So now that you know pretty much everything there is to know about Error-Identification questions, let’s look at how you can use that knowledge to attack the test.
If, after reading a sentence closely several times, you still cannot find an obvious error, don’t panic. Instead of simply trying to hear something that sounds wrong, you are now going to work from the information you’ve been given – the underlined words and phrases – and use it, along with your knowledge of the errors and clues, to very systematically determine whether there is in fact a problem. And if there isn’t, you’re going to shut your eyes, hope for the best, and just pick option E (although you should probably open your eyes before you fill in the little bubble).
Remember: if a particular error is indicated by the structure and/or wording of a sentence, and that error does not appear, the answer is likely to be E (“No error”). So, for example, if a sentence includes a date or time period but no verb error,
there’s a good chance that nothing is wrong.
While it can be tempting is to skip steps and just assume you’ll hear the error if there is one, that’s usually wishful thinking. If you’re truly the exception, you can stop right here, but if you’re not – a category that includes 99% of test-takers – keep reading.
Example #1
If you can spot the clue (or the error) in the sentence right away, great. But regardless, you can still use this process as a model – or a paradigm, to use a favorite SAT word – for what to do when you can’t spot the error easily. Choice by choice, we’re going to consider the error possibilities by category.
Choice A:
writing = gerund about = preposition
We’ll start with the gerund: gerunds get switched with infinitives, so we plug in the infinitive:
To write about scientific matters poses a problem because one must choose
imprecise metaphors that allow you to put new findings in perspective for non- scientists.
An infinitive can work as the subject of a sentence, but here, there’s no grammatical or stylistic reason (e.g. preserving parallel structure) to use one in place of the gerund. So
writing is fine.
Now the preposition: write about is standard usage, so that’s not the issue either.
Choice B:
poses = singular verb, present tense
We have two options: subject-verb agreement or verb tense.
Subject-verb agreement is the most common error, so we start by looking for the subject:
writing. It’s singular, so that’s fine.
Now we move to tense. There’s no date or time period, which suggests that this is not a tense question, but just to be sure, we check the other verbs in the sentence: must and allow. Both are in the present tense, so poses is ok.
Choice C:
imprecise = adjective
Adjectives get switched with adverbs, so we plug in the adverb:
Writing about science poses a problem because one must choose
imprecisely metaphors that allow you to put new findings in perspective for
non-scientists. Ick.
Choice D:
you = pronoun
you gets switched with one, so we plug in one:
Writing about science poses a problem because one must choose imprecise metaphors that allow one to put new findings in perspective for non-scientists. Bingo! How do we know this is the answer? Because one already appears in the sentence, and the pronoun must stay consistent.
No longer an option.
In case you were wondering, here’s the shortcut: the pronouns one and you typically appear in sentences only when one of them is incorrect. So right from the start, D is the most likely candidate.
Of course you won’t have time to pore over every question on the test this way. But training yourself to look systematically at the error options gives you a means of getting out of trouble when you don’t spot a problem immediately. Even if you have to slow down a little for one or two questions, you’re a whole lot more likely to answer them correctly than you would be if you just guessed. Besides, once you get used to working through sentences like this, the process goes much, much faster. The payoff can also be massive: well over 100 points, and sometimes close to 200.
So let’s try another one.
Example #2
Choice A:
script = noun
Nouns are usually right, so we’re going to ignore it for the time being.
Choice B:
was = singular verb, simple past
Subject-Verb Agreement: What’s the subject? Script, which is singular. So we’re ok.
Tense: even if you don’t know who the Sumerians were, you have a clue (one of the first
writing systems) that suggests we’re talking about something that happened a pretty long
time ago. So simple past is fine.
Choice C:
in = preposition
This is tricky. Is the phrase comprised in, or is there some other preposition that should be used?
If you don’t know, leave it.
Choice D:
for keeping = preposition + gerund
Gerunds get switched with infinitives, so plug in the infinitive:
Sumerian cuneiform script, one of the first writing systems, was comprised in symbols carved into soft clay and grew out of merchants' schemes to keep accounts.
It’s ok, but for keeping sounds better. Which leaves us with C and E. Is it weird, or is it wrong?
In this case, it’s wrong (the phrase is comprised of), but even if you didn’t know that, you could get it down to two choices. And whenever you’re left with a preposition option and E, you should in fact think about how you’d say the phrase. If what you would say doesn’t match, chances are the preposition is incorrect.
One more.
Example #3
Let’s pretend that this is question #27 of the first Writing section (third to last Error- Identification question). Right away, that gives us some clues as to what kind of error, if any, is likely to appear. Our likeliest categories are:
• Faulty comparison
• Subject-verb agreement (involving a prepositional phrase) • Pronoun-antecedent
• Preposition/idiom • No error
We’re going to approach this question a little differently from how we approached the previous one. First, there are three options we can eliminate almost immediately:
Choice B:
The phrase doing so is virtually never wrong. The problem is usually with the phrase
doing it.
Choice C:
rigid = adjective
The only other option is the adverb, rigidly, which clearly doesn’t work when we plug it in.
Choice D:
and is correctly paired with between, so that can’t be the answer.
Choice A:
We know that a faulty comparison is likely, and the word like provides a big clue because it tells us right away that two things are being compared. What’s being compared to what?
Aesop’s fables = things vs. The Brothers Grimm = people
So the sentence should correctly read:
Like Aesop’s fables, those of the Brothers Grimm used talking animals to expose human vices and in doing so challenged rigid boundaries between humans and other species.
So now you try it. (Answers are on p. 157)
Practice #1
Clues (if any):
And if you’re still not sure:
Category: ___________
Choice B
Category: ____________Choice C
Category: ___________Choice D
Category: ___________Answer:
Practice #2
Clues (if any):
And if you’re still not sure:
Choice A
Category: ___________Choice B
Category: ____________Choice C
Category: ___________Choice D
Category: ___________
Answer:
Practice #3
Clues (if any):
And if you’re still not sure: