All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 :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.
In thecitiesof the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, thereisn'thardly asingle daythat passeswithoutrain.No error
isn't
No error
without
cities
single day
isn't
This sentence's meaning is confused because it uses two negative words: "isn't" and "hardly." Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in modern English and would technically yield a positive meaning, so we need to change out one of these negative words for a positive one. Since it isn't an option to change or omit "hardly," "isn't" contains the sentence's error and is the correct answer. One way to correct the sentence would be to change "isn't" to "is," yielding the sentence, "In the cities of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle and Portland, there is hardly a single day that passes without rain."
Example Question #1 :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.
The writing tutor noticedthatherstudent'swriting skillshad significantly improvedsincetheirfirst session.No error
No error
student's
had significantly improved
their
that
had significantly improved
The sentence's error is a split verb phrase. Verb phrases, like "had improved," should be kept together and not split by adverbs, like "significantly." To correct the split verb phrase, the verb and adverb should be rewritten as "had improved significantly."
Example Question #1 :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.
Despitethe poor weather, Iwas planningon attendingthe festival withher.No error
No error
on attending
her
was planning
Despite
on attending
The proper idiom for planning an action is planningtodo something, not planningonsomething. Thus, the clause should be "I was planningto attendthe festival with him."
Example Question #4 :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.
Margo was upsethowthe zoowas wastingvaluable resources onmoving sidewalkswhen the lionsneededa new enclosure.No error
was wasting
how
No error
moving sidewalks
needed
how
This sentence uses the wrong relative pronoun after the adjective "upset." Usually, "that" is used. The corrected sentence reads, "Margo was upset that the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure."
Example Question #1 :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.
Whilecomputersmaybean integral part of modernlife, they导致问题as well asprovide benefits.No error
as well as
No error
life, they
maybe
While
maybe
"Maybe" is an adverb that meansperhapsand is incorrectly used in this sentence. To correct the sentence's error, "maybe" needs to be changed to "may be."
Example Question #1 :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.
Given the disproportionateamount of deathscaused by drunk drivers, most stateshave passedstrict legislation against individualswho chooseto operate vehicles while在ebriated.No error
在ebriated
who choose
amount of deaths
No error
have passed
amount of deaths
"Amount of" refers to something that is not necessarily measured numerically, while "number of" refers to something that is measured numerically. Given that deaths incurred by drunk drivers is something that can be measured numerically, "number of" would be appropriate, not "amount of." If the sentence was "Given the disproportionate amount of heartache caused by drunk drivers . . .", the sentence would have been properly constructed because heartache generally cannot be measured numerically.
Example Question #7 :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.
EventhoughJoseph is a big fan of cooking shows, hehasn'tnevercooked在hisentire life.No error
his
hasn't
cooked
Even though
No error
hasn't
Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in standard written English, so instead of saying "hasn't never cooked," one should say "has never cooked."
Example Question #1 :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.
Afundraisingcampaignwas startedfor the purposeto supportecological restoration projects在South America.No error
was started
fundraising
to support
在South America
No error
to support
This sentence does not use the use the phrase “for the purpose of” correctly. This phrase is typically followed by a gerund, a verb that is used as a noun. The corrected sentence reads, "A fundraising campaign was started for the purpose of supporting ecological restoration projects in South America."
Example Question #1 :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.
All of the chemistry teachershave decided, as of this morning,to unanimously postponethe midterm exam as a result oftheirstudents’poor grades.No error
their
have decided
students'
No error
to unanimously postpone
to unanimously postpone
“To unanimously postpone” constitutes a split infinitive because the verb “to postpone” is split by the adverb. “Unanimously” should be placed elsewhere in the sentence.
Example Question #8 :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.
Every year,thousands of touristsswarmto New York Cityto viewthe impressive,timeless monumentknown asthe Statue Of Liberty.No error
to New York City
the Statue Of Liberty
the impressive, timeless, monument
No error
thousands of tourists
the Statue Of Liberty
The preposition “of” in the title “Statue of Liberty” does not need to be—and should not be—capitalized.