All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The eldest male dog became awfully selfish during feeding time, he would not even let his own pups get a scrap of food. No error
awfully
time, he
No error
feeding
eldest
time, he
Two independent clauses that can each stand alone must be separated by either a period or a semicolon, or connected by a comma followed by a conjunction. Because this sentence doesn't include a conjunction like "and" after its comma, it is incorrect. (This error, where two independent clauses are incorrectly connected by a comma, is known as a "comma splice.")
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anna, questioning her decision, looked to her brother, however he wouldn't meet her eye. No error
Anna, questioning
decision, looked
wouldn't meet
No error
brother, however
brother, however
The clause, "however, he wouldn't meet her eye," is an independent clause and must be separated by a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
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
No error
every
scene, there
city's youth
great pride in
scene, there
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."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I stayed up late last night baking chocolate chip cookies, this morning when I woke up the house smelled so good that it made me hungry. No error
stayed up late
cookies,
No error
baking
smelled so good
cookies,
This is a run-on sentence. The two independent clauses need to be split into two separate sentences, or separated by a semicolon.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Car, bicycle, and bus are the only means of transportation in this city, there is no metro system available yet. No error
available yet
only
No error
city, there
bus are
city, there
A comma should only be used to separate an independent clause from a dependent clause: here it is separating two independent clauses, so a period or semi-colon is more appropritate.
Example Question #1 : 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.
The kids at the pumpkin patch screeched and spun around in circles all day, they bothered their teacher tremendously. No error
in circles
tremendously
No error
day, they
screeched
day, they
This is an example of a comma splice. The two independent clauses should be separated by a period, a semi-colon, or a comma and a conjunction, not by just a comma, which is used to separate independent and dependent clauses.
Example Question #3531 : Sat Writing
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
No error
should remain
their
trigonometry, he
had always struggled
trigonometry, he
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."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
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
shared ghost stories
in the dark
sister, decided
No error
beach; instead,
sister, decided
A comma should never end a list: "Carlos, Jim, and their sister decided . . ."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sarah wanted to arrive at the store in time to buy the fresh bread cereal, and chocolate sauce. No error
Sarah
to arrive
No error
fresh bread
in time
fresh bread
Without a comma to make the "fresh bread" an item on the list, the item is unclear: is "fresh bread cereal" an item, or "fresh bread?" We need a comma to clarify.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Bill, Jane and Jared went to the movies every Sunday afternoon; they liked to sit at the back of the movie theatre because it offered the best view. No error
every
No error
afternoon; they
Bill, Jane and Jared
it offered
Bill, Jane and Jared
The phrase “Bill, Jane and Jared” should be “Bill, Jane, and Jarred” because the friend’s names are presented as a list. Words, clauses, or phrases in a series should always be separated by a comma. The sentence “Bill and Jane went to the movies” does not require a comma, but adding the third name, Jared, requires a comma between the three names. Be sure to note that there is no comma after the last word or phrase in the sequence.
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