SAT Writing : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #151 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

The school teacher was desperately seeking the student that was the one who had done the damage to the room.

Possible Answers:

that was done damage to the room.

that did the damage to the room.

that was the one that had done the damage to the room.

that had doing the damage to the room.

that was the one who had done the damage to the room.

Correct answer:

that did the damage to the room.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence has too many words and becomes confusing. The underlined section needs to be simplified, but also has to be grammatically correct and keep the intended meaning of the sentence. "That did the damage to the room" is the choice that best does this among the answers.

Example Question #152 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Having been one of the ones that had received the medal, the athlete quickly became a national hero.

Possible Answers:

Having received one of the ones of the medal.

Having received the medal

Having been one to receive the medal

Having been the ones that had received the medal

Having been one of the ones that had received the medal

Correct answer:

Having received the medal

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy, bordering on confusing. The phrase desperately needs to be simplified in order to make it clearer. The best answer choice that both simplifies and retains the intended meaning is "Having received the medal."

Example Question #153 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

That topic being one of the ones which had been discussed, the entire group thought about it all weekend.

Possible Answers:

Being a topic that was one having been discussed

That topic being one of the ones which had been discussed

That topic being one of the ones which having been discussed

Being one topic that was discussed

That topic being one which had been discussed

Correct answer:

Being one topic that was discussed

Explanation:

The underlined phrase is extremely wordy and confusingly complex, and needs to be greatly simplified. While it should be simplified, it also needs to retain the sentence's intended meaning and be grammatically correct. The answer choice that best does both of these tasks is "Being one topic that was discussed."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy 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.

Everyone was shocked to see that the crowd's favorite horse in the race was the least fast out of all of the horses.

Possible Answers:

was the least fast one.

was the slowest out of all of the horses.

were the slowest one.

was the slowest one.

was the slowest one of everyone.

Correct answer:

was the slowest one.

Explanation:

The best way to say something like "least fast" is to simply say "slowest." It is more concise and more direct, and so although "least fast" may be gramatically correct, it is not the most effective form. "Out of all of the horses" is also unnecessarily wordy and can be shortened to be more effective at getting the point across.

Example Question #155 : 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.

Having been the one that had been the one that negotiated the treaty, the diplomat was highly familiar with the details of the agreement.

Possible Answers:

Having been the one that had been the one that negotiated the treaty

Having been one that had negotiated the treaty

Having negotiated the treaty

Having had been the one that negotiated the treaty

Having been the one that negotiated the treaty

Correct answer:

Having negotiated the treaty

Explanation:

The underlined portion is extremely awkward, confusing, and repetitive, so it needs to be simplified. Not only should the repetition be done away with, but the phrase that is repeated. "been the one that," is unnecessary. The answer choice that best simplifies the sentence is "Having negotiated the treaty."

Example Question #156 : 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.

The day's events made many people question the things with which they had previously held quite dear.

Possible Answers:

 the things with which they had previously held quite dear.

 the things they having had previously held quite dear.

 the things which they had previously held quite dear.

 the things with they previously held quite dear.

the things they previously held quite dear.

Correct answer:

the things they previously held quite dear.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely overwrought and fairly unclear. Specifically, "had" and "held" make two verbs in the dependent clause, and a sense of repetition permeates the phrase. The best simplification that also keeps the intended meaning of the sentence is "the things they previously held quite dear."

Example Question #21 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy 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 element that had been debated in the session was set aside for further discussion during the next session.

Possible Answers:

The element which being debated

The element debated in the session

That which was the element that had been debated in the session

That element that had been debates in the session

Element debated in session

Correct answer:

The element debated in the session

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and overwrought, and needs to be greatly simplified. The simplification should not change the sentence's intended meaning or introduce any grammatical errors. "The element debated in the session" is the answer choice that does this best.

Example Question #151 : 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.

Until the issue which has been discussed previously is resolved, no one may leave the room.

Possible Answers:

Until the issue which has been discussed previously is resolved, 

Until the issue which has been discussed previously is resolving, 

Until the previous issue which has been discussed is being resolved,

Until the previously discussed issue is resolved,

Until the issue which is being discussed previously is resolved, 

Correct answer:

Until the previously discussed issue is resolved,

Explanation:

The underlined phrase is strangely written, with an uneccessary use of the passive voice and some overwrought phrasing. The sentence can be improved by rewording and simplifying the phrase, but any simplification needs to keep the sentence's meaning intact. "Until the previously discussed issue is resolved," is the answer choice that best simplifies the sentence.

Example Question #1381 : Improving Sentences

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.

Being that which had been the one that had made the mistake, the oldest child was brought to task for it.

Possible Answers:

Being the one that had made the mistake,

Having been the one that had made the mistake,

Being that which had been the one that had made the mistake,

Having made the mistake,

Being one that made the mistake,

Correct answer:

Having made the mistake,

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is much too complicated and confusing, and needs to be simplified. Almost all of the confusing and redundant phrases can be taken out of the underlined portion while keeping the meaning of the sentence intact, leaving "Having made the mistake," as the best answer choice.

Example Question #154 : 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.

Having been that which was questioned by everyone who was in attendance, the song was taken out of the show after previews.

Possible Answers:

Being that which was questioned by everyone in attendance,

Having which questioned by everyone who was in attendance, 

Being questioned by everyone who was in attendance,

Having been that questioned by everyone in attendance, 

Having been questioned by everyone in attendance, 

Correct answer:

Having been questioned by everyone in attendance, 

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is wordy and needs to be simplified. The sentence also needs to retain its intended meaning and be grammatically correct after being simplified. "Having been questioned by everyone in attendance," is the only answer choice that appropriately achieves all of this.

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