PSAT Writing › Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas for Introductory or Interrupting Phrases
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Finally the teacher returned our papers, and despite our initial worries, we discovered all of us had received passing marks. No error
Finally the teacher
all of us
worries, we
No error
Despite
Here, "finally" is considered an introductory word, so it must be followed by a comma: "Finally, the teacher . . ."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite disinterest in school elections, the majority of the students voted Shindra the treasurer, president of the student government. No error
Shindra the treasurer,
Despite disinterest
elections, the
No error
student government
"The treasurer" here is an appositive: it renames or restates Shindra in different words, and it should be surrounded with commas. The correct sentence should be: "the students voted Shindra, the treasurer, president . . ."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
If you decide to go to the beach make sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin! No error
to the beach make sure
If you decide
to wear
to protect your skin!
No error
The phrase "If you decide to go to the beach" is an introductory phrase, and all introductory phrases need to be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. So, after being corrected, the sentence would read, "If you decide to go to the beach, make sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin!"
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Perdita the lost princess, was found and raised by a shepherd. No error
Perdita the lost princess,
was
found and raised
by a shepherd.
No error
Commas should be used to set off the phrase "the lost princess," as it is in apposition to (gives a description of) the subject Perdita, but the sentence still makes sense without it. So, "Perdita the lost princess," contains the sentence's error, and the sentence should read, "Perdita, the lost princess, was found and raised by a shepherd."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Daisy and her sister, Margot, shared a large family but a special relationship; even among their numerous older and younger sisters, Margot, and Daisy had a special bond. No error
sisters, Margot, and
her sister, Margot,
relationship; even
among
No error
Because the sentence states that Margot is not Daisy's only sister, the commas and which frame her name in "their numerous older and younger sisters, Margot, and Daisy" are incorrect. The comma that sets apart Margot's name at the beginning of the sentence ("Daisy and her sister, Margot, shared") is correctly used, because here, Margot is being specified as Daisy's sister in an appositive phrase that renames "her sister" as "Margot."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Istanbul, despite being an old city has recently been the site of major commercial developments hoping to bring international business to the country. No error
despite being an old city
No error
Instanbul, despite
developments hoping
to bring international business
Here "despite being an old city" needs to be separated by the main clause by two commas, not just one.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
At the insistence of the manager, the entire team dropped the project immediately_;_ the project leader however, continued her work without interruption. No error
leader however,
At the insistence
without interruption
manager, the entire team
immediately; the
The word "however" here is considered a non-essential phrase: it can be removed, leaving a complete sentence. So it must be surrounded with commas: "The project leader, however, continued . . ."