PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Identifying Semicolon 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 community members voiced various complaints; such as their distrust of the new energy company buying up local propertyNo error

Possible Answers:

complaints; such as

buying up local property

various

No error

their distrust

Correct answer:

complaints; such as

Explanation:

This sentence misuses a semi-colon. These should be used to separate two independent clauses, so either side should be able to stand on its own as a sentence. Here, the latter half of the sentence is not an independent clause and cannot stand on its own, so you should use a comma instead: "The community members voiced various complaints, such as their distrust of the new energy company buying up local property."

Example Question #2 : Identifying Semicolon Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Everyone on the team agreed that the best option was to forfeit the game; without their best player; the team didn't have a chance of winningNo error

Possible Answers:

chance of winning

best option

No error

player; the

game; without

Correct answer:

player; the

Explanation:

A comma should be used instead of a semicolon to separate the introductory phrase "without their best player" from the rest of the second independent clause "the team didn't have a chance of winning."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Semicolon Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

That book over there belongs to Eileen; so we should return it to her before she needs to study for the massive English test next week. No error

Possible Answers:

there

No error

Eileen;

to study

that

Correct answer:

Eileen;

Explanation:

A semicolon is meant to connect two thoughts that are both independent clauses. However, the second clause here is dependent and is connected by the word "so." In this situation, a comma would be appropriate to link that subordinate clause to the first independent clause. So, the corrected sentence would read, "That book over there belongs to Eileen, so we should help return it to her before she needs to study for the massive English test next week."

Example Question #181 : Psat Writing Skills

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Abigail’s favorite pastime was hiking; and she often hiked with friends in the mountains near her house. No error

Possible Answers:

hiking; and she 

with friends

Abigail's

near her house 

No error

Correct answer:

hiking; and she 

Explanation:

The option with an error is “hiking; and she.” Semicolons can be used to separate two phrases that could each stand as their own sentence but are related to each other in topic. The problem with “hiking; and she” is that the semicolon is being used to separate two ideas that are related, but the material that follows the semicolon is a fragment and cannot stand as a sentence on its own. This problem could easily be corrected by removing the “and” so the entire passage reads, “Abigail’s favorite pastime was hiking; she often hiked with friends in the mountains near her house.” 

Example Question #1 : Identifying 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.

Bianca and the sister were at odds because although they were members of the same family, they felt differently about their parents' divorce. No error

Possible Answers:

differently

No error

the sister

because

their

Correct answer:

the sister

Explanation:

The error in this sentence arises where we are told that Bianca and her sister disagree over their parents' divorce, but her sister is presented abstractly; the correct usage of "her sister" allows the individual mentioned to be presented in relation to Bianca. Without the "her," we cannot be certain what the relation is, although it is clearly indicated elsewhere in the sentence.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Pronoun Errors: Ambiguity

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Since Molly won first place and Meg won second, she was honored at the awards ceremony after dinnerNo error

Possible Answers:

at

she was

won

No error

after dinner

Correct answer:

she was

Explanation:

This sentence has an ambiguous pronoun. To whom does "she" refer? You could fix this either by referring to both women with "they," if it is indeed the case that both were honored at the awards ceremony after dinner, or by replacing "she" with the name of the woman being specified.

Example Question #2 : Identifying 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.

Mr. Harris told Mr. Jarvins that at the latest staff meeting, the owner of the company expressed a strong interest in promoting him to a senior executive position. No error

Possible Answers:

expressed

him

executive

interest in

No error

Correct answer:

him

Explanation:

This sentence contains an ambiguous pronoun. We don't know whether "him" refers to Mr. Harris or Mr. Jarvins, so "him" is the error in the sentence. If we wanted to fix the error, we would have to replace "him" with the unique name of the person—Mr. Harris or Mr. Jarvins—being considered for the promotion.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Pronoun Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Jim and Tommy were late to work for the fourth time that week, since they had to pick her up at the airport and her flight was late. No error

Possible Answers:

her

No error

were

they

since

Correct answer:

her

Explanation:

This is an ambiguous pronoun. We are not sure to whom "her" refers. The sentence should use her name.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Word 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.

Many experts advocate changing how children learn to write, theorizing that they will have more success in the long run. No error

Possible Answers:

they

No error

to write

changing

theorizing

Correct answer:

they

Explanation:

"They" is an ambiguous pronoun reference—it could refer to either "experts" or "children."

Example Question #1 : Identifying 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.

After the party, Janet organized her bedroom, collected several bags of clothing for donation, and drove it to the local thrift store. No error

Possible Answers:

it

No error 

After the party,

donation, and 

bedroom, collected

Correct answer:

it

Explanation:

The error in this sentence is the use of the word "it" to refer to "several bags of clothing." In this case, the pronoun—"it"— is singular when it should be plural ("them").

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