SAT Writing : Identifying Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #13 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While planning our summer vacation trip, we had a hard time choosing between going to Barcelona or going to Costa Rica; both seemed like great destinations. No error
choosing
or
seemed
No error
While
or
The error in this sentence is the incorrect structure of the comparison "between (Option 1) and (Option 2)." The conjunction "and" should always be used in this type of comparison, and in this sentence the writer has incorrectly used the conjunction "or."
Example Question #14 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither Timothy or Jocelyn had any doubt that they would get a perfect score on the SAT, since they had been studying almost nonstop for months. No error
or
Neither
had been
any
No error
or
The error in this sentence is the use of the conjunction "or." The writer should have used the conjunction "nor," as this is the conjunction that must be paired with "neither" when using the formulation "neither X nor Y."
Example Question #15 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
You can either tell him the truth and try to hide your mistake, but you should consider the consequences carefully; if you make the wrong decision, you may lose a friend. No error
carefully;
either tell him the truth and try to hide
No error
mistake,
decision,
either tell him the truth and try to hide
The correlative conjunction “either” must be paired with “or,” not “and.” The sentence is punctuated correctly, with commas separating dependent clauses from independent clauses and a semicolon separating the two independent clauses.
Example Question #16 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Yesterday, I had to decide between the high-paying marketing job or the low-paying freelance gig; I hope I didn’t make a mistake when I turned down the high salary. No error
high-paying marketing job or
mistake when
No error
freelance gig;
Yesterday,
high-paying marketing job or
The correct conjunction to use with the word “between” is “and,” not “or.” You choose between a first option "and" a second option; you don’t choose between a first option "or" a second option.
Example Question #17 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As the rain poured down, the campers knew that they had to choose between bailing out their tents or packing up and going home. No error
poured
or
had to choose
bailing
No error
or
The correlative conjunction pair "between...and" is used to describe a choice or comparison. In this case, the choice is between "bailing out their tents and packing up," making the error in the sentence as it is written "or."
The full, correct version of this sentence would read: "As the rain poured down, the campers knew they had to choose between bailing out their tents and packing up and going home."
Example Question #18 : Identifying Conjunction Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The girls could never make up their minds about which movie to see; either the showing was too late and the theater was too far. No error
No error
was
to see
could never
and
and
The correlative conjunction pair "either . . . or" is used to show two contrasting options. Either option could be true, but only one can be true at a time. In this case, the word "and" should be replaced by the word "or" to complete the correlative conjunction pair.
Example Question #721 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Neither China nor America is doing enough to fight global warming. NO ERROR
warming.
enough
is
nor
NO ERROR
NO ERROR
Whenever you see the conjunction "neither," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "nor." As such, the sentence above is correct as it is written.
Example Question #722 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
You either need to start working harder, nor accept the consequences of your laziness. NO ERROR
NO ERROR
start working
laziness.
your
nor
nor
Whenever you see the conjunction "either," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "or." As such, the "nor" in the sentence above should be changed to "or."
Example Question #723 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence below that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Not only is Chicago a great city for restaurants, and it has great live music as well. NO ERROR
restaurants,
and
great live
Chicago
NO ERROR
and
Whenever you see the conjunction "not only," it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "but also." As such, the "and" in the sentence above should be changed to "but also."
Example Question #724 : 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.
Neither fame or passion drove Kelly to pursue a career in music; she got into the industry solely for the money. No error
music;
drove
Neither fame or passion
into
No error
Neither fame or passion
"Or" is the problematic word here - it should be "nor." "Neither... nor" is the correct pairing, not "Neither... or." "Either... nor" is also incorrect. In all cases it must be "either...or" and "neither...nor."
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