Error Identification & Correction Flashcards

Identify the error: 'Neither the manager nor the employees was informed about the policy change.'

Answer: 'was' should be 'were'

With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the closest subject ('employees'), which is plural, requiring 'were.'

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

Answer: After finishing the report, the project was submitted.

'After finishing the report' dangles because the subject of the main clause ('the project') cannot finish a report.

Find the error in: 'The data shows that employee moral has declined over the past year.'

Answer: 'moral' should be 'morale'

'Moral' refers to ethics or principles, while 'morale' refers to the confidence and enthusiasm of a group.

Choose the correction for: 'Between you and I, the meeting was unnecessary.'

Answer: Change 'I' to 'me'

Prepositions like 'between' require object pronouns, so 'I' should be 'me.'

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

Answer: He had one goal: to win the championship.

A colon is correctly used when what follows it directly explains or elaborates on what came before a complete clause.

Identify the error: 'Less students attended the seminar this year than last year.'

Answer: 'Less' should be 'Fewer'

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'students,' while 'less' is used with uncountable nouns.

Find the mistake: 'The committee have reached their decision unanimously.'

Answer: 'have' should be 'has'

In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' take singular verbs, so 'have' should be 'has' (with 'its' also preferred).