PSAT Writing › Correcting Errors Involving Commonly Confused Words
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.
Many New Yorkers had no choice but to evacuate the area because of the imminent danger of the approaching snow storm.
because of the imminent danger of the approaching snowstorm.
because of the eminent danger from the approaching snowstorm.
because of the imminent danger from the approaching snow storm.
because of the eminent danger of the approaching snow storm.
because of the imminent danger of the approaching snow storm.
“Imminent” means threatening or looming, while “eminent” means well-known or famous. Also, “snowstorm” is a compound word (two words put together).
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 rain has a big affect on his mood.
The rain has a big effect on his mood.
(No changes to original.)
On his mood, the rain is largely effecting.
The rain affects his mood.
His mood has a big affect on the rain.
Here, we need the noun “effect,” not the verb “affect.”
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.
Mexico is known for growing large quantities of mangos, but that isn’t its primary export.
but that isn’t its primary export
but that isn’t Mexicos’ primary export
but that isn’t it’s primary export
but that isn’t its primary export, however
but that isn’t their primary export
Since Mexico is a country (a thing), the possessive would be “its.” “It’s” (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of “it is.” The word “however” is redundant because “but” has the same meaning.
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 meteorology professor asked her students to record the causes and affects of Hurricane Sandy.
The meteorology professor asked her students to record the causes and effects of Hurricane Sandy.
The Meteorology Professor asked her students to record the causes and affects of Hurricane Sandy.
The meteorology professor asked their students to record the causes of effects of Hurricane Sandy.
The Meteorology Professor asked her students to record the causes and effects of Hurricane Sandy.
The meteorology professor asked her students to record the causes and affects of Hurricane Sandy.
“Effects” is the noun “effect” in its plural form (e.g., the aftermath). “Affects,” by contrast, is from the verb “to affect” (e.g., to influence). “Meteorology Professor” does not need to be capitalized because it is not the official title of the person.
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 car was determined to be the one which was used in the robbery.
the one which was used in the robbery
the one having been used in the robbery.
that was used in the robbery.
which was used in the robbery.
that which was used in the robbery.
While the underlined phrase is a bit convoluted, the phrase is fully grammatically correct. Either "that" or "which" would be appropriate in the sentence, but using both or futher modifying the phrase makes it confusing and unclear.
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.
Due to the ambivalent wording of many of the questions, the test proved to be more difficult for the students than the teacher had intended it to be.
Due to the ambiguous wording of many of the questions, the test proved to be more difficult for the students than the teacher had intended it to be.
Due to the ambivalent wording of many of the questions, the test proved to be more difficult for the students than the teacher had intended it to be.
Due to the ambivalent wording of many of the questions, the teacher had not intended it to be as difficult for the students as the test proved to be.
Due to its wording, on the test's questions many students proved it to be more difficult than the teacher intended.
The teacher's wording, ambivalent on the questions, proved the test to be more difficult for many students than intended.
In the original sentence, the word "ambivalent," meaning having mixed feelings about, is incorrectly used in place of "ambiguous," meaning unclear or open to interpretation. The correct answer choice fixes this word confusion error.
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.
Karla and Kimberly are supposedly much more athletic than they’re older siblings.
than their older siblings
than there older siblings
then they’re older siblings
then their older siblings
than they’re older siblings
“Than” is used for comparison, while “then” means next in a sequence. The possessive of third person plural is “their.” “They’re” is the contraction of “they are,” and “there” is a place.
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.
We're you ever planning on telling me that we're almost out of gas or were you going to wait until the car stopped working?
Were you ever planning on telling me that we're almost out of gas or were you going to wait until the car stopped working?
We're you ever planning on telling me that we're almost out of gas or we're you going to wait until the car stopped working?
We're you ever planning on telling me that were almost out of gas or we're you going to wait until the car stopped working?
Were you ever planning on telling me that we're almost out of gas or we're you going to wait until the car stopped working?
Were you ever planning on telling me that were almost out of gas or were you going to wait until the car stopped working?
"Were" is the past tense of "to be," and "we're" is the contraction of the two words "we are." For the first underlined word, we need the past tense of "to be," and we can tell this by noticing that this "were" needs to function as part of the verb "were . . . ever planning." The second underlined word needs to be the contraction of "we are," since we could replace it with "we are" ("that we are almost out of gas") and the sentence would still make sense. The third word needs to be the past tense of "to be," since, like the first word, it is part of the verb phrase "were . . . going." So, the correct answer is "Were you ever planning on telling me that we're almost out of gas? Or were you going to wait until the car stopped working?"
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.
In order to scare away predators, the insect omits a loud buzzing noise when captured.
In order to scare away predators, the insect emits a loud buzzing noise when captured.
In order to scare away predators, the insect omits a loud buzzing noise when captured.
In order that it scares away predators, the insect omits a loud buzzing noise when captured.
In order to scare away predators, the insect omits a loud buzzing noise when it has been captured.
In order to scare away predators, the insects omit a loud buzzing noise when they are captured.
In the original sentence, the word "omits," meaning leaves out entirely, was wrongly used in place of the word "emits," meaning produces or releases. The correct answer choice fixes this word choice error.
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.
Marlene and Josh spent hours debating what to wear and where to go for dinner.
wear and where
wear and wear
where and wear
were and wear
wear and were
"Wear" is a verb, "where" is an adverb, and "were" is the plural past tense form of the verb "to be." So, the correct answer is "wear and where."