PSAT Writing : Identifying Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic 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.

Given the disproportionate amount of deaths caused by drunk drivers, most states have passed strict legislation against individuals who choose to operate vehicles while inebriated. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

have passed

inebriated

amount of deaths

who choose

Correct answer:

amount of deaths

Explanation:

"Amount of" refers to something that is not necessarily measured numerically, while "number of" refers to something that is measured numerically. Given that deaths incurred by drunk drivers is something that can be measured numerically, "number of" would be appropriate, not "amount of." If the sentence was "Given the disproportionate amount of heartache caused by drunk drivers . . .", the sentence would have been properly constructed because heartache generally cannot be measured numerically. 

Example Question #2 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic 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.

Even though Joseph is a big fan of cooking shows, he hasn't never cooked in his entire life. No error

Possible Answers:

hasn't

his

No error

cooked

Even though

Correct answer:

hasn't

Explanation:

Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in standard written English, so instead of saying "hasn't never cooked," one should say "has never cooked."

Example Question #412 : 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.

A fundraising campaign was started for the purpose to support ecological restoration projects in South America. No error

Possible Answers:

to support

in South America

fundraising

No error

was started

Correct answer:

to support

Explanation:

This sentence does not use the use the phrase “for the purpose of” correctly. This phrase is typically followed by a gerund, a verb that is used as a noun. The corrected sentence reads, "A fundraising campaign was started for the purpose of supporting ecological restoration projects in South America."

Example Question #5 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic 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.

All of the chemistry teachers have decided, as of this morning, to unanimously postpone the midterm exam as a result of their students’ poor grades. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

to unanimously postpone

students'

their

have decided 

Correct answer:

to unanimously postpone

Explanation:

“To unanimously postpone” constitutes a split infinitive because the verb “to postpone” is split by the adverb. “Unanimously” should be placed elsewhere in the sentence.

Example Question #3 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic 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.

Every year, thousands of tourists swarm to New York City to view the impressive, timeless monument known as the Statue Of Liberty. No error

Possible Answers:

thousands of tourists

to New York City

No error

the Statue Of Liberty 

the impressive, timeless, monument

Correct answer:

the Statue Of Liberty 

Explanation:

The preposition “of” in the title “Statue of Liberty” does not need to be—and should not be—capitalized.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic 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 Odyssey is a very long epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the long journey he undertakes to try to return to his home. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

The Odyssey is a long epic poem

he undertakes

to try and return to his home

that

Correct answer:

The Odyssey is a long epic poem

Explanation:

The sentence tells us (correctly) that the Odyssey is "a long epic poem," so as a long poem, its title should be italicized as "The Odyssey."

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 propertiesNo error.

Possible Answers:

No error.

was forever

remarkable healing properties

changed by

who's skin

Correct answer:

who's skin

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

on

its

No error

there

in extreme

Correct answer:

there

Explanation:

“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

Possible Answers:

statewide

who

No error

for

was 

Correct answer:

for

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

your

operating under

No error

under

otherwise

Correct answer:

your

Explanation:

“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.

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