Spot the error

- Common Mistakes
- Rules, examples and practice questions
1) Read each sentence given below and find out whether there is an
error in it. The error if any will be one of the parts of the sentence which
are marked as 1,2,3 and 4. If there is no error, the answer will be (5) i.e.
No Error. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).

Until you (1) / do not apologize (2) / you will not be (3) / permitted to go
outside. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
'Until' itself conveys a negative sense. Above sentence is incorrect because
'not' is used.
The correct sentence should be: Until you apologize you will not be
permitted to go outside.
These are double negative type of errors.
Similarly, do not use 'Not' with the following words:
Unless, Until, Least, Forbid, Prevent, Prohibit, Refuse, Deny,
Dissuade
For e.g. It is incorrect to say, Unless you do not work hard, you will not
succeed.
Just say Unless you work hard, you will not succeed.
Let's take another example, He forbid me not to walk in the sun.
The correct construction would be, He forbade me to walk in the sun.

2) She denied that (1) / she was not present (2) / there at the time (3) /
of the accident. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'not' with 'deny' is incorrect.
The correct sentence should be: She denied that she was present there at
the time accident took place.

3) I forgot (1) / to return back (2) / the books (3) / to you. (4) / No
Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Remove 'back'.
'Return' means to give back. Use of 'back' with 'return' is incorrect.
The correct sentence would be: I forgot to return the books to you.
Do not use back with any of the following words:

Recast, Recall, Recede, Reiterate, Rebuild, Repeat, Recapitulate,

Retreat, Reimburse, Return
The same rule applies for the use of 'again'.
Do not use 'again' with the following words:
Recast, Recall, Recede, Reiterate, Rebuild, Repeat, Recapitulate,
Retreat, Reimburse, Return
Example: Please repeat again the sentence.
'Repeat' itself means 'to do again'.
The correct sentence should be: Please repeat the sentence.

4) He has secured (1) / thirty-five marks (2) / but the passing marks
(3) / are forty. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Instead of 'passing marks' you should use 'pass marks', because 'passing
marks' is incorrect in standard English usage.
The correct sentence should be: He has secured thirty-five marks but
the pass marks are forty.
Similarly,
Don't use Use
Passing marks Pass marks
Linking road Link road
Linking language Link language

5) The English teacher said (1) / that we should read (2) / the poems
everyday (3) / so as to memorize them. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
You should use 'The teacher of English' instead of 'The English teacher'.
This is because, the expression 'The English teacher' means 'a teacher who
is an English man', while 'The teacher of English' means 'a teacher who
teaches English'.
The correct sentence should be: The teacher of English said that we
should read the poems everyday so as to memorize them.
Same applies to the following phrases:
Don't use Use
Hindi teacher Teacher of Hindi
Family members Members of family
Parliament members Members of parliament
Don't say: All his family members are working on some of the higher
positions in the Insurance sector.
Say: All the members of his family are working on some of the higher
positions in the Insurance sector.

6) They stayed (1) / in Nagpur (2) / for a short period of time (3) / and
then returned home.(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'of time' and 'period' together is incorrect.
The correct expression should be 'for a short time' or 'for a short period'.
The correct sentence should be: They stayed in Nagpur for a short
time and then returned home.
Similarly,
Don't use Use
During the period of war During the war
The war period

7) I have (1) / given the (2) / examination so (3) / I am free now. (4) /
No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'given' is incorrect. The correct thing to say would be
'taken/appeared' for the examination.
The correct sentence should be: I have taken the examination so I am free
now.

Similarly,
Don't use Use
Gave speech Made/ deliver speech
Give exam Take/ appear examination

8) She wishes to join (1) / lecturership as (2) / she thinks it is (3) / a

rewarding profession. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'lecturership' is wrong. The correct term would be - lectureship.
The correct sentence should be: She wishes to join lectureship as she
thinks it is a rewarding profession.
Similarly, 'freeship' is incorrect, 'free-studentship' is correct form.

9) Raman was awarded (1) / cent-percent marks (2) / in the (3) /

examination. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Use of 'cent-percent' is wrong. In standard English, it is incorrect to use
'cent-percent'.
The correct expression would be 'hundred-percent'.
The correct sentence should be: Raman was awarded hundred-
percent marks in the examination.

10) She put her (1) / sign in the corner (2) / of the document (3) / and
submitted it. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5

Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Use of 'sign' is incorrect. Instead, the word 'signature' should be used.
'Sign' is a verb, whereas 'signature' is a noun.
e.g. He signed the letter. (Verb)
He put his signature on the letter. (Noun)
The correct sentence should be: She put her signature in the corner of the
document and submitted it.

11) The lady (1) / asked me (2) / if there was any (3) / place in the
bus. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
In case of 'bus/ train/ cart/ van/ compartment', 'room' is used for space, not
'place'.
The correct sentence should be: The lady asked me if there was any room in
the bus.
Some other wrongly used words are:
Incorrect Correct
Congratulation_ Congratulations
True fact/ Actual fact Fact (Fact by definition is true.)
Past history History
Unexpected surprise Surprise
Alternative choice Either use 'alternative' or 'choice', not both
Sum total Either 'sum' or 'total', not both
Consensus opinion Consensus
Consort husband/ wife Consort

12) All the members (1) / of the committee are (2) / kindly requested to
appear (3) / in the next meeting. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5

Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3

Explanation:
'Kindly' and 'Requested' are not used together.
'Kindly' and 'Please' are used in active voice to denote 'request';
while to denote 'kindly' and 'please' in passive voice, 'requested' is generally
used.
e.g. (Active) Kindly/ Please help me.
(Passive) You are requested to help me.
The correct sentence should be: All the members of the committee
are requested to appear in the next meeting.
Correct ways to use 'kindly' are: a kindly smile, a kindly thought, a kindly
way, a kindly manner.

13) He came to (1) / the final conclusion (2) / that he would (3) / not
accept the offer. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
'final' is a superfluous word here. 'Final' and 'conclusion' cannot be used
together.
Conclusion itself denotes 'result.'
The correct sentence should be: He came to the conclusion that he would
not accept the offer.

14) He wanted (1) / to know whether (2) / it was right and proper (3) /
way to do it. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'right' and 'proper' together is incorrect. Use either 'right' or
'proper', not both of them.
The correct sentence should be: He wanted to know whether it was the
right way to do it.
He wanted to know whether it was the proper way to do it.

15) Irans support (1)/ to the terrorists (2) / is universally condemned

(3) / by all. (4)/ No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Remove 'by all'. Never use "by all' and universally" together because both
convey the same meaning.
The correct sentence should be: Irans support to the terrorists
is universally condemned.

16) Suppose if (1) / all problems are solved (2) / what would you (3) / do
then? (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
Remove 'if'. Using 'if' with 'suppose' is incorrect.
Either use 'suppose' or 'if', not both of them together.
The correct sentence should be: Suppose all the problems are solved
what would you do then?
If all the problems are solved what would you do then?
e.g. Supposing he does not come, what will you do?
If he comes late, what will you do?

17) In Pune, (1) she came across with (2) many of her friends (3) / who
had settled there. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Remove 'with'.
'Came across' means 'to meet suddenly'.
The correct sentence should be: In Pune, she came across many of her
friends who had settled there.

18) I suddenly came across (1) Rohit when (2) I was going (3) / to
college. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
The above sentence is wrong because 'suddenly' and ' came across' cannot
be used together.
The correct sentence should be: I came across Rohit when I was going to
college.

19) The reason why (1) / he was (2) / rejected was because (3) / he
was too young. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3

Explanation:
Remove 'because'. 'Because' is not used with 'reason', it is superfluous to
use 'because'.
The correct sentence should be: The reason why he was rejected was, he
was too young.

20) The science project (1) / was equally successful as (2) / the
software project (3) / they had presented. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
'Equally' and 'successful as' cannot be used together.
The correct sentence should be: The science project was as successful as
the software project they had presented.
e.g. Ravi and Manish are equally successful.
Ravi is as successful as Manish.

21) The funeral service (1) / was to be (2) / conducted by the (3) / family
priest. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
Use of 'service' is superfluous. 'Funeral' is itself a 'service'.
The correct expressions are 'a funeral procession', 'a funeral march, 'a
funeral pyre', 'a funeral pile'.
The correct sentence should be: The funeral was to be conducted by the
family priest.

22) The recent incidents of corruption (1) / amply illustrate about (2) /
the characters of (3) / our officers. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Remove 'about'.
Use of 'about' is superfluous. 'Illustrate/ demonstrate/ describe', are
immediately followed by 'object'.
For e.g. describe + 'about' + 'object' is wrong.
The correct sentence should be: The recent incidents of corruption
amply illustrate the characters of our officers.
e.g. He demonstrates it.
He described it.

23) He is not (1) / able to (2) / cope up with (3) / the peer pressure.
(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'up' with 'cope' is superfluous. 'to cope with' is the correct way.
e.g. Desert plants are adapted to cope with extreme heat.
The correct sentence should be: He is not able to cope with the peer
pressure.

24) The Teacher said that (1) / it was his decision (2) / and that
nobody (3) / could deny it. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Use of 'that' in the C part is superfluous.
The correct sentence should be: The Teacher said that it was his decision
and nobody could deny it.