SAT Writing : Identifying Other Usage Errors
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Example Question #543 : 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.
Compared next to her coworker, Sheila was always more polite and punctual, always on time and ready to lend a helping hand. No error
No error
punctual,
Compared next to
was
to lend
Compared next to
In English something is "compared to" something, not "compared next to something. Accordingly, the error lies in the usage of "with." While there are some idioms that do use a "alongside" construction, comparisons are made "to" other things.
Example Question #11 : 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.
Although he purported to be unbiased in his hiring practices, the boss tended to disseminate between older and younger applicants. No error
unbiased in
disseminate
No error
older and younger
purported
disseminate
The issue here is the use of the word "disseminate." To disseminate is to spread something -typically information- on a large scale. The sentence calls for the word "discriminate" instead, which means to recognize a distinction between two entities. Because the boss judges younger and older applicants differently, she discriminates between them.
Example Question #12 : 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.
Although I know I should enjoy it, dancing doesn't bring me no satisfaction. No error
me
No error
Although
it,
no
no
This sentence is incorrect because it contains a double negative ("doesn't bring me no satisfaction"), a construction English does not use. There are multiple ways the sentence could be corrected, but the only one offered would be to change "no" to a positive modifier: "dancing doesn't bring me any satisfaction," for example. The sentence could also be corrected by eliminating "doesn't" so that it simply reads, "dancing brings me no satisfaction."
Example Question #13 : 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.
Sarah told me that she didn't get the grades she wanted to get because she wasn't fully familiar on the material. No error
No error
familiar on
to get
fully
me that
familiar on
Although it is a purely idiomatic phrase, the correction to the sentence here should be "familiar with." No matter the topic, one becomes familiar with something, not familiar on it.
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.
To be honest, I've never shot a gun in my life; I'm just not very well versed at outdoor skills. No error
honest,
No error
life;
at
well versed
at
The error here is a common English idiom: "well versed" should nearly always be followed with "in," not "at." The corrected phrase reads, "I'm just not very well versed in outdoor skills."
Example Question #1 : 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.
The small children on the plane found that there ears were in extreme pain due to its rapid descent from a high altitude. No error
on
in extreme
No error
its
there
there
“There” is an adverb that means a specified place, while "their" is the possessive form of the pronoun "they." So, “their” should be used in this sentence in order to show possession, and "there" is the part of the sentence that contains the error.
Example Question #1 : 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.
The grandmother was very proud for her daughter, who had just won a very competitive statewide cross-country race. No error
for
who
statewide
No error
was
for
Idiomatically, when the word "proud" is used, it may be accompanied by the preposition “of,” but not “for.” Therefore, the phrase “proud for” should actually be “proud of," and "for" is the part of the sentence that contains an error.
Example Question #2 : 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.
If under a lot of stress, your much more likely to make mistakes that you otherwise would not make if operating under normal circumstances. No error
operating under
your
otherwise
No error
under
your
“Your” is the possessive form of the pronoun "you," which doesn't make sense in the sentence. The word “you’re,” the contracted form of “you are," should be used instead.
Example Question #1 : 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 cousin insists on eating hole wheat bread because it is supposed to contain more fiber than the white bread that the rest of our family eats. No error
No error
it is
hole
than
on
hole
The "whole" in "whole wheat" refers to the use of whole grains. "Hole" is a noun, and conveys a physical hole. In this context, the underlined word should be spelled "whole," not "hole."
Example Question #251 : 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.
Like a mussel, patience can be strengthened with exercise, time, practice, and persistence. No error
and
No error
can be
with
mussel
mussel
A "mussel" is a type of shellfish and is not appropriate for this sentence. The word that the sentence needs to use is "muscle."
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