Advanced Editing Challenge: Part 2
First, find the incorrect word. Then, choose the correct replacement. Good luck!
1.ThepopulationofKolkataisgreaterthanDelhi.
What is the correct replacement for "Delhi"?
- any other city
- the city of Delhi
- that of Delhi
- Delhi's
Error: Faulty Comparison. The sentence illogically compares 'the population of Kolkata' to the city 'Delhi'. The comparison must be between two similar things (population and population).
Correction: The incorrect word is Delhi. It should be replaced by the phrase that of Delhi, where 'that' refers to 'population'.
2.Iinsistthatheispresentatthemeeting.
What is the correct replacement for "is"?
- was
- be
- should be
- has been
Error: Subjunctive Mood. After verbs of demand, suggestion, or insistence (like 'insist'), the subjunctive mood (the base form of the verb) is used.
Correction: The incorrect word is is. It should be be.
3.Havingworkedhard,theteacherpraisedhim.
What is the correct replacement for "him"?
- the student
- his work
- he was praised by the teacher
- the teacher's praise came
Error: Dangling Modifier. The introductory phrase 'Having worked hard' should modify the subject of the main clause. As written, it seems the teacher worked hard. The sentence must be rewritten so the subject is the one who worked hard.
Correction: The incorrect word is him. The entire main clause needs restructuring to he was praised by the teacher.
4.Nosoonerdidthebellringthenthestudentsranout.
What is the correct replacement for "then"?
Error: Incorrect Correlative Conjunction. The correct idiom is 'No sooner... than...'.
Correction: The incorrect word is then. It should be than.
5.Myfriendandmyselfwillattendtheseminar.
What is the correct replacement for "myself"?
Error: Incorrect Pronoun Case. A reflexive pronoun ('myself') cannot be used as the subject of a sentence. The subjective case ('I') is required.
Correction: The incorrect word is myself. It should be I.
6.Thejudgeorderedthatthecriminalbehungthenextday.
What is the correct replacement for "hung"?
- hang
- hanged
- hanged
- hanged
Error: Commonly Confused Words. 'Hung' is the past participle for hanging an object (like a picture). 'Hanged' is the past participle used for execution by hanging.
Correction: The incorrect word is hung. It should be hanged.
7.Heisaddictedtosmokeheavily.
What is the correct replacement for "smoke"?
- have smoked
- smoking
- smoked
- smokes
Error: Incorrect Verb Form. Phrases like 'addicted to', 'used to', 'look forward to' are followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
Correction: The incorrect word is smoke. It should be smoking.
8.Thegentryofthetownwasnotinvitedtotheevent.
What is the correct replacement for "was"?
Error: Subject-Verb Agreement. Collective nouns like 'gentry', 'clergy', 'police', and 'cattle' are always treated as plural.
Correction: The incorrect word is was. It should be were.
9.Thedoctoradvisedhimtolayinbedforafewdays.
What is the correct replacement for "lay"?
Error: Commonly Confused Words. 'Lay' means to place something down (transitive). 'Lie' means to recline (intransitive). The infinitive form needed here is 'lie'.
Correction: The incorrect word is lay. It should be lie.
10.Idoubtthatwhetherhewillcometotheparty.
What is the correct replacement for "that"?
- it
- (Omit the word)
- if
- No change
Error: Redundant Conjunction. After the verb 'doubt' in an affirmative sentence, the conjunction 'if' or 'whether' is used, but not 'that'. The word 'that' is redundant.
Correction: The incorrect word is that. It should be omitted.
11.Thisisanuniqueopportunityforaspiringartists.
What is the correct replacement for "an"?
Error: Incorrect Article. The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound, not the letter. 'Unique' begins with a 'y' sound (a consonant sound), so it takes 'a'.
Correction: The incorrect word is an. It should be a.
12.Theriseandfallofthetidesareduetothemoon'sgravity.
What is the correct replacement for "are"?
- is
- were
- have been
- are being
Error: Subject-Verb Agreement. The phrase 'The rise and fall' refers to a single, cyclical phenomenon and takes a singular verb.
Correction: The incorrect word is are. It should be is.
13.Heistheonlyoneoftheemployeeswhodeserveapromotion.
What is the correct replacement for "deserve"?
- deserving
- deserves
- are deserving
- have deserved
Error: Subject-Verb Agreement in Relative Clause. When 'the only one of' is used, the relative pronoun 'who' refers to the singular 'one', not the plural 'employees'.
Correction: The incorrect word is deserve. It should be deserves.
14.ThecapitalofYemenissituatingatanaltitudeof2000metres.
What is the correct replacement for "situating"?
- situated
- situated
- situated
- situates
Error: Incorrect Verb Form. The past participle 'situated' is needed to describe the state of being located.
Correction: The incorrect word is situating. It should be situated.
15.Heisadisinterestedperson;heneverwantstoparticipateinanything.
What is the correct replacement for "disinterested"?
- uninteresting
- uninterested
- misinterested
- interesting
Error: Commonly Confused Words. 'Disinterested' means impartial or unbiased. 'Uninterested' means not interested or bored.
Correction: The incorrect word is disinterested. It should be uninterested.
16.Thejudgehadtocensurepartsofthedocumentbeforereleasingittothepublic.
What is the correct replacement for "censure"?
- sensor
- censor
- ensure
- insure
Error: Commonly Confused Words. To 'censure' is to express severe disapproval. To 'censor' is to officially examine and suppress unacceptable parts of something.
Correction: The incorrect word is censure. It should be censor.
17.Hishobbiesincludehiking,swimming,andtopaintlandscapes.
What is the correct replacement for "paint"?
- have painted
- painted
- painting
- paints
Error: Parallel Structure. When listing items in a series, they should be in the same grammatical form. 'Hiking' and 'swimming' are gerunds, so the third item should also be a gerund.
Correction: The incorrect word is paint. It should be painting.
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