SAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #211 : Correcting Word Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

My family and me always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

Possible Answers:

I and my family always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

My family and me always have a great old time at the State Fair.

Me and my family always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

My family and I always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

My family and me always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

Correct answer:

My family and I always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

Explanation:

The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "me" in the first part of the sentence should be "I" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "My family and I always have a grand old time at the State Fair."

Example Question #212 : Correcting Word Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

You must stop being so petulant with the housekeeping; such behavior does not become one.

Possible Answers:

such behavior does not become you.

and such behavior does not become everyone.

because such behavior does not become one.

such behavior does not become one.

such behavior does not become them.

Correct answer:

such behavior does not become you.

Explanation:

The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that is in the first part of the sentence is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "You must stop being so petulant with the housekeeping; such behavior does not become you."

Example Question #213 : Correcting Word Usage 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to I.

Possible Answers:

I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to me.

I'm having a really bad day please be a little nicer to I.

I'm having a really bad day; please be a little nicer to I.

I'm having a really bad day, please be a little nicer to I.

I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to I.

Correct answer:

I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to me.

Explanation:

The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "I" in the second part of the sentence should be "me" as the pronoun is the object of that clause, rather than its subject. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to me."

Example Question #1813 : Sat Writing

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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.

Possible Answers:

Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately, I hope they can work it out.

Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.

She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.

Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately I hope they can work it out.

She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately I hope they can work it out.

Correct answer:

She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.

Explanation:

The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "her" in the first part of the sentence should be "she" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out."

Note also that a semicolon is correctly used to connect these two independent clauses into one compound sentence.

Example Question #1814 : Sat Writing

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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; them have been waiting for a long time.

Possible Answers:

I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers them have been waiting for a long time.

I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers, they have been waiting for a long time.

I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; them have been waiting for a long time.

I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers they have been waiting for a long time.

I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; they have been waiting for a long time.

Correct answer:

I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; they have been waiting for a long time.

Explanation:

The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "them" in the second part of the sentence should be "they" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; they have been waiting for a long time."

Note also that a semicolon correctly connects the two independent clauses in this sentence.

Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Scenes from daily life were painted by the French Impressionists, in a break with their predecessors.

Possible Answers:

The French Impressionists’ scenes from daily life were painted in a break with their predecessors.

The French Impressionists broke from their predecessors who painted scenes from daily life.

Breaking from their predecessors, scenes from daily life were painted by the French Impressionists.

Scenes from daily life were painted by the French Impressionists, in a break with their predecessors.

In a break with their predecessors, the French Impressionists painted scenes from daily life.

Correct answer:

In a break with their predecessors, the French Impressionists painted scenes from daily life.

Explanation:

The initial sentence is in passive voice. The correct answer conveys the proper meaning while changing it to active voice.

Example Question #2 : Correcting Verb 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Very few animals in the world were actually able to domesticate by human beings.

Possible Answers:

to be domesticated

to domesticating

to be domesticating

to domesticated

to domesticate

Correct answer:

to be domesticated

Explanation:

The central problem with the underlined words in the sentence is that the animals seem to be the ones doing the domesticating—at least until the reader gets to the phrase "by human beings," and the sentence becomes confusing. The underlined words need to convey that human beings are the ones doing the domesticating, and that the animals are the objects of that domestication. Since "Very few animals in the world" is the subject of the sentence and cannot be changed here, we need to use the passive voice to describe that domestication is the thing being done to the animals. "To be domesticated" is the correct answer choice, as it is the only answer that correctly uses passive voice and avoids introducing additional errors (like "to be domesticating," which uses present progressive tense unnecessarily and doesn't agree with the previous past-tense verb "were . . . able."

Example Question #682 : Sentence Correction

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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The nation’s economy was growing rapidly for reasons having to do with booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.

Possible Answers:

because a boom in foreign investment was what followed the discovery of vast natural resources.

as a result of booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.

for reasons having to do with booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.

since the discovery of vast natural resources is what can cause a boom in foreign investment.

because the discovery of vast natural resources led to a boom in foreign investment.

Correct answer:

because the discovery of vast natural resources led to a boom in foreign investment.

Explanation:

The initial sentence is wordy and in passive voice. The correct answer is concise and active.

Example Question #683 : Sentence Correction

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.

For his service in the war, the soldier was giving the country's highest honor by the President.

Possible Answers:

the soldier was giving that country's highest honor

the soldier was given the countries highest honor

the soldier is giving the country's highest honor

the soldier was given the country's highest honor

the soldier was giving the country's highest honor

Correct answer:

the soldier was given the country's highest honor

Explanation:

The soldier would have trouble "giving" an award "by the President." The use of the final prepositional phrase "by the President" indicates that the soldier is receiving the award. The only answer choice that clarifies this point is "the soldier was given the country's highest honor," making it the correct answer choice.

Example Question #4 : Correcting Verb Voice Errors

Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.

Hearing about the crisis in the developing country, a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.

Possible Answers:

an organized campaign by the class president raised $5,000.

a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.

a campaign that raised $5,000 was organized by the class president.

the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.

the class president organized a campaign raising $5000.

Correct answer:

the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.

Explanation:

Figure out who is the subject of the first part of the sentence—the class president, rather than the campaign itself, heard about the crisis. Also, avoid passive voice ("the campaign was organized").

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