Identifying Punctuation Errors

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PSAT Writing › Identifying Punctuation Errors

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.

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."

2

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

Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday; so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. No error.

Tuesday; so

was feeling

particularly

himself

No error.

Explanation

This is an incorrect use of a semi-colon. If you use a semi-colon, you should not follow it with a conjunction. In this case, it sounds best to keep the conjunction “so” and switch the semi-colon to a comma: "Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday, so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie."

3

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

Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday; so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. No error.

Tuesday; so

was feeling

particularly

himself

No error.

Explanation

This is an incorrect use of a semi-colon. If you use a semi-colon, you should not follow it with a conjunction. In this case, it sounds best to keep the conjunction “so” and switch the semi-colon to a comma: "Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday, so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie."

4

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

Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday; so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. No error.

Tuesday; so

was feeling

particularly

himself

No error.

Explanation

This is an incorrect use of a semi-colon. If you use a semi-colon, you should not follow it with a conjunction. In this case, it sounds best to keep the conjunction “so” and switch the semi-colon to a comma: "Joe was feeling particularly happy on Tuesday, so he decided to treat himself to a cup of coffee and a slice of pie."

5

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."

6

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 . . ."

7

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 . . ."

8

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 . . ."

9

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."

10

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."

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