SAT Writing › Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas in Lists
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Andrew bought cheese, and milk from the store that afternoon. No error
cheese and milk
No error
Cheese, and Milk
cheese, and, milk,
cheese, or milk
When there are only two items in a list, it is unnecessary to separate them with a comma. Therefore, the best way to write the underlined section above is, "cheese and milk" with no comma.
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The three vegetables that you need to make a good broth are onions carrots and celery.
onions, carrots, and celery.
onions carrots and celery.
onions carrots and, celery.
onions carrots, and celery.
onions: carrots: celery.
When using a list of more than two things in a sentence, a comma must be placed between each item in the list. The best way to write the underlined portion of the above sentence is, "onions, carrots, and celery."
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
My favorite cities are Boston and, Chicago. No error
Boston and Chicago.
boston and chicago.
Boston, and, Chicago.
Boston and Chicago,
No error
When there are only two items in a list, it is unnecessary and confusing to separate them with a comma. Therefore, the best way to write the underlined section above is, "Boston and Chicago." with no comma. Lists of three or more items must, on the other hand, be separated with commas.
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Billy is a phenomenal outdoorsman: he has been camping in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Florida. No error
No error
Minnesota, New Mexico and, Florida.
Minnesota, New Mexico, and Florida,
Minnesota, new Mexico, and Florida.
Minnesota and New Mexico, and Florida.
When there are three or more items in a list, each item should be separated with a comma. If there is a conjunction in a list of three or more, the comma should precede the conjunction. Therefore, the best way to write the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "Minnesota, New Mexico and, Florida." The best answer is no error.
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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
The field rations were evenly distributed between the sailors marines and soldiers.
sailors, marines, and soldiers.
sailors marines and soldiers.
sailors marines soldiers.
sailors marines, and soldiers.
sailors, marines, soldiers.
The underlined words make up a list. Such lists need to have each element separated for clarity and understanding. "Sailors, marines, and soldiers" is the best choice among the answers.
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Running, jumping, and rock, climbing are all excellent ways to stay in shape.
Running, jumping, and rock climbing
Running, jumping, and, rock, climbing,
Running, jumping, rock climbing
Running, jumping and rock, climbing
Running, jumping, and rock, climbing
When using a list of three or more things in a sentence, a comma must be placed between each item of the list. Note that "rock climbing," even though it is comprised of two words, is only a single item in the list. The best way to write the underlined portion of the above sentence is, "Running, jumping, and rock climbing"
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
In order to survive, people need the following three things: safe food adequate shelter and clean water.
safe food, adequate shelter, and clean water.
safe food adequate shelter and clean water
safe food adequate shelter, and clean water.
safe food adequate shelter or clean water.
safe food, adequate shelter, or clean water.
Every time there is a list of three or more things in a sentence, those things must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. In the sentence above, there is a comma missing between the first two items of the list that follow the colon. The best choice is: "safe food, adequate shelter, and clean water."
Jane Sally and Suzy all went to the zoo together, making the experience one they all three would treasure.
Jane, Sally, and Suzy all went to the zoo together
Jane Sally and Suzy all went to the zoo together
Jane Sally and Suzy, all went to the zoo together
Jane Sally, and Suzy all went to the zoo together
Jane, Sally, and Suzy, all went to the zoo together
The list of names that forms the subject of the sentence is written incorrectly. All lists need to have commas separating their parts from each other for purposes of clarity. The correct answer choice is "Jane, Sally, and Suzy all went to the zoo together."
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The Mongols, the Huns and, the Parthians are all peoples that used horse archers in warfare.
The Mongols, the Huns, and the Parthians
The Mongols, the Huns and, the Parthians
The Mongols the Huns and the Parthians
The Mongols-the Huns-the Parthians
The Mongols or the Huns and the Parthians
When using a list of three or more things in a sentence, a comma must be placed between each item of the list. Note that the comma near the conjunction should precede the conjunction, rather than following it. The best way to write the underlined portion of the above sentence is, "The Mongols, the Huns, and the Parthians."
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
I like to go camping fishing and hiking, but I just don't have the time.
I like to go camping, fishing, and hiking, but
I like to go camping fishing and hiking, but
I like to go camping fishing, and hiking, but
I like to go, camping fishing and hiking, but
I like, to go camping, fishing and hiking, but
Whenever you have a list of things in a sentence, each item on the list—whether they are nouns, verbs, phrases, etc.—must be separated by commas. Therefore, "I like to go camping, fishing, and hiking, but" is the best way to construct the first part of this sentence. After all, "camping," "fishing," and "hiking," are all separate grammatical items.