PSAT Writing : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The world was forever changed by the discovery of deep sea eels, who’s skin possessed remarkable healing properties. No error.
who's skin
was forever
changed by
No error.
remarkable healing properties
who's skin
The wrong form of who’s/whose is used here. “Who’s” is a contraction for “who is,” while here we want a possessive, which is "whose." The corrected sentence reads, "The world was forever changed by the discovery of deep sea eels, whose skin possessed remarkable healing properties."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The small children on the plane found that there ears were in extreme pain due to its rapid descent from a high altitude. No error
in extreme
there
on
its
No error
there
“There” is an adverb that means a specified place, while "their" is the possessive form of the pronoun "they." So, “their” should be used in this sentence in order to show possession, and "there" is the part of the sentence that contains the error.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The grandmother was very proud for her daughter, who had just won a very competitive statewide cross-country race. No error
was
who
No error
for
statewide
for
Idiomatically, when the word "proud" is used, it may be accompanied by the preposition “of,” but not “for.” Therefore, the phrase “proud for” should actually be “proud of," and "for" is the part of the sentence that contains an error.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
If under a lot of stress, your much more likely to make mistakes that you otherwise would not make if operating under normal circumstances. No error
your
operating under
under
No error
otherwise
your
“Your” is the possessive form of the pronoun "you," which doesn't make sense in the sentence. The word “you’re,” the contracted form of “you are," should be used instead.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My cousin insists on eating hole wheat bread because it is supposed to contain more fiber than the white bread that the rest of our family eats. No error
than
on
No error
hole
it is
hole
The "whole" in "whole wheat" refers to the use of whole grains. "Hole" is a noun, and conveys a physical hole. In this context, the underlined word should be spelled "whole," not "hole."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Like a mussel, patience can be strengthened with exercise, time, practice, and persistence. No error
No error
mussel
can be
and
with
mussel
A "mussel" is a type of shellfish and is not appropriate for this sentence. The word that the sentence needs to use is "muscle."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Even though the teacher told the student, "You have to remove you're shoes," the advice made no impact. No error
you're
No error
student,
though
made
you're
The underlined word, "you're" should be "your," as it is reflecting the student's possession of his or her shoes. "You're" is used when intending to communicate "you are," which would not be appropriate for this sentence.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It doesn’t matter weather it is rainy or sunny tomorrow, because the volleyball team is sure to hold practice. No error
No error
weather
because
or
sure to
weather
When describing two possibilities, the appropriate word is “whether,” not “weather,” which refers to the climate.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Bill, who was not looking forward to seeing his mean cousins, told his mother, “There going to make fun of me.” No error
who
No error
his
forward to
There
There
"They’re" is a contraction that means “they are," whereas "there" refers to a specified location. “They’re” is the appropriate word to use in this sentence, not “there.”
Example Question #3391 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Mario yelled, “You’re not the only one whose tired; it’s been a long day, and practice was truly exhausting.” No error
whose
yelled,
No error
it's
you're
whose
The contraction “who’s," which is a shortened form of "who is," should replace “whose,” which is a possessive pronoun and doesn't make sense in the sentence.
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