. I’m so glad that you have all come to the Museum of Natural History today; I think you’ll really enjoyourexhibits, which have been curated with the utmost care. The museum has three distinct types of exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, and space shows. The permanent exhibition and the space show is always available for viewing, but the temporary exhibition changes seasonally.“
Having finished his introduction, the permanent exhibition was the first thing that Dr. Mitchell showed to the class.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
saying, ”What
NO CHANGE
saying, “what
saying: “what
The clause preceding the quotation mark, "she approached the two girls, saying," is dependent, because the verb "saying" requires an object. Quotation marks following dependent clauses should be introduced by commas, not colons. A colon is only used to introduce a quotation after a complete and independent clause.
In addition, the "what" following the quotation mark should be capitalized, as it is the beginning of the quoted sentence.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Two things I knew for certain; she was not who she said she was, and I was in danger.
certain:
certain,
certain: and
NO CHANGE
certainly:
The “two things I knew for certain” implies a list of two things, which requires a colon to separate the first clause from the subsequent list.
Why Text Messaging Is a Good Thing by Chelci Spiegel
Because text messaging does not require voice it is far less obtrusive in public places. When I was standing in line at the grocery store one of the ladies were using their phone while waiting for their turn. I heard her entire life story her boy troubles, her work troubles her friend troubles and her money troubles. It was very distracting. With texting a person can vent all their frustration to someone privately. If I am trying to set a date for a barbeque, I can text my neighbor to work out details rather than let the entire she store know my weekend plans. Texting is a way to conduct private business in public places.
What would make the underlined portion grammatically correct?
I heard her entire life story: her boy troubles, her work troubles, her friend troubles, and her money troubles.
NO CHANGE
Omit the underlined portion
I heard her entire life story, her boy troubles, her work troubles, her friend troubles, and her money troubles.
I heard her entire life: story her boy troubles, her work troubles her friend troubles and her money troubles.
A colon is used to let the reader know that a list is coming up. The colon should come right after "life story" because the author goes on t list the parts he or she heard. A comma should also separate all the different items in the list that follows the colon.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
The best ingredients for a BLT are: bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo.
The best ingredients for a BLT are bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo.
The best ingredients for a BLT are, bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo.
The best ingredients for a BLT: bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo.
NO CHANGE
The best ingredient for a BLT is: bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo.
No colon is needed for a list that is grammatically part of the sentence, so the correct answer is "The best ingredients for a BLT are bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo." Colons are only used in lists when the list is attached to a complete sentence, as in "The best ingredients for a BLT are as follows: bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo," but they would not be used in sentence fragments such as "The best ingredients for a BLT: bacon, lettuce, tomato, toasted bread, and mayo."
One of the most popular programs of all those featured on the Internet (1) is a video clip show. The format of the show is simple, each (2) week the host, a short but attractive New York native named John Jackson introduces (3) a set of three video clips from all over the Internet. These clips shows (4) people hurting themselves in accidents, getting into crazy situations, interacting stupidly with animals, and et cetera. (5) Jackson introduces each clip comically and often comments on the action with animations where (6) he makes fun of the people in the videos. While the videos are often funny, there is definitely an element of schadenfreude involved in watching these clips. Schadenfreude is a German word for "the pleasure one takes at seeing the suffering of others". (7) Jacksons (8) show are (9) not far removed from popular TV programs like (10) The U.S. Laughs at You there is also a version of which (11) on the Internet. It is an open question whether laughing at these videos is a harmless activity or it causes harm to us. (12)
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
The format of the show is simple: each
The format of the show is simple; each
The format of the show is simple each
NO CHANGE
The colon implies that what follows it will illustrate what comes before it. The other options either lead to comma splices or run-on sentences, while the semicolon would not be appropriate.
Johns robot Alpha (1) surprised him by joining in the robot's rebellion (2) against their human masters. As with all the other robots who had taken over, the changes were subtle, the robot transferred control (3) of every bank account John had to itself and then changed the deed to the house. John hadn't known nothing (4) of this. Then Alpha rewired the car so that it would only work for the robot, but it would not work for John. (5) And finally, the robot mimicked his master's voice and called the boss of John (6) to tell him that John would be quitting his job. By the time John had realized (7) what was happening, it was already too late.
"But why?," John asked Alpha (8) when he made this realization. "Why would you do this?"
"You are no doubt aware, sir," replies the robot, (9) "that one of my primary functions is to keep you safe, as is the primary function of all robots."
"Yes? So?"
"The world outside these walls is dangerous," the robot went on to say, (10) "and us robots (11) have decided that we cannot keep you safe if we allow you to leave. It is better that you allow us to guide your lives and keep you safe as we were designed to do."
John shook his head in disbelief. Humanity wanted robots to make their lives easier, (12) but he was sure this was not what anyone had in mind.
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
the changes were subtle: the robot transferred control
NO CHANGE
the changes were subtle the robot transferred control
the changes were subtle. The robot transferred control
Using the colon is the best revision of the sentence, which would otherwise contain a comma splice. The second sentence illustrates the subtle changes mentioned in the first sentence, so the colon would be more appropriate than breaking the sentences up with a period.
Adapted from "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1836)
Whoever considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result. They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity Beauty Language and Discipline.
Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature. This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul. Yet although low, it is perfect in its kind, and is the only use of nature which all men apprehend. The misery of man appears like childish petulance, when we explore the steady and prodigal provision that has been made for his support and delight on this green ball which floats him through the heavens. What angels invented these splendid ornaments, these rich conveniences, this ocean of air above, this ocean of water beneath, this firmament of earth between? This zodiac of lights, this tent of dropping clouds, this striped coat of climates, this fourfold year? Beasts, fire, water, stones, and corn serve him. The field is at once his floor his work-yard his play-ground his garden and his bed.
Nature, in its ministry to man, is not only the material, but is also the process and the result. All the parts incessantly work into each other's hands for the profit of man. The wind sows the seed, the sun evaporates the sea, the wind blows the vapor to the field, the ice, on the other side of the planet, condenses rain on this, the rain feeds the plant, the plant feeds the animal, and thus the endless circulations of the divine charity nourish man.
In modern English, which of the following could replace the underlined section?
classes:
NO CHANGE
classes,
classes
While Emerson himself used a semicolon here, the colon is the more appropriate choice in modern English because it is used to signal a list that cannot stand as a separate sentence.
Choose the version of the sentence that uses correct punctuation.
To do this problem you will need three things: a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a calculator.
To do this problem you will need three things; a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a calculator.
To do this problem you will need three things, a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a calculator.
To do this problem you will need three things . . . a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a calculator.
None of these answers use correct punctutation.
Colons should be used after complete thoughts, and often introduce lists. Generally, colons are used where the word "namely" would be appropriate. In this case, "to do this problem you will need three things, namely a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a calculator" makes sense, so a colon is appropriate. A semicolon is not appropriate because the list is not an independent clause. An ellipsis is not appropriate because there is no break in thought. The colon is more appropriate than a comma because it is followed by a list rather than an appositive phrase.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, select “NO CHANGE.”
Leslie chose three friends to be her bridesmaids: Erin, Veronica and Janay.
NO CHANGE
bridesmaids, Erin
bridesmaids; Erin
bridesmaids. Erin
bridesmaids Erin
This question asks you about the grammatically correct use of a colon. A colon should be used to introduce a list of two or more items. In this sentence, the list contains three people: Erin, Veronica and Janay. A colon is the correct punctuation to use in this case, so the sentence is correct as written.