SAT Writing › Correcting Ambiguity and Redundancy 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.
People spend a lifetime trying to finding happiness of life.
to find happiness.
to finding happiness of life.
to find happiness of life.
to finding happiness in life.
finding happiness of life
The underlined phrase is extremely awkwardly worded, and can be cleaned up quite easily. "To find happiness" is the cleanest expression of the sentiment of the phrase's meaning.
Religious texts often appear quite difficult to understand, being contradictions of themselves.
contradicting themselves.
being contradictions of themselves.
being contradictions of them.
contradicting them.
being contradicting them.
The underlined phrase in the sentence is awkwardly worded, which makes the sentence itself difficult to understand. The "religious texts" contain contradictions, a meaning not conveyed properly by the sentence. "Contradicting themselves" is the clearest, most appropriate choice among the answers.
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 cellist was quite young to have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
be chosen for such an honor.
have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
having been chosen for that kind of an honor.
have chosen that kind of honor.
being chosen for such an honor.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely confusing, and can be improved via simplification. Importantly, the simplification needs to convey the same intended meaning the sentence has as written. The answer choice that best simplifies while also keeping the sentence's meaning and being grammatically correct is "be chosen for such an honor."
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.
That which was the point which was most contentious was strenuously avoided during the debates.
The most contentious point
That which was the point which was most contentious
The point that was most contentious
That which was most contentious
That was the point which was most contentious
The underlined portion of the sentence is confusing, awkward, and overly wordy, meaning it can be simplified. In being simplified, though, the sentence needs to remain grammatically correct and retain its intended meaning. "The most contentious point" is the answer choice that does the best job of simplifying the sentence while retaining its intended meaning.
The school teacher was desperately seeking the student that was the one who had done the damage to the room.
that did the damage to the room.
that was the one who had done the damage to the room.
that was done damage to the room.
that was the one that had done the damage to the room.
that had doing the damage to the room.
The underlined portion of the sentence has too many words and becomes confusing. The underlined section needs to be simplified, but also has to be grammatically correct and keep the intended meaning of the sentence. "That did the damage to the room" is the choice that best does this among the answers.
Few people understand the sheer work involved in having written of a novel.
writing a novel.
having written of a novel.
having written novel.
having writing of a novel.
writing having been done for a novel.
The underlined phrase is awkwardly worded, and as such can lead to confusion. In order for the sentence to be improved, the words should be simplified and clarified. Making the final phrase of the sentence simply "writing a novel" is the best answer choice.
Select the best answer from the choices given.
Many detectives were dispatched to Nevada for the purpose of investigating a lead that could provide a break in the case.
to investigate
for the purpose of investigating
to investigate on
for the investigation of
to investigate after
"For the purpose of investigating" is wordy and could be shortened. "To investigate" is more concise and conveys the same idea.
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.
Having been the one that had been the one that negotiated the treaty, the diplomat was highly familiar with the details of the agreement.
Having negotiated the treaty
Having been the one that had been the one that negotiated the treaty
Having been the one that negotiated the treaty
Having had been the one that negotiated the treaty
Having been one that had negotiated the treaty
The underlined portion is extremely awkward, confusing, and repetitive, so it needs to be simplified. Not only should the repetition be done away with, but the phrase that is repeated. "been the one that," is unnecessary. The answer choice that best simplifies the sentence is "Having negotiated the treaty."
Having been one of the ones that had received the medal, the athlete quickly became a national hero.
Having received the medal
Having been one of the ones that had received the medal
Having been the ones that had received the medal
Having been one to receive the medal
Having received one of the ones of the medal.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy, bordering on confusing. The phrase desperately needs to be simplified in order to make it clearer. The best answer choice that both simplifies and retains the intended meaning is "Having received the medal."
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.
That which was the element that had been debated in the session was set aside for further discussion during the next session.
The element debated in the session
That which was the element that had been debated in the session
That element that had been debates in the session
Element debated in session
The element which being debated
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and overwrought, and needs to be greatly simplified. The simplification should not change the sentence's intended meaning or introduce any grammatical errors. "The element debated in the session" is the answer choice that does this best.