PSAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
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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老大male dog becameawfullyselfish duringfeedingtime, hewould not even let his own pups get a scrap of food.No error
time, he
awfully
No error
老大
feeding
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: Commas
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anna, questioningherdecision, lookedto herbrother, howeverhewouldn't meether eye.No error
Anna, questioning
brother, however
wouldn't meet
decision, looked
No error
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.
Thecity’s youthtakegreat pride inthe local musicscene, thereare popular concertseveryweekend.No error
great pride in
No error
scene, there
every
city's youth
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.
Istayed up latelast nightbakingchocolate chipcookies,this morning when I woke up the housesmelled so goodthat it made me hungry.No error
stayed up late
baking
cookies,
smelled so good
No error
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: Commas
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, andbus aretheonlymeans of transportation in thiscity, thereis no metro systemavailable yet.No error
city, there
bus are
No error
only
available yet
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: 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 kids at the pumpkin patchscreechedand spun aroundin circlesallday, theybothered their teachertremendously.No error
tremendously
screeched
No error
day, they
in circles
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 #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.
Thomashad always struggledwithtrigonometry, hethought that circlesshould remaincircles and let triangles and squiggles betheirown shapes.No error
trigonometry, he
should remain
No error
their
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."
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