SAT Writing : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #404 : 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.
When the earthquake hit, Martin, fearing for his life, ran to cover underneath a nearby tree, not knowing he was safer out in the open. No error
ran to cover
No error
out in the open
for his life
a nearby tree
ran to cover
The phrase "ran to cover" contains the sentence's error; it should be written as "ran for cover" instead so that it correctly follows the conventions of preposition usage.
Example Question #31 : 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.
Somehow, I managed to talk with my professor for twenty minutes and successfully evade from the topic of my seriously late literature review. No error
evade from
and
seriously
talk with
No error
evade from
This sentence does not follow the conventions of prepositions. “Evade” is not typically followed by a preposition; the “from” is unnecessary and incorrect. The corrected sentence reads, "Somehow, I managed to talk with my professor for twenty minutes and successfully evade the topic of my seriously late literature review."
Example Question #41 : 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.
The rice dish I made was different than the one Krista made last weekend; mine used different spices and had a longer cooking time. No error
different than
weekend; mine
the one
No error
spices and had
different than
"Different from" should be used instead of "different than." "Than" implies a direct comparison, implying that A is more different than B. Since only two things are being compared, that means one can't be more different than the other (unless there is a third reference item also in the comparison), and "different from" should be used instead of "different than."
Example Question #42 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The research assistant came back with results inconsistent to those of previous trials, so the investigator had to verify her calculations. No error
had
No error
to
those of
trials, so
to
"To" is the incorrect preposition to use with "inconsistent." The correct pairing would be "inconsistent with." "With" should also be paired with "consistent."
Example Question #405 : 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.
Ron used to prefer cats for dogs, but recently changed his mind on the matter after being befriended by a charming canine. No error
but recently
No error
being befriended
used to prefer
for
for
When using the word "prefer" to describe a preference for one item versus another, the proper preposition to use along with "prefer" is "to," not "for." Therefore, the proper formation of this part of the sentence would be "prefer cats to dogs," not "prefer cats for dogs."
Example Question #43 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
The several miscommunication problems that we have experienced point at the underlying translation issues that characterize the industry as a whole.
that characterize
point at
as a whole
several
No error
point at
This sentence has a problem with prepositional idioms. The corrected sentence reads: The several miscommunication problems that we have experienced point to the underlying translation issues that characterize the industry as a whole.
Example Question #41 : 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.
In the cities of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, there isn't hardly a single day that passes without rain. No error
cities
without
single day
No error
isn't
isn't
This sentence's meaning is confused because it uses two negative words: "isn't" and "hardly." Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in modern English and would technically yield a positive meaning, so we need to change out one of these negative words for a positive one. Since it isn't an option to change or omit "hardly," "isn't" contains the sentence's error and is the correct answer. One way to correct the sentence would be to change "isn't" to "is," yielding the sentence, "In the cities of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, there is hardly a single day that passes without rain."
Example Question #535 : 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.
The writing tutor noticed that her student's writing skills had significantly improved since their first session. No error
their
No error
had significantly improved
student's
that
had significantly improved
The sentence's error is a split verb phrase. Verb phrases, like "had improved," should be kept together and not split by adverbs, like "significantly." To correct the split verb phrase, the verb and adverb should be rewritten as "had improved significantly."
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.
Despite the poor weather, I was planning on attending the festival with her. No error
was planning
her
Despite
on attending
No error
on attending
The proper idiom for planning an action is planning to do something, not planning on something. Thus, the clause should be "I was planning to attend the festival with him."
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.
Margo was upset how the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure. No error
No error
moving sidewalks
how
needed
was wasting
how
This sentence uses the wrong relative pronoun after the adjective "upset." Usually, "that" is used. The corrected sentence reads, "Margo was upset that the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure."
Certified Tutor
All SAT Writing Resources
