Error recognition

What is the best replacement for the underlined word?

The book was appealing because its contents were dazzlingly displayed on the front cover. 

• it has 

• it's 

• No error

• it is 

Choose the correct revision for the following sentence.

The teams victory was well-deserved. 

• The teams's victory was well-deserved. 

   

   

• The team's victory, was well-deserved.

• The team's victory was well-deserved.

• The teams victory, was well-deserved. 

Because you have been with the company for one year, your lunch breaks will decrease from half an hour to a full hour starting in August. 

Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?

• been 

• your

• decrease

• starting

Answer explanation

The lunch break time is going from half an hour to a full hour, so the word "decrease" is incorrect. The correct word is "increase."

The entire company is required to attend a meeting in which the CEO will discuss last year's losses and how they will effect the current year. 

Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?

• entire

• attend

• effect

• discuss

Answer explanation

"Effect" is incorrect because it is a noun. The sentence needs a verb. The correct word is "affect."

Although we will not have to let anyone go, the company does not have sufficient resources to fire more employees this year. 

Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?

• anyone

• although

• fire

• sufficient

Answer explanation

The sentence says that the company "will not have to let anyone go," meaning they will not have to fire anyone. Therefore, the word "fire" should actually be the word "hire."

You need to start arriving to work on time because recently you have been arriving late too infrequently. 

Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?

• infrequently

• on time

• recently

• arriving

Answer explanation

The problem is that the person is arriving to work late too often. Therefore, the word "infrequently" should actually say "frequently."

ust a reminder that the information discussed in this meeting is confidential, so you must not share it with everyone. 

Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?

• discussed

• reminder

• share

• everyone

Answer explanation

The information in the meeting is confidential, meaning it should not be shared. Therefore, the incorrect word in the sentence is "everyone." It should say "anyone."

If you are a new employee, you must skip orientation this week. If you have worked for us for longer than two months, you will not be required to attend. 

Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?

• skip

• attend

• required

• this

Answer explanation

It is logical that new employees would be required to attend orientation. Therefore, the incorrect word is "skip." It should say "attend."

In order to ensure that there will be enough money in the account to pay the bills next week, John needs to withdraw the checks at the bank as soon as possible. 

Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?

• possible

• enough

• withdraw

• ensure

Answer explanation

Because there is not enough money in the account, John needs to "deposit" the checks in order to add money to the account, not "withdraw" them, which would remove more money from the account. 

I like all flavors of ice cream accept strawberry. 

How should this sentence be re-written?

• I like all flavors of ice cream beside strawberry. 

• I like all flavors of ice cream except strawberry. 

• No error

• I like all flavors of ice cream with the acception of strawberry. 

Answer explanation

The correct answer is "I like all flavors of ice cream except strawberry." The error in the original sentence is with the commonly mistaken words accept and except. Accept is a verb that means to agree with or to allow, and except is an a preposition that means "apart from." This sentence requires the word with the latter meaning. Acception is not a word; the correct spelling is exception. Also, "I like all flavors of ice cream beside strawberry" is incorrect because the word beside needs an s ("besides").