SAT Writing : Identifying Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors amazon store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Identifying Other 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.

They're really excited that their are so many flavors to choose from for the birthday cake. No error

Possible Answers:

They're

their

to

No error

that

Correct answer:

their

Explanation:

"Their" is a possessive pronoun that means "belonging to them," but nothing is being possessed by anyone here; the flavors do not belong to anyone in this sentence. "There" would be more appropriate.

Example Question #12 : 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.

Randy warned his children that they’re family would stand out once they moved to Tokyo, simply because of how different they would look compared to many other people in Japan. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

they're

how 

his 

once

Correct answer:

they're

Explanation:

“They’re” is used to abbreviate the phrase “they are,” while “their” is used to show possession.  Since possession is being shown, “their” should be used, not “they’re.”

Example Question #71 : Identifying Other 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 Sarah knew that going to the basketball game instead of studying was what lead to her bad grade on her math test, she felt it was worth it. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

that

instead of

lead

though

Correct answer:

lead

Explanation:

“Lead” is the present tense form of the verb “to lead” for a plural noun. However, the appropriate form of the verb for the singular subject (Sarah) in the past tense is “led.”

Example Question #11 : 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.

Overexposure to ultraviolet rays has been linked to types of skin cancer, so if your staying outside for a long time, apply sunscreen regularly. No error

Possible Answers:

has been linked

regularly

No error

so

your

Correct answer:

your

Explanation:

"Your" is a possessive pronoun. It should be replaced in the sentence with the contraction for "you are," which is "you're."

Example Question #15 : 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.

Weather or not you like stormy whether, I enjoy listening to the thunder, watching the lightning, and hearing the rain plunking against my house's tin roof. No error

Possible Answers:

listening to the thunder, watching the lightning, and hearing the rain

against

No error

Weather or not your like stormy whether,

my house's tin roof

Correct answer:

Weather or not your like stormy whether,

Explanation:

"Weather or not you like stormy whether" contains the sentence's errors. "Weather" is a noun that means atmospheric phenomena like rain, snow, or sleet, and "whether" is a conjunction that presents two options, as in the sentence, "I couldn't decide whether or not to wear my heavy coat that day, because the weather was supposed to start off freezing warm up drastically." So, to correct this sentence's errors, "weather" and "whether" should be switched around, resulting in the sentence, "Whether or not you like stormy weather, I enjoy listening to the thunder, watching the lightning, and hearing the rain plunking against my house's tin roof."

Example Question #12 : 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 father came home from a particularly grueling day at work and decided to watch the baseball game on television rather then go for his nightly walk. No error

Possible Answers:

particularly

decided

No error

from

then

Correct answer:

then

Explanation:

To answer this question correctly, you must understand the distinction between the homonyms "then" and "than." "Then" refers to an event that happens after something, as in the sentence, "He came home from work and then watched television." "Than" compares two words or phrases, as in the sentence, "I like chocolate chip cookies more than peanut butter cookies."  So, "than" is the correct word to use in this situation, and "then" should be changed to "than" to correct the sentence's error.

Example Question #371 : 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.

That is a hotly contested issue in American politics, and politicians often exacerbate the debate with there inflammatory speeches. No error

Possible Answers:

inflammatory

there

hotly

exacerbate

No error

Correct answer:

there

Explanation:

The sentence uses "there" incorrectly. This is an easy mistake to look over since "there," "their," and "they're" are all homonyms—words that sound the same but have different meanings. The speeches politicians make about the issue belong to the politicians, so the proper form is "their," the possessive pronoun.

Example Question #18 : 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.

Your mother's signature cookie recipe is incredibly delicious, and I'm incredibly jealous that your lucky enough to enjoy those sweet treats whenever you want them! No error

Possible Answers:

your

to

No error

mother's

whenever

Correct answer:

your

Explanation:

The key here is to distinguish between the homonyms "your" and "you're." 

"Your" is a possessive pronoun identifying something that belongs to you. The first usage here is correct because "your mother" refers to the mother that belongs to you.

"You're" is a contraction that combines "you" and "are," and this would be the correct choice for the second usage, making the corrected sentence "Your mother's signature cookie recipe is incredibly delicious, and I'm incredibly jealous that you're lucky enough to enjoy those sweet treats whenever you want them!"

Example Question #19 : 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 its only February, I am already excited for summer break and warmer weather. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

only February

already

its

warmer

Correct answer:

its

Explanation:

This is an incorrect form of the word "its." Here, the sentence uses the possessive pronoun form of "its," but there is nothing being possessed here. Instead, this sentence needs to use "it's," the contracted form of "it is," to be grammatically correct.  The corrected sentence reads, "Even though it's only February, I am already excited for summer break and warmer weather."

Example Question #20 : 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 was so great to here from you last weekend; we need to make these lunches happen more often! No error

Possible Answers:

so great

No error

here

last weekend

these lunches

Correct answer:

here

Explanation:

"Here" is an adverb that means in this current location, but the sentence is using it as if it were the verb "hear," which means recognize sounds from or listen to.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors