Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
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PSAT Writing › Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
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 . . ."
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 . . ."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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 . . ."
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 . . ."
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."
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.