SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #76 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The general was known among his troops for his tireless work ethic and his devotion to his men.
The general was known among his troops for: his tireless work ethic and his devotion to his men.
The general was known, among his troops for his tireless work ethic and his devotion to his men.
The general, was known among his troops. for his tireless work ethic and his devotion to his men.
The general was known among his troops for his tireless work ethic, and his devotion to his men.
The general was known among his troops for his tireless work ethic and his devotion to his men.
The general was known among his troops for his tireless work ethic and his devotion to his men.
The sentence has no grammatical issues as it is written, and needs no improvements made to it. Additionally, the answer choices that do make a change create a grammar or usage problem. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #77 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The entire team was fully on board with the new direction the company was taking.
The entire team was fully on board with the new direction the company was taken.
The entire team being fully on board with the new direction the company was taking.
The entire team was fully on board, with the new direction the company was taking.
The entire team fully on board with the new direction the company was taking.
The entire team was fully on board with the new direction the company was taking.
The entire team was fully on board with the new direction the company was taking.
The sentence has no grammar or usage problems, and therefore needs no improvements made to it. In fact, all of the answer choices that make a change introduce a grammatical or usage error into the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #88 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The basketball player was also a remarkable student, showing aptitude in a variety of areas.
The basketball player also a remarkable student, showing aptitude in a variety of areas.
The basketball player was as well the remarkable student, showing aptitude in a variety of areas.
The basketball player was also a remarkable student; showing aptitude in a variety of areas.
The basketball player was also a remarkable student showing aptitude in a variety of areas.
The basketball player was also a remarkable student, showing aptitude in a variety of areas.
The basketball player was also a remarkable student, showing aptitude in a variety of areas.
The sentence has no grammatical or usage problems, and needs no improvements made to it. Additionally, all of the answer choices that do make a change in the sentence introduce some grammar or usage error. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1301 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
She never much cared for her cousin, who was only a few months older.
She never much cared for her cousin, who was only the few months older.
She never much cared for her cousin, who was only a few month's older.
She never much caring for her cousin, who was only a few months older.
She never much cared for her cousin, who was only a few months older.
She never much cared at her cousin, who was only a few months older.
She never much cared for her cousin, who was only a few months older.
The sentence needs no improvements made to it, as it contains no grammatical errors. All of the answer choices that do make a change introduce some grammatical error into the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1302 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Working toward a common goal, the former enemies grew to be close friends.
Working toward a common goal; the former enemies grew to be close friends.
Working toward, a common goal, the former enemies grew to be close friends.
Working toward a common goal, the former enemy's grew to be close friends.
Working toward a common goal, the former enemies grew, to be close friends.
Working toward a common goal, the former enemies grew to be close friends.
Working toward a common goal, the former enemies grew to be close friends.
As it is written, the sentence is grammatically correct, and needs no improvements made to it. Additionally, the answer choices that do make a change in the sentence create a grammatical problem. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #1303 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Working toward a solution, the committee confidently announed their progress to the press.
Working toward a solution, the committee, confidently announced, their progress to the press.
Working toward a solution, the committee confidently announced their progress, to the press.
Working toward a solution, the committee confidently announced their progress to the press.
Working toward a solution, the committee confidently announced, their progress to the press.
Working toward a solution the committee confidently announced their progress to the press.
Working toward a solution, the committee confidently announced their progress to the press.
The sentence is perfectly correct as it is written and needs no changes or improvements made to it. Additionally, the answer choices that do make a change make the sentence grammatically incorrect, so the sentence should be left as it is.
Example Question #1654 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The hiking trail was clearly marked, and straying away from the path was strictly forbidden.
The hiking trail was clearly marked, and straying away from the path was strictly forbidden.
The hiking trail was clear marked, and straying away from the path was strictly forbidden.
The hiking trail was clearly marked, and straying away from the path was strictly forbidding.
The hiking trail was clearly marked, and straying away from the path is strictly forbidden.
The hiking trail was clearly marked, and strayed away from the path was strictly forbidden.
The hiking trail was clearly marked, and straying away from the path was strictly forbidden.
The sentence is perfectly correct grammatically as it stands, and needs no improvements made to it. The answer choices that do change an element of the sentence actually make it grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1304 : Improving Sentences
There are a couple options for our long weekend holiday: we can go to Hawaii for a quick trip or up to Portland.
No change
There are many options for our long weekend holiday, we can go to Hawaii for a quick trip or up to Portland.
There are many options for our long weekend holiday, we can stay here or go away.
There are a couple options for our long weekend holiday, we can go to Hawaii for a quick trip or up to Portland.
There are many options for our long weekend holiday; we can go to north or south.
No change
This sentence is clear, direct, and well written as is. There is no need to shift the language. Most of the incorrect answers change the meaning of the original sentence, while "there are a couple options for our long weekend holiday, we can go to Hawaii for a quick trip or up to Portland" is a comma splice.
Example Question #1661 : Sentence Correction
Bethany simply could not believe it when she was asked to join the city council; she had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years.
when she was asked to join the city consul;
when she was asked to join the city council;
when she was asked to join the city counsel;
when she was being asked to join the city council;
when she was asking to join the city council;
when she was asked to join the city council;
The sentence is best in its original form. This is a question testing your ability to make the right word choice. "Council" means committee.
Example Question #1662 : Sentence Correction
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
While some people find crossword puzzles to be tedious, others claim they can provide helpful mental stimulation.
tedious; others claim it can provide
tedious, others claim that being provided by them is
tedious; others claim they can provide
tedious, others claim they can provide
tedious, others claim it can provide
tedious, others claim they can provide
There is no error in the sentence, so its original wording is the best choice. The subject of the sentence is the plural "puzzles," so changing the pronoun to the singular "it" would be a mistake. A semicolon would create a sentence structure problem, and the last possible answer choice, "tedious, others claim that being provided by them is," unnecessarily replaces the active voice with the passive voice, making the second part of the sentence awkward and wordy.
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