NEXT GENERATION ACCUPLACER WRITING
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"I cannot except that you won't go to the dance with me!" - Answers :I cannot accept
that you won't go to the dance with me!
Explanation:
The easiest way to remember the difference in meaning between these two words is to
look at their letters—accept has two c's that are like open arms, just waiting to hug and
embrace and accept whatever is being offered, whereas except has a big X just waiting
to reject and exclude something ("I will take all of the cookies except that one with the
bite taken out of it").
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"It is clear to see that the stock market is going to have it's ups and downs; it is
important not to overreact to the volatility." - Answers :It is clear to see that the stock
market is going to have its ups and downs; it is important not to overreact to the
volatility.
Explanation:
It's is a contraction of it is or it has; it never shows possession. To test whether you
need it's or its, try substituting the phrase it is or it has. If either of those work, you need
the apostrophe. If neither of them make sense in your sentence, you don't need the
apostrophe.
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"Heavy rains and thunderstorms continue to roll through the area; therefore, all flights
are cancelled until tomorrow." - Answers :no error
Explanation:
This question tests your knowledge of semicolon use. In this case, a semicolon is used
to join two independent clauses. All is well!
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"Katie did not have no time to pick Kevin up before the game." - Answers :Katie did not
have any time to pick Kevin up before the game.
Explanation:
This sentence had a double negative, which is a big no-no. Just like in math, double
negatives actually create a positive, which was not the intent of the sentence.
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"I cannot except that you won't go to the dance with me!" - Answers :I cannot accept
that you won't go to the dance with me!
Explanation:
The easiest way to remember the difference in meaning between these two words is to
look at their letters—accept has two c's that are like open arms, just waiting to hug and
embrace and accept whatever is being offered, whereas except has a big X just waiting
to reject and exclude something ("I will take all of the cookies except that one with the
bite taken out of it").
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"It is clear to see that the stock market is going to have it's ups and downs; it is
important not to overreact to the volatility." - Answers :It is clear to see that the stock
market is going to have its ups and downs; it is important not to overreact to the
volatility.
Explanation:
It's is a contraction of it is or it has; it never shows possession. To test whether you
need it's or its, try substituting the phrase it is or it has. If either of those work, you need
the apostrophe. If neither of them make sense in your sentence, you don't need the
apostrophe.
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"Heavy rains and thunderstorms continue to roll through the area; therefore, all flights
are cancelled until tomorrow." - Answers :no error
Explanation:
This question tests your knowledge of semicolon use. In this case, a semicolon is used
to join two independent clauses. All is well!
Find the error, if any, in this sentence:
"Katie did not have no time to pick Kevin up before the game." - Answers :Katie did not
have any time to pick Kevin up before the game.
Explanation:
This sentence had a double negative, which is a big no-no. Just like in math, double
negatives actually create a positive, which was not the intent of the sentence.
