SAT Writing : Identifying Other Usage Errors
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Example Question #26 : Identifying Preposition 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 presence of a chicken happily pecking at pretzels strewn across her kitchen floor was rather surprising for Margaret. No error
was
No error
surprising for
happily
strewn
surprising for
There is an error in the idiomatic use of prepositions in this sentence. The preposition “to” is more acceptable after “surprising.” The corrected sentence reads: The presence of a chicken happily pecking at pretzels strewn across her kitchen floor was rather surprising to Margaret.
Example Question #26 : Identifying Preposition Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Half of the students in the class stayed up all night in order to work in the questions that confused them the most. No error
work in
most
No error
of the students
confused
work in
"In" is the wrong preposition. "Work on" makes more sense.
Example Question #27 : Identifying Preposition Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Inspired for the delicious quiche that he tried in a French bakery last weekend, Marvin went on a organic vegetable shopping spree and tried to recreate the perfect breakfast in his own kitchen. No error
in his own kitchen
that he tried
Inspired for
and
No error
Inspired for
This sentence uses the wrong preposition after “inspired.” “By” would be idiomatically correct. The corrected sentence reads, "Inspired by the delicious quiche that he tried in a French bakery last weekend, Marvin went on a organic vegetable shopping spree and tried to recreate the perfect breakfast in his own kitchen."
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.
Secretly delighted that the prank, the author admonished his friends for giving him such a fright. No error
giving
Secretly
No error
delighted that
admonished
delighted that
The correct idiomatic preposition after “delighted” in this context would be “by.” The corrected sentence reads, "Secretly delighted by the prank, the author admonished his friends for giving him such a fright."
Example Question #32 : 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.
While his style was initially a protest to painting, Jackson Pollock's brand of artistic expression is now widespread and has influenced many other artists. No error
has influenced
traditional painting
protest to
No error
widespread
protest to
As a general rule for prepositions, "protest" is accompanied by the preposition "against," not "to." Therefore, "protest to" contains an error.
Example Question #33 : 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.
As the dictator established more policies to repress the population, many rebels decided to protest of them. No error
to repress
established
decided
No error
of
of
The error in this sentence involves prepositions. Instead of saying "protest of them," which is incorrect, it should read either "protest against them" or "protest them."
Example Question #34 : 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 results of the experiment indicate that children prefer the voices of adults rather than those of other children. No error
children
indicate
No error
rather than
those of
rather than
This sentence contains an idiom error. It is incorrect to say that someone "prefers X rather than Y." Instead, the correct form of the idiom is "prefer X to Y," so the sentence should read, "The results of the experiment indicate that children prefer the voices of adults to those of other children."
Example Question #35 : 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.
To the professor's surprise, the measurements obtained by her colleagues were inconsistent to the predictions of classical Newtonian physics. No error
professor's
No error
to
were
classical
to
This sentence contains an incorrect idiomatic expression. The phrase "inconsistent to" should be "inconsistent with."
Example Question #36 : 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.
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
out in the open
for his life
ran to cover
a nearby tree
No error
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 #37 : 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
talk with
and
evade from
seriously
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."
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