SAT Writing : Identifying Other Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #13 : Identifying Preposition Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Nearly all of the city council members voted in favor of the proposal to increase the number of lanes on several notoriously busy streets in an effort at reducing heavy traffic.
in favor of
notoriously
No error
in an effort at
proposal to
in an effort at
This sentence contains an erroneous idiomatic expression. The correct idiom is "in an effort to" rather than "in an effort at." The idioms "in favor of" and "proposal to" are correct, and the adverb "notoriously" correctly modifies the adjective "busy."
Example Question #22 : Identifying Other 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.
The smell of roasting onions permeated in the courtyard by the kitchen. No error
roasting onions
permeated in
by the kitchen
No error
The smell of
permeated in
The verb "permeated" is not typically followed by the preposition "in." The corrected sentence reads, "The smell of roasting onions permeated the courtyard by the kitchen."
Example Question #21 : Identifying Other 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.
Public transportation strikes can have serious harmful effects for the local economy. No error
for
serious harmful
can have
No error
local
for
The wrong preposition is used here. Usually we say that something has an effect "on" another thing, not "for." The corrected sentence reads, "Public transportation strikes can have serious harmful effects on the local economy."
Example Question #22 : Identifying Other 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.
What is the reason of the giant, empty box that has been sitting in the living room for the past week? No error
has been sitting
reason of
No error
for
past
reason of
This sentence does not follow the conventions of noun and preposition use. The correct preposition to use after “reason” is “for,” not “of.” The corrected sentence reads: "What is the reason for the giant, empty box that has been sitting in the living room for the past week?"
Example Question #23 : Identifying Other 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 she had surgery, Christine has appreciated for the elevator up to her fourth-floor apartment. No error
her
Since
surgery; Christine
appreciated for
No error
appreciated for
This sentence uses an unnecessary preposition. While it is convention to speak about “an appreciation for,” the preposition “for” is not used with the verb “to appreciate.” The corrected sentence reads, "Since she had the surgery, Christine has appreciated the elevator up to her fourth-floor apartment."
Example Question #24 : Identifying Other 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.
The roller coaster was old and rickety, and the seatbelts were dangerously frayed; getting in, I felt afraid of my life. No error
getting in
No error
dangerously
old and rickety
afraid of
afraid of
This sentence doesn’t follow the conventions of prepositions in its choice of preposition that follows the verb “afraid.” “Afraid of” is very different than “afraid for.” In this case, because the speaker’s life is the thing in danger instead of the speaker's life causing the speaker to feel afraid, “for” is appropriate. The corrected sentence reads, "The roller coaster was old and rickety, and the seatbelts were dangerously frayed; getting in, I felt afraid for my life."
Example Question #25 : Identifying Other 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.
The Federalists and the Republicans, the first two political parties of the United States, disagreed with how the Constitution should be interpreted. No error
with
political
of the United States
should be interpreted
No error
with
The wrong preposition is used in "disagreed with." You generally "disagree with" a person or policy, but "disagree over" or "disagree on" an issue. Changing "with" to "over" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads "The Federalists and the Republicans, the first two political parties of the United States government, disagreed over how the Constitution should be interpreted."
Example Question #26 : Identifying Other 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.
Her father prevented her against dropping out of high school. No error
against
No error
prevented her
Her father
of high school
against
The correct phrase is “to prevent someone (or something) from doing something.”
Example Question #321 : 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.
While small dogs are more vulnerable then large dogs, they also tend to be more aggressive. No error
No error
also
then
While
are more
then
"Then" is used to describe a sequence of events, while "than" is used to compare two subjects. Here, two subjects are being compared: big and small dogs. Therefore, "than" should be used, not "then."
Example Question #321 : 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.
Now that I have researched all of the candidates and the issues, I have decided to support for the third party candidate. No error
all of the
have decided
support for
and
No error
support for
In this sentence, the preposition “for” is incorrect. “For” is used after the noun “support,” but not the verb. The corrected sentence reads, "Now that I have researched all of the candidates and the issues, I have decided to support the third party candidate."
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