Apply correct punctuation, including commas, semicolons, and colons, at the boundaries between clauses and phrases.
19 original boundaries questions in the SAT Ranker bank, with instant scoring and an Elo-based rank once you sign up. Below are a few free samples with full explanations.
Which choice is punctuated correctly?
Two independent clauses need a semicolon between them, and the nonessential phrase 'growing restless' needs commas on both sides. Only the first choice does both correctly.
Which choice is punctuated correctly?
A colon correctly introduces the specific decision that follows a complete independent clause. The comma splice, unnecessary semicolon-plus-'though,' and missing-punctuation options are all incorrect.
The library extended its hours during exam week ______ it now stays open until midnight every night.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Two independent clauses ('The library extended its hours...' and 'it now stays open until midnight...') must be joined by a semicolon rather than a comma alone, which would create a splice. The other options are ungrammatical here.
The festival celebrates the region's three staple crops ______ corn, beans, and squash ______ with a dish that combines all three.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
The list 'corn, beans, and squash' is a parenthetical that already contains commas, so a pair of dashes sets it off clearly. Surrounding commas would blur with the internal commas, and paired semicolons or colons are not used this way mid-sentence.
The team's discovery rested on a single overlooked measurement ______ a reading that earlier researchers had dismissed as an error.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
The second part ('a reading that earlier researchers had dismissed...') is a noun phrase that renames and comments on 'a single overlooked measurement,' so a dash introduces it appropriately. A period would leave a fragment, a semicolon needs a full clause, and ' and,' is ungrammatical.