GMAT Verbal : Correcting Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Correcting Other Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
In the past, corporations had very few restrictions on what they had to pay from employee's wages.
to pay on employees' wages.
to pay for employees' wages.
to pay from employees' wage.
for pay from employees' wages.
to pay from employees' wages.
to pay for employees' wages.
The use of the preposition "from" in the sentence is very odd. The correct preposition needs to indicate the the "wages" are something the "corporations" give to the "employees." The answer choice that best reflexts this is "to pay for employees' wages."
Example Question #4 : Word Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
To some people, the idea of Mardi Gras in New Orleans is synonymous for rowdy behavior, noisiness, and disorder.
to
of
about
with
in meaning for
with
According to the idiomatic usage of prepositions, "synonymous" is typically followed by the preposition "with," not "for." All other variations are grammatically incorrect.
Example Question #502 : Correcting Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The mother was endlessly comparing her friends’ children against her own, something that drove her whole family crazy.
The mother was endlessly comparing her friends’ children with her own,
The mother was endlessly comparing her friends’ children for her own,
The mother was endlessly in comparison with her friends’ children and her own,
The mother was endlessly in comparison with her friends’ children with her own,
The mother was endlessly comparing her friends’ children against her own,
The mother was endlessly comparing her friends’ children with her own,
“With” and “to” are the only possible prepositions for the verb “compare.” “Compare with” is used for objects of essentially the same type (for example, comparing one family’s children with another family’s), while “compare to” is used for objects of essentially different types (for example, comparing a mother to a raging forest fire).
Example Question #501 : Correcting Usage 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Even though we started on the same day, at this point Robert is junior than me in the company.
at this point Robert is junior to me in the company.
at this point Robert is equally as junior than me in the company.
at this point Robert is junior from me in the company.
at this point Robert is junior against me in the company.
at this point Robert is junior underneath me in the company.
at this point Robert is junior to me in the company.
Comparative prepositions (like "senior" or "junior") are followed by "to", not than, from, or against. The correct version of the sentence reads, "Even though we started on the same day, at this point Robert is junior to me in the company."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The night grew so cold that all the campers were shivering although a raging fire.
despite a raging fire.
even though a raging fire.
through a raging fire.
although a raging fire.
from a raging fire.
despite a raging fire.
The use of "although" in the last part of the sentence is confusing and awkward. A different preposition can more clearly indicate the fact the campers "were shivering" while a fire was "raging," which should warm them. The best answer choice to do this is "despite a raging fire."
Example Question #731 : Usage 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
That author's most recent novel is based on the Civil War in Spain, but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but on a deeper level many perceive the book as a protest against Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest against Spanish social conventions.
but on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level many perceive the book as a protest on Spanish social conventions.
but, on a deeper level, many perceive the book as a protest against Spanish social conventions.
The fragment “on a deeper level” must have a comma before and after it because it interrupts the second clause of the sentence. Also, the word “protest” must be paired with the preposition “against.”
Example Question #11 : Correcting Preposition 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The beach can be a fun place to visit about long weekends.
The beach is always a fun place to visit beyond long weekends.
The beach is often a fun place to visit around long weekends.
The beach is always a fun place to visit further long weekends.
The beach can be a fun place to visit about long weekends.
The beach can be a fun place to visit on long weekends.
The beach can be a fun place to visit on long weekends.
Here, the preposition "on" is most appropriate of the choices available.
Example Question #12 : Correcting Preposition 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.
Never before did the members of the class see a sight such like that.
a sight such that.
a sight such like.
a sight such like that.
a sight such as that.
sight such like that.
a sight such as that.
"Such as" and "like" are related terms, with both being used to indicate examples of things mentioned earlier in the sentence. The correct usage, however, is either "such as" or "like," with "such like" being completely incorrect. The correct answer is "a sight such as that."
Example Question #12 : Correcting Other Usage 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.
When the CFO hired an outside consulting group to double-check the already-completed project, she was disappointed to learn that the new results were inconsistent to those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent with that presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent to that presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent to those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent with those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent from those presented by her team.
the new results were inconsistent with those presented by her team.
"Inconsistent with" is the correct adjective/preposition pair. The determiner "those" should match what it refers to in number, so "those (results)" is the appropriate choice over "that."
Example Question #506 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different to those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor; a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than that of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The COO strove to make her habits quite different than those of her predecessor, a change that did not go underappreciated by her subordinates.
The correct pairing is "different from;" "than" is only used with comparative adjectives such as "larger than" or "smarter than." "Different from those" is correct - the demonstrative "those" must match, in number, what it refers to - in this case, "habits."
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