PSAT Writing : Correcting Conventional and Idiomatic Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #13 :Correcting Other 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.
All candidates are required to pay the entry feeirregardless of their financial situations.
regardless of their financial situations
irregardless of their financial situations
irregardless of their financial situation
regardless of their financial situation
irregardless of there financial situations
regardless of their financial situations
Though the term “irregardless” is sometimes heard in colloquial speech, it is not a grammatically correct word. The correct word is “regardless,” which meansirrespectiveornonetheless. Since we are talking about multiple candidates (plural), it must read “their financial situations.”
Example Question #2 :Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic 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.
Despite the professor’s chidings, the students continuedto conversate during the science lecture.
to be conversating during the science lecture
conversing during the science lecture
to conversate during the science lecture
conversating during the science lecture
to converse during the science lecture
to converse during the science lecture
The correct verb is “to converse,” and the noun is “conversation.” “Conversing” is an incorrect gerund use.
Example Question #3 :Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic 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.
I would of goneto the supermarket had I remembered we need groceries.
I would of went
I could of gone
I would have gone
I would of gone
I would had gone
I would have gone
“Would of” is not a grammatically correct; it should be changed to “would have.”
Example Question #31 :Conventional And Idiomatic 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 snob woman looked down on the slovenly young man, who always dressed in a disheveled manner.
The snob woman looks down on the slovenly young man
The snob woman looked down on the slovenly young man
The snob woman looked down to the slovenly young man
The snobby woman looked down on the slovenly young man
The snob woman looking down on the slovenly young man
The snobby woman looked down on the slovenly young man
The use of "snob" as an adjective in this sentence is incorrect, as "snob" is a noun and cannot properly modify "woman." The word needs to be changed to an adjectival form. "The snobby woman looked down on the slovenly young man" is the only answer choice to appropriately use an adjective.
Example Question #4 :Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic 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.
Many people adore Indian cuisine because it contains a variety of ingredients,as well as alot of different spices.
while also containing a lot of different spices
as well as alot of different spices
as well as a lot of different spices
while at the same time a lot of different spices
while also containing alot of different spices
as well as a lot of different spices
“A lot” is two separate words. The phrases “while also” and “while at the same time” are unnecessarily redundant.
Example Question #32 :Conventional And Idiomatic 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 learned a lot from the woman that I talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman who I talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman whom I talked to.
I would learn a lot from the woman that I had talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman that I talked to.
I learned a lot from the woman to whom I talked.
I learned a lot from the woman to whom I talked.
We do not end a sentence with a preposition. Also, we use the pronoun "whom" when a person is the object of the verb. Here, the woman is the object of the verb "talked".
Example Question #41 :Other 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.
No matter how hard I concentrated on the question,the solution to it kept alluding me.
the solution was keeping allusive.
the solution to it kept alluding me.
the solution to it kept eluding me.
alluding me was the solution to it.
the solution was kept elusive.
the solution to it kept eluding me.
This question deals with incorrect word choice. The correct word iselude, which means to stay out of reach.Alludemeans to indirectly refer to something.
Example Question #1 :Correcting 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.
Thejury, despitehours ofdeliberation, isnot able to resolve theissue; in the end, they cannotdetermine whoseresponsible for the crime.No error
determine whose
jury, despite
No error
issue; in the end
deliberation, is
determine whose
"Who is" and "who's" is not interchangeable with "whose": here the correct sentence is: "they cannot determine who is (who's) respsonsible ..."
Example Question #4 :Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
这两个活动成为某些选举was so closeelection night would not feature a definite result.
was closely
was close
was so close
was too close
was so close that
was so close that
The key problem with the sentence is that the portion after the underlined part has to be introduced by a pronoun introducing the relative clause "election night would not feature a definite result." "Was so close that" is the only choice among the answers featuring such a word.
Example Question #11 :Correcting Conventional And Idiomatic 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.
What ismost importantestin life is having love, health, and happiness in personal relationships.
most importantest
most important
most importantly
importantest
more importanter
most important
"Importantest" is not a word, and is an incorrect superlative form. The proper superlative form of "important" is "most important," which is the correct answer choice.
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