Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas

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PSAT Writing › Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

Explanation

Here, "finally" is considered an introductory word, so it must be followed by a comma: "Finally, the teacher . . ."

2

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

Explanation

Here, "finally" is considered an introductory word, so it must be followed by a comma: "Finally, the teacher . . ."

3

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

Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry, he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes. No error

trigonometry, he

had always struggled

should remain

their

No error

Explanation

This sentence is an example of a run-on or comma splice. It has two independent clauses separated only by a comma. One way to fix this is to change the comma to a semicolon; if this were to be done, the corrected sentence would read, "Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry; he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes."

4

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

Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry, he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes. No error

trigonometry, he

had always struggled

should remain

their

No error

Explanation

This sentence is an example of a run-on or comma splice. It has two independent clauses separated only by a comma. One way to fix this is to change the comma to a semicolon; if this were to be done, the corrected sentence would read, "Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry; he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes."

5

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

The city’s youth take great pride in the local music scene, there are popular concerts every weekend. No error

scene, there

city's youth

great pride in

every

No error

Explanation

This sentence has a comma splice, which means that it has two independent clauses separated only by a comma. A semicolon is appropriate here. The corrected sentence reads, "The city’s youth take great pride in the local music scene; there are popular concerts every weekend."

6

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

The city’s youth take great pride in the local music scene, there are popular concerts every weekend. No error

scene, there

city's youth

great pride in

every

No error

Explanation

This sentence has a comma splice, which means that it has two independent clauses separated only by a comma. A semicolon is appropriate here. The corrected sentence reads, "The city’s youth take great pride in the local music scene; there are popular concerts every weekend."

7

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 dark. No error

sister, decided

beach; instead,

shared ghost stories

No error

in the dark

Explanation

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

8

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 dark. No error

sister, decided

beach; instead,

shared ghost stories

No error

in the dark

Explanation

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

9

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

The man who usually sits on the park bench every afternoon, was not there last Tuesday. No error

afternoon, was

who

on the park bench

last Tuesday

No error

Explanation

This sentence has a problem with commas. The comma between “afternoon” and “was” is not necessary because it is not setting off a nonrestrictive clause. It creates an awkward pause in the middle of the sentence. The corrected sentence reads, "The man who usually sits on the park bench every afternoon was not there last Tuesday."

10

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

Although he initially refused to go to the cinema, James finally saw the movie, that his friends had recommended. No error

movie, that

Although he

had recommended

No error

refused to go to the cinema

Explanation

Commas, gramatically speaking, should never be used before or after the word "that." The correct sentence would have: "James finally saw the movie that his friends . . ."

"Had recommended" could be changed to "recommended", for the sake of simplicity, but the comma error is more flagrant.

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