Colon needs a full sentence before it: the SAT reading & writing trap
Short answer: Read only the words before the colon. Not a complete sentence? No colon.
The trap, in one question
The recipe calls for___ flour, eggs, and sugar.
Tempting answer: for: flour
Correct answer: for flour (no punctuation)
How to spot it in 3 seconds
Read only the words before the colon. Not a complete sentence? No colon.
FAQ
What is the colon needs a full sentence before it trap on the SAT?
Example: The recipe calls for___ flour, eggs, and sugar. The tempting answer is for: flour; the correct answer is for flour (no punctuation).
How do you avoid the colon needs a full sentence before it trap?
Read only the words before the colon. Not a complete sentence? No colon.
More Reading & Writing traps
RW1Semicolon = two full sentencesRW3Comma spliceRW4Dashes come in matching pairsRW5Extra info needs commas on both sides
← Semicolon = two full sentences · Comma splice →
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