Sentence Correction
Commonly Confused Words
Sentence Correction
Identify Error
Random Trivia
100

The first biography of author Eudora Welty came out in 1998 and she was 89 years old at the time.

a) no change
b) at the time when she was 89
c) upon becoming an 89 year old
d) when she was 89

d) when she was 89

100

Commonly confused words:

Which word means "about to happen"

a) eminent

b) imminent

imminent

100

Familiar with the terrain from previous visits, the explorer's search for the abandoned mine site was a success.

a) no change
b) the success of the explorer's search for the abandoned mine site was assured
c) the explorer succeeded in finding the abandoned mine site
d) the search by the explorer for the abandoned mine site was successful

c) the explorer succeeded in finding the abandoned mine site

In all other choices the modifier "familiar" is dangling

100

I can hardly believe (a) your tale of military intrigue; the sophisticated secret weapons and the increasing violent (b) actions that (c) were exhibited by just one man seem (d) incredible. No error

b) "increasing" should be "increasingly"

100

A tarantula hawk is a type of what?

a) bird

b) snake

c) wasp

wasp

200

Complaining that he couldn't hardly hear anything, he asked Dr. Brown, the otologist, whether he should get a hearing aid.

a) no change
b) Complaining that he couldn't hardly hear anything
c) He complained that he couldn't hardly anything
d) Complaining that he could hear hardly anything

d) Complaining that he could hear hardly anything

Corrects the double negative

200

Commonly confused words:

Which word means to influence?

a) affect

b) effect

affect

200

Economic conditions demand not only cutting wages and prices but also to reduce inflation-raised tax rates.

a) no change
b) we not only cut wages and prices but also reduce
c) to not only cut wages and prices but also to reduce
d) not only a cut in wages and prices but also to reduce

b) we not only cut wages and prices but also reduce

Fixes parallelism error

200

The animals who (a) were chosen to represent (b) the Democratic and Republican parties, the donkey and the elephant, were created (c) by the renowned cartoonist (d) Thomas Nast. No error

a) "who" should be "that"

who is only used to refer to people

200

Which of these Supreme Court cases dealt with the first amendment?

a) NY Times Co. vs Sullivan

b) Miranda vs. Arizona

c) Plessy vs Ferguson

a) NY Times co vs. Sullivan

Miranda vs. Arizona gave us the Miranda Rights.

Plessy vs Ferguson upheld segregation and "separate but equal" doctrine.

300

Shakespeare wrote many plays, they are now being presented on public television.

a) no change
b) Shakespeare wrote many plays, and they are now being presented on public television.
c) Shakespeare wrote many plays, public television is now presenting them.
d) Shakespeare wrote many plays that are now being presented on public television.

d) Shakespeare wrote many plays that are now being presented on public television.

Corrects comma splice.

300

Commonly confused words:

Which of these words means to continue/keep going?

a) precede

b) proceed

proceed

300

He interviewed several candidates who he thought had the experience and qualifications he required.

a) no change
b) of whom he thought
c) he thought who
d) which he thought

a) no change

300

I should like you (a) and he (b) to supply the necessary data (c) for the annual statement that must be prepared in advance of (d) the spring meeting. No error. 

b) "he" should be "him"

300

Which tech giant has a building nicknames for its first unofficial mascot, a dog?

a) Amazon

b) Facebook

c) Apple

Amazon 

The name is "Rufus"

400

Many alcoholics attempt to conceal their problem from their fellow workers, but invariably failing to keep their secret.

a) no change
b) but they invariably fail to keep their secret.
c) but fail, invariably, to keep their secret.
d) who invariably fail to keep their secret.

b) but they invariably fail to keep their secret.

corrects parallelism error

400

Which of these words is a conjunction used in comparisons?

a) then
b) than

than

400

In years past, teenagers typically passed notes to their friends in class rather than electronic instant messages today. 

a) no change
b) class, but today it is electronic instant messages
c) class; today they send electronic instant messages
d) class instead of electronic instant messages today

c) class; today they send electronic instant messages

400

Twenty-five restless five-year olds (a) were throwing (b) paper clips, were drawing on the blackboard, and called to (c) one another while their (d) teach went searching for milk and cookies. No error.

c) 

Parallelism. Should be were calling. 

400

Cirrus and altostratus are types of what?

a) diseases

b) clouds

c) cyptocurrency

b) clouds

500

Upon considering the facts of the case, the solution was obvious; consequently, Holmes sent for the police.

a) no change
b) When considering
c) When he considered
d) Considering

c) When he considered

All other choices have a dangling participle "considering"

500

Define these three homonyms: cite, site, sight.

cite: to quote, to point to evidence

site: place, location

sight: scene, view, picture, being able to see

500

George Balanchine's inspiration has had a great effect on many later choreographers who came after him, including Danish-born Peter Martins.

a) no change
b) George Balanchine has inspired many later choreographers
c) George Balanchine's inspiration has greatly effected many later choreographers who came after him
d) The inspiration of George Balanchine was great for many later choreographers who came after him

b) George Balanchine has inspired many later choreographers

500

Recent medical breakthroughs, including the discovery of (a) a vaccine to slow the AIDS virus, have encouraged (b) researchers; and (c) a cure is still eluding (d) them. No error.

c)

Two things:
1. "and" is the incorrect transition
2. a coordinating conjunction should not come after a semicolon

500
Which system in our body includes nails, hair, and sweat glands?

a) endocrine system

b) integumentary system

c) lymphatic system

b) integumentary