PSAT Writing : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #201 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
People spend a lifetime trying to finding happiness of life.
to finding happiness in life.
to find happiness.
to find happiness of life.
to finding happiness of life.
finding happiness of life
to find happiness.
The underlined phrase is extremely awkwardly worded, and can be cleaned up quite easily. "To find happiness" is the cleanest expression of the sentiment of the phrase's meaning.
Example Question #181 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Under agreements that were negotiated by those that were at the table, all parties had to give something up in the deal.
Under agreements that were negotiated by those that were at the table,
Under agreements were negotiated were at the table,
Under the agreements negotiated by those that were at the table,
Under agreements that were negotiating by those that were being at the table,
Under agreements negotiated by those at the table,
Under agreements negotiated by those at the table,
The underlined portion of the sentence is overly wordy and strangely complicated, and the sentence must be simplified. While being simplified, though, the sentence should keep its same meaning and remain grammatically correct. "Under agreements negotiated by those at the table" is the answer choice that best accomplishes both of these tasks.
Example Question #202 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Authors often find struggle when attempting to provide details of their characters' appearances.
find a struggle of attempting providing
find struggle when attempting to provide
find struggle attempting to provide
struggle when attempting to provide
struggles when attempting to provide
struggle when attempting to provide
The underlined portion of the sentence is both awkwardly phrased and unclear in its meaning. The word choices need to be cleaned up to appropriately convey the meaning of the sentence. "Struggle when attempting to provide" gives the same meaning as "find struggle when attempting to provide" in a more straightforward manner, and is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #356 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 cellist was quite young to have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
have chosen that kind of honor.
be chosen for such an honor.
being chosen for such an honor.
have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
having been chosen for that kind of an honor.
be chosen for such an honor.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely confusing, and can be improved via simplification. Importantly, the simplification needs to convey the same intended meaning the sentence has as written. The answer choice that best simplifies while also keeping the sentence's meaning and being grammatically correct is "be chosen for such an honor."
Example Question #203 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
That which was the point which was most contentious was strenuously avoided during the debates.
The most contentious point
That was the point which was most contentious
That which was the point which was most contentious
That which was most contentious
The point that was most contentious
The most contentious point
The underlined portion of the sentence is confusing, awkward, and overly wordy, meaning it can be simplified. In being simplified, though, the sentence needs to remain grammatically correct and retain its intended meaning. "The most contentious point" is the answer choice that does the best job of simplifying the sentence while retaining its intended meaning.
Example Question #192 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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.
Before the passage of the bill, hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
almost no one could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone has foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly no one could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
The original text contains a redundancy error. We don't need "currently" and "modern" because each implies the other, so any answer choices containing both of these words are incorrect.
The only other answer choices that get rid of the word "currently" are "hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system" and "hardly anyone has foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system." Of those answer choices, however, only the one containing "could have foreseen" uses the correct tense.
Example Question #204 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The children couldn't sleep, and the reason for this is that they were too excited about their upcoming vaction.
sleep, the reason being that
sleep, and therefore
sleep, and the reason for this is that
sleep and so
sleep because
sleep because
The children's excitement is the cause of their unability to sleep, not the other way around, so we can eliminate the answers containing "therefore" and "so." "Because" is the best of the remaining answers because it is more direct and less wordy than the others.
Example Question #205 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
The sudden downpour of rain, which soaked us all.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
We were all soaked by the downpour of rain, which was very sudden.
The downpour of rain, soaking us all, was very sudden.
The sudden downpour of rain soaked us all.
The sudden downpour of rain soaked us all.
The best answer is the most concise, has no interrupting phrases, and uses the active voice.
Example Question #372 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
Many food products that are marketed as “natural” or “healthy,” which lures in health-conscious consumers, but these claims are meaningless because they do not reflect any standardized guidelines.
“healthy,” and these claims lure in
“healthy” lure in
“healthy,” which lures in
“healthy,” luring in
“healthy,” and these claims are luring in
“healthy” lure in
The best answer is the most concise and straightforward phrasing.
Example Question #206 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 boy having been the one who found the letter, received the reward.
The boy having found the letter
The boy who found the letter
The boy was one who found the letter,
The boy had been the one who found the letter
The boy having been the one who found the letter,
The boy who found the letter
The underlined portion of the sentence is convoluted and awkward, which makes its meaning difficult to understand. The same idea can be found in a much simpler form. "The boy who found the letter" is the best choice among the answers.
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