SAT Writing : Correcting Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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

Example Questions

Example Question #491 : Sentence Correction

The supplies were immediately brought to myself as soon as they were purchased.

Possible Answers:

brought to myself

being brought to myself

bringing to me

brought to me

bringing to myself

Correct answer:

brought to me

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning it needs an earlier first person pronoun to refer back to. The appropriate word in this situation is just "me," and that is the only issue with the sentence; therefore, "brought to me" is the correct answer.

Example Question #761 : Word Usage Errors

Unlike myself, he has never gotten a speeding ticket on the highway.

Possible Answers:

Unto like myself,

Unlike myself,

Unlike I,

Unlike me,

Unlikely myself,

Correct answer:

Unlike me,

Explanation:

The reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely incorrect in this sentence, as there is no regular first person pronoun to which it can refer. "Myself" needs to be changed to the subjective pronoun "me," making "Unlike me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #762 : Word Usage Errors

Most of the time, he brings the newspaper to myself first, then passes it around the office.

Possible Answers:

to my own self first

from myself first

to myself firstly

to me first

to myself first

Correct answer:

to me first

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is absolutely wrong in this sentence, as there is no previous use of the first person pronoun for it to refer to. The pronoun must be changed to the simple first person objective form, "me." As this is the only issue in the sentence, the correct answer choice is "to me first."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

The reports all need to be seen by myself before they are sent out.

Possible Answers:

by me

to myself

by myself

for myself

as myself

Correct answer:

by me

Explanation:

The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs a previous usage of the regular pronoun first. As there is none, the pronoun  needs to be changed to the regular pronoun "me." This makes "by me" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #492 : Sentence Correction

I have never questioned the innate abilities of me.

Possible Answers:

the innate ability of me.

the innate abilities of me.

the innate abilities of myself.

the innate abilities to me.

the innate abilities for me.

Correct answer:

the innate abilities of myself.

Explanation:

The use of me, although technically correct as the objective form, is awkward in this sentence after the previous use of "I" as the subject. By placing the reflexive pronoun "myself" in the sentence, the pronoun now appropriately refers back to the subject of the sentence. The correct answer choice is "the innate abilities of myself."

Example Question #11 : 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.

The young woman brought her package directly to myself and no one else.

Possible Answers:

directly for myself

direct to myself

directly unto myself 

directly to myself

directly to me

Correct answer:

directly to me

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in the sentence, as it needs a previous usage of the first person pronoun to refer back to. The correct pronoun is the simple "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "directly to me."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

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.

The report was seen by yourself before anyone else was allowed to have it.

Possible Answers:

The report being seen by yourself

The report seen by yourself

The report was seen by yourself

The report was saw by yourself

The report was seen by you

Correct answer:

The report was seen by you

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "yourself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous use of the second person pronoun "you" to refer to. "Yourself" should be changed to the simple second person pronoun "you." As this is the only issue in the sentence, the correct answer choice is "The report was seen by you."

Example Question #52 : Other Pronoun 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.

The questions have only been seen by myself.

Possible Answers:

been seeing myself.

been seen myself.

been seen by myself.

being seen by myself.

been seen by me.

Correct answer:

been seen by me.

Explanation:

The use of "myself" is incorrect in the sentence, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs the first person pronoun "me" to precede it. Therefore, "myself" must be changed to the first person pronoun "me," making the correct answer "been seen by me."

Example Question #12 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Incorrect Usage

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.

The game score was reported directly to myself as soon as the contest was over.

Possible Answers:

was reported direct to myself

was reported directly for myself

was reported directly to myself

was reported directly to me

was reporting directly to myself

Correct answer:

was reported directly to me

Explanation:

The use of the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence, as there is no previous usage of the first person pronoun for it to be referring to. "Myself" should be replaced by the simple objective pronoun "me." The correct answer is the only answer choice that does this, "was reported directly to me."

Example Question #2361 : Act English

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.

The group has already expressed thanks both to the senator and myself.

Possible Answers:

both to the senator and myself.

both to the senator, and myself.

both to me and the senator.

both to myself and the senator.

both to the senator and I.

Correct answer:

both to me and the senator.

Explanation:

Using the reflexive pronoun "myself" is incorrect in this sentence. A reflexive pronoun needs to follow a previous use of the regular pronoun, and so this pronoun needs to become the simple first person objective pronoun, "me." The only answer choice that uses the correct pronoun is "both to me and the senator."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors