Correcting Semicolon Errors - GMAT Verbal

The correct answer joins two independent clauses with a semi-colon, not a comma. The sentences in which the semi-colon attempts to join an independent clause and a dependent clause or some kind of modifier are incorrect. Some of the incorrect answers also show errors in parallelism.

This sentence misuses the comma. The sentence combines two related independent clauses without the use of a conjunction. In these cases, a semicolon should be used instead. Note that a colon would be inappropriate here as "they planned to celebrate afterwards" does not explain how or why they are winning the game or even why they are playing the game. The correct choice is, " the game; they planned to celebrate afterwards."

This sentence does not contain a semicolon where one is necessary. This sentence combines two related independent clauses without the use of a conjunction. When this occurs, a semicolon should appear between them. A semicolon should appear after the word "sun." The correct choice is, "because of its orbit around the sun; each region's exposure to the sun's rays determines."

This sentence combines two related independent clauses without the use of a conjunction. When this occurs, a semicolon should be placed between the clauses. A semicolon should appear after the word "individual." The correct choice is, "creative individual; he dabbled in every area of art."

This sentence does not contain a semicolon where necessary. The sentence joins two related independent clauses without the use of a conjunction. When this occurs, the clauses should be separated by a semicolon, which, in this instance, should appear after the word "eat." The correct choice is, " into the city, he stopped to eat; he would not have free time."

This sentence contains an error in the usage of the semicolon. Semicolons are used in order to join two independent clauses without the use of a conjunction. The phrase "He regarded the award" is independent, but "as the most prestigious in his field" is not. The semicolon should be omitted as no punctuation in necessary. The correct choice is, "He regarded the award as the most."

This sentence contains a semicolon where a comma should be. The phrase "After exercising" 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, "After exercising, she drank."

This sentence contains a semicolon where a comma is necessary. Semicolons are used to join two independent clauses without a conjunction. The phrase "Whenever she completed a task" is not, however, an independent clause; it 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, "Whenever she completed a task; she hit a bell on her desk."

When using a conjunctive adjective to join two independent clauses, one should use a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb (in this case "however") and a comma after the conjunctive adverb, in this case "however".

Using the word "however" to join two independent clauses requires the use of a semicolon and a comma. In this case, "however" is not functioning as a conjunctive adverb. It is simply an adverb modifying the word "challenging." Because the modifier "however challenging" interrupts the independent clause, it is best to set it between commas.

The central issue here is how to effectively combine these two independent statements. Because the clauses do not contrast in meaning, using the conjunction but or the conjunctive adverb however after the semi-colon is inappropriate. However, using a semi-colon to join two independent clauses that are closely related is totally acceptable. Using a comma alone would result in a comma splice error. The correct answer simply implements a semi-colon.

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.

A comma can not be used to combine two separate thoughts. That creates a run on sentence. Instead, a semi-colon can be used.

The two clauses need to be separated by a comma.

A semi-colon, or a colon, is used to connect two complete sentences: here the second sentence is a fragment.

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

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.

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."

Although the sentence is written as compound sentence joined by a semicolon, the first portion, "Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation," is actually an introductory clause. As such, the clause should be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation, the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do."