Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Question #1183
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Consider whether the phrase 'Occam's Razor' is absolutely necessary to identify *which* principle the sentence is discussing. If removing it makes the sentence vague or changes its meaning, it's essential.
Recall the rules for punctuating appositives. Essential appositives are not set off by commas, while non-essential appositives are. How does this apply when a general term is followed by its specific name?
When a common noun (like 'the principle,' 'the city,' 'the author,' 'the concept') is immediately followed by a proper noun that *names* or *specifically identifies* that common noun (e.g., 'the principle Occam's Razor,' 'the city London,' 'the author J.K. Rowling,' 'the concept gravity'), the proper noun is almost always essential information. Therefore, it should *not* be set off by commas or dashes. Look for the option that presents the common noun and its specific name directly adjacent, without intervening punctuation. This is a very common and predictable SAT grammar pattern.
The question asks to choose the option that best maintains the sentence's meaning and conforms to the conventions of standard English, specifically focusing on the punctuation around the phrase 'Occam's Razor'. The phrase 'Occam's Razor' fu...
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