SAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Everyone will tell you that our soccer team is the best among our county. No error
among
the best
our
No error
will tell you
among
This is a sentence with an idiomatic error in the use of a preposition; "among" is the error and "in" would be the a preposition. "Among" is used a bit more like "between" in cases where there are several other entities implied. In this sentence, "best" is correct because there is no comparison between two specific things. A more through rephrasing of the sentence to read "our soccer team is among the best in the country" would also be correct, but would carry the implication that the team was not the single best, but rather was in the top tier of teams.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Selena was very angry on her sister for arriving more than thirty minutes late to their cousin’s surprise party. No error
No error
than
their
on
arriving
on
The adjective “angry” should always be paired with either the preposition “with” or "at." For example, “I’m angry with you for missing the appointment.”
Example Question #1 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
Her explanation for her absence, that she had been at the laundromat and lost track of time, was confirmed with the piles of neatly folded laundry on the dresser.
had been
neatly folded laundry
her absence
No error
confirmed with
confirmed with
This sentence has a problem with a prepositional idiom. The corrected sentence reads: Her explanation for her absence, that she had been at the laundromat and lost track of time, was confirmed by the piles of neatly folded laundry on the dresser.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Sentence Errors
My two dogs have recently become rather mutually antagonistic, and I am struggling to keep them separate to each other.
mutually
and I am
have recently become
separate to
No error
separate to
This sentence has a problem with prepositional idioms. The corrected sentence reads: My two dogs have recently become rather mutually antagonistic, and I am struggling to keep them separate from each other.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Adjective And Adverb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Contrary to popular belief, if one were to compare the hunting prowess of female lions with that of male lions, the females would be the best hunters. No error
female lions with male lions
No error
were to compare
best
to popular belief
best
"The best hunters" is the error here, making this a comparative error. The correct word would be "better" here because the sentence draws a comparison between two groups—females and males. Whenever a comparison is drawn between two items, it is correct to use the "-er" form of the word; this is known as the "comparative" form of the word. Whenever a comparison is drawn between three or more things, you use the "-est" form of the word, known as the "superlative" form. A comparison is used to compare one item to one other item; superlatives are used to distinguish one item from many other items.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Pronoun Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Bianca and the sister were at odds because although they were members of the same family, they felt differently about their parents' divorce. No error
the sister
because
their
No error
differently
the sister
The error in this sentence arises where we are told that Bianca and her sister disagree over their parents' divorce, but her sister is presented abstractly; the correct usage of "her sister" allows the individual mentioned to be presented in relation to Bianca. Without the "her," we cannot be certain what the relation is, although it is clearly indicated elsewhere in the sentence.
Example Question #11 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Since Molly won first place and Meg won second, she was honored at the awards ceremony after dinner. No error
won
No error
she was
at
after dinner
she was
This sentence has an ambiguous pronoun. To whom does "she" refer? You could fix this either by referring to both women with "they," if it is indeed the case that both were honored at the awards ceremony after dinner, or by replacing "she" with the name of the woman being specified.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Mr. Harris told Mr. Jarvins that at the latest staff meeting, the owner of the company expressed a strong interest in promoting him to a senior executive position. No error
expressed
No error
him
executive
interest in
him
This sentence contains an ambiguous pronoun. We don't know whether "him" refers to Mr. Harris or Mr. Jarvins, so "him" is the error in the sentence. If we wanted to fix the error, we would have to replace "him" with the unique name of the person—Mr. Harris or Mr. Jarvins—being considered for the promotion.
Example Question #4 : Identifying Pronoun Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jim and Tommy were late to work for the fourth time that week, since they had to pick her up at the airport and her flight was late. No error
No error
since
her
they
were
her
This is an ambiguous pronoun. We are not sure to whom "her" refers. The sentence should use her name.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Many experts advocate changing how children learn to write, theorizing that they will have more success in the long run. No error
to write
No error
theorizing
changing
they
they
"They" is an ambiguous pronoun reference—it could refer to either "experts" or "children."
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