English Language

Spotting Errors

4,734 Questions
All Noun, Article, and Determiner Usage 629 Subject-Verb Agreement 529 Preposition and Phrasal Verb Choice 510 Tense and Time Sequence 429 Pronoun Agreement and Case 415 Adjective and Adverb Form 372 Idiom and Confusable Word Choice 367 Verb Complement and Mood 347 Sentence Structure and Modifier Placement 296 Conjunction and Connector Choice 228 Parallel Structure 220 Redundancy and Negation 148

Spotting Errors Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence four words or phrases have been underlined. Only one underlined part is not acceptable in Standard Written English. Pick up the part (A) or (B) or (C) or (D). If there is no mistake, mark (E).

A necklace of diamonds, (A) presented by the friends of the bride (B) were among (C) the presents (D) on view. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

  5. (E)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(B) 'Were' in B should be replaced with 'was'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Humans have been damaging the environment for centuries by over-cutting trees and farming too intensively, and though some protective measures, like the establishment of national forests and wildlife sanctuaries, having been taken decades ago, great increases in population and in the intensity of industrialization are causing a worldwide ecological crisis.

  1. though some protective measures, like the establishment of national forests and wildlife sanctuaries, having been taken decades ago, great increases in population

  2. though some protective measures, such as the establishment of national forests and wildlife sanctuaries, were taken decades ago, great increases in population

  3. though some protective measures, such as establishing national forests and wildlife sanctuaries, having been taken decades ago, great population increases

  4. with some protective measures, like establishing national forests and wildlife sanctuaries that were taken decades ago, great increases in population

  5. with some protective measures, such as the establishment of national forests and wildlife sanctuaries, having been taken decades ago, great population increases
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(B) In the latter part of the sentence, some protective measures have been described. 'Such as' justifies the context better them 'like', which is used to describe likeness. (C) is incorrect due to the Gerund usage and (D) and (E) change the context of the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Tiny quantities of more than thirty rare gases, most of them industrial by-products, threaten to warm the Earth's atmosphere even more rapidly than carbon dioxide during the next fifty years.

  1. to warm the Earth's atmosphere even more rapidly than carbon dioxide during the next fifty years

  2. to warm the Earth's atmosphere even more rapidly over the next fifty years than carbon dioxide will

  3. during the next fifty years to warm the Earth's atmosphere even more rapidly than carbon dioxide

  4. a warming of the Earth's atmosphere during the next fifty years even more rapid than carbon dioxide's

  5. a warming of the Earth's atmosphere even more rapid than carbon dioxide's will be over the next fifty years
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The comparison is between warming created by rare gases and that generated by carbon dioxide. (A), (C) and (D) and (E) all compare the warming to carbon dioxide as a gas and not its effects. Answer: (B)

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

In archaeology, there must be a balance between explanation of the value and workings of archaeology, revealing the mysteries of past and present cultures, and to promote respect for archaeological sites.

  1. between explanation of the value and workings of archaeology, revealing the mysteries of past and present cultures, and to promote

  2. among explaining the value and workings of archaeology, revealing the mysteries of past and present cultures, and promoting

  3. between explaining the value and workings of archaeology, revealing the mysteries of past and present cultures, and when promoting

  4. among explaining the value and workings of archaeology, the revelation of the mysteries of past and present cultures, and to promote

  5. between explaining archaeology's value and workings, in the revealing the mysteries of past and present cultures, and in promoting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(B) The usage of 'between' is for two things, whereas 'among' is used for more than two  things.  (A), (C) and (E) are eliminated. (D) suffers from the error of parallelism.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Using the techniques employed by genetic engineering, a new species of microorganism has been developed by laboratory scientists to aid in cleaning up oil spills by digesting the oil.

  1. Using the techniques employed by genetic engineering, a new species of microorganism has been developed by laboratory scientists to

  2. Using the techniques employed by genetic engineering, a new species of microorganism that was developed by laboratory scientists will

  3. Using the techniques of genetic engineering laboratory scientists have developed a new species of microorganism to

  4. Employing the techniques of genetic engineering there has been a development by laboratory scientists of a new species of microorganism that will

  5. Employing the techniques of genetic engineering, a new species of microorganism that was developed by laboratory scientists will
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(C) The modifying clause does not have a subject. Either the modified clause should begin with the subject, or the subject should be included in the modifying clause. Only (C) has the modified clause that begins with the subject: 'scientists'. Hence, (C).

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Unlike most severance packages, which require workers to stay until the last day scheduled to collect, workers at the automobile company are eligible for its severance package even if they find a new job before they are terminated.

  1. the last day scheduled to collect, workers at the automobile company are eligible for its severance package

  2. the last day they are scheduled to collect, workers are eligible for it at the automobile company's severance package

  3. their last scheduled day to collect, the automobile company offers its severance package to workers.

  4. their last scheduled day in order to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers.

  5. the last day that they are scheduled to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

ed. (A) and (B) are incorrect as 'it' is not justified in the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Promotions, retirements, deaths, and other actions approved by the board of directors at its May meeting will be reported in the July 15 issue of the company paper.

  1. Promotions, retirements, deaths, and other actions approved by the board of directors at its May meeting will be reported in the July 15 issue of the company paper.

  2. Promotions, retirements, and other actions which have been approved at the May meeting of the board of directors along with deaths, with be reported in the July 15 issue of the company paper.

  3. To be reported in the July 15 issue of the company paper are the promotions, retirements, deaths, and other actions which were approved at the board of directors' May meeting.

  4. Meeting in May, the promotions, retirements, and other actions approved by the board of directors, including obituaries, will be reported in the July 15 issue of the company paper.

  5. The July 15 issue of the company paper will report on promotions, retirements, and other actions approved by the board of directors at its May meeting; the paper will also include obituaries.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

(E) The sentence contains 'syntax' error (or) an incorrect word (or) phrase. 'Deaths' cannot be approved by Board of Directors only (E) rectifies the error.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence four words or phrases have been underlined. Only one underlined part is not acceptable in Standard Written English. Pick up the part (A) or (B) or (C) or (D). If there is no mistake, mark (E).

He was disciplined (A) in his actions (B) such as in the case of (C) being late (D) for an appointment. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

  5. (E)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(A) Preposition 'in' in A should be replaced with 'for'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Fossil fuels, at least those which have been identified so far, are not going to last beyond the century, that too if we are not as reckless in their consumption than we presently are.

  1. Fossil fuels, at least those which have been identified so far, are not going to last beyond the century, that too if we are not as reckless in their consumption than we presently are.

  2. Fossil fuels, at least those, which have been identified so far, are not going to last beyond the century, that too if we are not as reckless in their consumption as we presently are.

  3. Fossil fuels, at least those that have been identified so far, are not going to last beyond the century; that too if we are not as reckless in their consumption as we presently are.

  4. Fossil fuels, at least those which have been identified so far, are not going to last beyond the century, that too if we are not more reckless in their consumption than we presently are.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(C) “Those which have been identified so far” is incorrect usage. “Which” identifies an important condition. It should preferably be replaced by 'that'. Even if 'which' is to be used, this should ordinarily be preceded by a comma. Again 'that too' should appropriately be precede by a semi-colon, rather than a comma.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

While some propose to combat widespread illegal copying of computer programs by attempting to change people's attitudes toward pirating, others by suggesting reducing software prices to decrease the incentive for pirating, and still others by calling for the prosecution of those who copy software illegally.

  1. by suggesting reducing software prices to decrease the incentive for pirating, and still others by calling

  2. by suggesting the reduction of software prices to decrease the incentive for pirating, and still others call

  3. suggest the reduction of software prices for decreasing the incentive for pirating, and still others call

  4. suggest the reduction of software prices to decrease the incentive for pirating, and still others by calling

  5. suggest reducing software prices to decrease the incentive for pirating, and still others are calling
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is a tricky parallelism question. Let's check each option. (A) is incorrect, 'some propose and others by suggesting' is not correct; (B) is also incorrect due to the same reason. (C) is incorrect as it states, 'some propose attempting, others suggests reduction' is not parallel. (D) commits the same error. (E) is the only option that rectifies the error, hence it is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, is finding uses in medicine, archaeology, and criminology.

  1. Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,

  2. Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, having the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, a technique called proton induced x-ray emission

  3. A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,

  4. A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced x-ray emission, which has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without destroying it,

  5. A technique that was originally developed for detecting air pollutants and has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without destroying the substance, called proton-induced x-ray emission,
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Answer (A). The sentence is correct as given.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water tables, a Swedish engineering firm has proposed installing pumps, perhaps solar powered, to lower the underground water level and dig trenches around the bases of the stone walls.

  1. to lower the underground water level and dig trenches

  2. to lower the underground water level and to dig trenches

  3. to lower the underground water level and digging trenches

  4. that lower the underground water level and that trenches be dug

  5. that lower the underground water level and trench digging
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(C) 'To help' should be parallel to 'to lower'. Hence (D) and (E) are eliminated. Further, 'installing pumps' is parallel to 'digging trenches'. Hence (C) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, four words or phrases have been underlined. Only one underlined part is not acceptable in standard written English. Choose that part. If there is no mistake, mark (E).

(A)/ Beside their wearability, (B)/ either as jewelry or incorporated into articles (C)/ of attire, beads possess the desirable characteristics of every (D)/ collectible (E)/ No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

  5. (E)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Replace ‘beside’ with ‘besides’.