Correcting Punctuation Errors

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GMAT Verbal › Correcting Punctuation Errors

Questions 1 - 10
1

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan made a small difference; for reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference; reduce costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

Explanation

The use of the semicolon in the sentence is incorrect, as a semicolon needs to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentences, instead of separating a dependent clause from the main part of the sentence it is reliant on. The sentence needs to feature a comma separating the two parts, making the correct answer "The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year."

2

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

According to the survey; business owners who employed more than one hundred workers were twice as likely to oppose unionization as were owners of smaller businesses.

According to the survey,

According to the survey.

According to the survey:

As per the survey's findings,

The survey said:

Explanation

The underlined section of the sample text featured a semicolon error, where a dependent clause ("according to the survey") was linked using a semicolon. The most precise and concise correction would have been to replace the semicolon with a comma.

"According to the survey" is a dependent clause, so to punctuate it with a period would be as incorrect as to use a semicolon.

"As per the survey's findings," would not be grammatically incorrect, but would be less clear and precise than simply replacing the semicolon with a comma.

In order for a colon to be used, the second half of the sentence should either be a list or a quotation.

3

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Mathew began reading many books about investing he wanted to become better at investing than Warren Buffet.

many books about investing; he wanted to become better

many books about investing he wanted to become better

many books about investing, he wanted to become better

many books about investing, he wanted to, become better

many books about investing; he wanted to, become better

Explanation

This sentence does not contain the correct punctuation where it is necessary. The sentence joins two related independent clauses together without the use of a coordinate conjunction; therefore, a semicolon is necessary between the words "investing" and "he." The correct choice is, "many books about investing; he wanted to become better."

4

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Even though the companies are constantly engaged in legal battles; Samretiredsinger makes parts for Apple's iPhone.

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles, Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles; Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles - Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles, Samretiredsinger, makes

Explanation

This sentence misuses a semicolon. Semicolons are used when joining two independent clauses without the use of a coordinate conjunction. Instead, in this sentence, a dependent clause is joined to an independent clause. The phrase "Even though Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct answer choice is, "Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles, Samretiredsinger makes."

5

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.

Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.

Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.

Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.

Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.

Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.

Explanation

A semi-colon separates two independent clauses. No punctuation between "individualism" and "and" is necessary.

6

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan made a small difference; for reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

The new plan had made a small difference; reduce costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.

Explanation

The use of the semicolon in the sentence is incorrect, as a semicolon needs to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentences, instead of separating a dependent clause from the main part of the sentence it is reliant on. The sentence needs to feature a comma separating the two parts, making the correct answer "The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year."

7

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Even though the companies are constantly engaged in legal battles; Samretiredsinger makes parts for Apple's iPhone.

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles, Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles; Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles - Samretiredsinger makes

Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles, Samretiredsinger, makes

Explanation

This sentence misuses a semicolon. Semicolons are used when joining two independent clauses without the use of a coordinate conjunction. Instead, in this sentence, a dependent clause is joined to an independent clause. The phrase "Even though Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct answer choice is, "Samretiredsinger and Apple are constantly engaged in legal battles, Samretiredsinger makes."

8

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Clevelands main attractions include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a Botanical Garden.

Cleveland's main attractions include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Botanical Garden.

Cleveland's main attractions include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a Botanical Garden.

Clevelands main attractions include: the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a Botanical Garden.

Cleveland's main attractions include: the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a Botanical Garden.

Cleveland's main attraction's include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Botanical Garden.

Explanation

Cleveland is a possessor (of "main attractions") in this sentence, and therefore the added possessive "s" should include an apostrophe as well: "Cleveland's." Since there are only two items in the list ("the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Botanical Garden"), no comma is necessary to separate the two.

9

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.

Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.

Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.

Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.

Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; and many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.

Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities so many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.

Explanation

The sentence as written as a complex sentence, and it joins its two parts with a semicolon and the conjunction "but;" however, a compound sentence needs to be joined either by just a semicolon or a conjunction and comma, but not a semicolon and a conjunctionl; therefore the correct answer choice is "Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years."

10

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The critic replied, "I read your article "Critical Reasoning for the Unreasonable" and found it gimmicky."

'Critical Reasoning for the Unreasonable'

"Critical reasoning for the unreasonable"

"Critical Reasoning for the Unnreasonable"

"critical reasoning for the unnreasonable"

'critical reasoning for the unnreasonable'

Explanation

Quotation marks within quotation marks is mechanically incorrect. When referring to the title of an article, it is correct to place the title within quotation marks; however, when those quotation marks are within quotations, one should replace the quotation marks with apostrophes. The correct answer uses single quotation marks, the rest of the sentence is correct as written.

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