2.1 SAT/PSAT practice. Semi-colons and Colons

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 new style was loathsome to older designers; but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.

• The new style was loathsome to older designers so they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.

• The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.

• The new style was loathsome to older designers; and they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.

• NO CHANGE

Answer explanation

A compound sentence, like the one written in this question, must have its two independent clauses joined by either a semicolon or a conjunction and a comma. Using a semicolon and a conjunction, like written in the sentence, is never correct, and the semicolon should be replaced by a  comma, as done in "The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations from younder stylists."

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.

I talked to Jenny this morning; who said that it was too cold to go swimming.

• morning: who

• NO CHANGE

• morning, who

• morning. Who

Answer explanation

A comma should separate the two clauses of the sentence; the second clause is a dependent clause, and cannot stand alone as its own sentence.

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.

Because my aunt lives far away; I do not see her very often.

• Because my aunt lives far away. I do not see her very often.

• NO CHANGE

• Because my aunt lives farthest away; I do not see her very often.

• Because my aunt lives far away, I do not see her very often.

Answer explanation

The two clauses need to be separated by a comma.

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. 

There are three colors in a typical traffic light; red, green, and yellow.

• traffic light, red, green, and yellow.

• traffic light: red, green, and yellow.

• traffic light: red and green and yellow.

• traffic light. Red, green, and yellow.

Answer explanation

A semicolon should only ever be used to seperate two parts of a sentence that could each stand as independent clauses on their own. If you can't take the two parts of the sentence on either side of the semicolon and make them into their own sentences, then you should use something different. In this case, "red, green, and yellow" does not make sense as a sentence on its own, so a semicolon should not be used. A colon makes more sense because a list is being introduced, and colons are often used to introduce lists.

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 plan sought improvements to the city government in three areas municipal finances, emergency services, and traffic enforcement

• in three areas municipal finances, emergency services, and enforcing traffic.

• NO CHANGE

• in three areas: municipal finances, emergency services, and traffic enforcement.

• in three areas; municipal finances, emergency services, and traffic enforcement.

Answer explanation

The sentence is structured so that the list is given as the examples of the "three areas" the sentence mentions. When a list follows a phrase that can be a complete sentence and adds new information to the sentence, a colon should precede the list. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "in three areas: municipal finances, emergency services, and traffic enforcement."