Reading Comprehension Tips

The reading comprehension passages on the college entrance examinations can be daunting. They are often long and may contain confusing language. Keep these tips in mind as you approach the reading comprehension sections on the tests:

1. Get the vocabulary questions out of the way. Skim the questions before you read the passage for the sole purpose of finding the ones that ask you to define a word. Put a box around the word in the sentence and try to come up with your own synonym before you read the choices. Answer these questions first so that you can focus on those that deal with the content of the passage after you have finished reading.
2. Read the introduction. The italicized introductory text often contains information that will help you determine such things as the author's perspective or the purpose of the passage. Refer back to it as needed.
3. Put the excerpts into context. When a question refers to text on a certain line (or lines), be sure to read the text that comes before and after the excerpt. Sometimes the answer cannot be determined from simply reading the sentence (or sentences) in the excerpt.
4. Choose a title, main point, or purpose that is not too broad or too specific. If you are asked to pick a title that best describes the passage, read each option carefully to determine not only whether it makes sense, but also whether it is too broad or too specific. You can be certain that one of the five choices will be much too general and that another will focus on a detail mentioned in the text rather than on the entire text. Similarly, if you are asked to choose the main point or purpose of the passage, be sure that your answer is not one that is too broad or too specific. Another helpful tactic is to reread the first paragraph and the first sentence of subsequent paragraphs to get a better sense of what the whole piece is about.
5. Pay attention to negatives. If you are asked to choose an answer that does NOT support the author's argument or to respond to a question that contains "EXCEPT," read each answer and ask yourself, "Is this true?" If it is, cross it off.
6. Think about inferences. An author may imply something without actually saying it. You will be asked to infer the meaning of the text. The answer will not be directly stated in the passage. Think about who the author is and from what kind of work the passage has been excerpted (you may know this from the introduction). This information may help you extract meaning from the text.
7. Turn the Roman numeral items into true/false questions. When you are presented with a question that asks which of three items (numbered with Roman numerals) are correct, treat each item as a true/false question. Read each item and decide whether it is true or false. Then look at the five answers to see which combination of "true" items is correct.
8. Trust your instincts! If you are quite sure that an answer is correct but you think it must be wrong because it seems too easy, don't change your answer. You are smart and some questions are easy!

Never Do This: “being that”

Being that the weather was sunny, we went to the beach.

This sentence contains an error in diction. "Being that" is a colloquial phrase that should not be used in formal language or standard written English. Use "because" or "since" instead.

Since the weather was sunny, we went to the beach.

Commonly Confused: former/first and latter/last

The proper usage of "former" and "latter" depends upon an understanding of the definitions of these words.

former – (adjective) first-mentioned of two

latter – (adjective) last-mentioned of two

Notice that these definitions contain the words "of two." This means that "former" and "latter" can only be used in reference to two people or things. If a comparison contains more than two people or things, use "first" or "last."

first – (adjective) preceding all others in a series

last – (adjective) coming after all others in a series

Look at the proper usage of "former" and "latter" in this sentence:

Jack and Jill went up the hill; the former fell down and broke his crown while the latter came tumbling down after him.

Jack and Jill are two people. In this sentence, Jack is the former and Jill is the latter. This sentence is correct because the comparison is between two people.

Jack and Jill and Bob went up the hill; the latter watched the other two fall down.

This sentence is incorrect. The series contains more than two people, so "latter" should not be used. Bob is the last person in the series. Replace "latter" with "last" to correct the sentence.

Jack and Jill and Bob went up the hill; the last watched the other two fall down.

• Read an example of the usage of last vs. latter at Celebrity Grammar. 

Commonly Confused: number/amount

There is a difference between the proper usage of “number” and “amount.” If something can be counted, use “number” and the related number terms (“few,” “many,” etc.); if something cannot be counted, use “amount” and the related amount terms (“little,” “much,” etc.).

Countable nouns are easy to spot: one cookie, two cookies, three cookies; one class, two classes, three classes; one chair, two chairs, three chairs.

Try counting uncountable nouns: one rice, two rices, three rices? No! One mathematics, two mathematics, three mathematics? No! One furniture, two furnitures, three furnitures? No!

This table lists the terms that are associated with countable nouns (number terms) and uncountable nouns (amount terms), as well as terms that can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns:

number	amount	both
many both several few/fewer/fewest a few one of the a couple of	much less little a little very little	some any most more all a lot of no none of the

Notice that the terms that can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns include the indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural (mnemonic = SAMAN).

Let’s look at some examples of the usage of these terms.

I have many CDs, but I have less music than my brother has.

CDs are countable (one CD, two CDs, three CDs) but music is uncountable (one music? two musics? three musics? No!). Use “many” with a countable noun and “less” with an uncountable noun.

I had too much ice cream and very little milk. I had several cookies. Now I want some coffee. Hey, someone ate all the hamburgers!

“Ice cream” and “milk” are uncountable (Two ice creams? Three milks? These are colloquial and they sound awkward.) “Much” and “very little” are amount terms to be used with uncountable nouns. “Cookies” are countable, and “several” is a number term to be used with countable nouns. “Some” and “all” are terms that can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. “Coffee” is uncountable; “hamburgers” are countable.

• Read more about countable and uncountable nouns at the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
• Take these interactive quizzes to test your ability to identify countable and uncountable nouns: 1, 2, 3.

Need-to-know Grammar: Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that seems to refer to the wrong word in a sentence.

When reading a sentence that contains a modifier, pay attention to what the modifier is describing.

My friend saw a puppy on the way to school.

The modifying phrase "on the way to school" is misplaced. Since it is closer to "puppy" than to "my friend," the modifier seems to describe "puppy." The puppy was not on the way to school. My friend was on the way to school. To correct the sentence, move the modifier closer to the words it is describing.

On the way to school, my friend saw a puppy.

This sentence is clearer than the original because the modifier is no longer misplaced.

My mother put the cookies onto the table that she had baked.

The modifying clause in this sentence is "that she had baked." What does it describe? The modifier's proximity to "table" makes it seem as if the table had been baked. To clarify the meaning of the sentence, move the modifying clause closer to the word that it describes ("cookies.")

My mother put the cookies that she had baked onto the table.

Some adverbs can cause confusion in a sentence when they are misplaced. Check the placement of the following adverbs carefully:

• almost
• ever
• even
• just
• only
• merely
• scarcely

I almost read the entire book.

The adverb "almost" seems to be modifying the verb "read." This would mean that I did not read the book. I almost read the book. Move the modifier closer to the word it is modifying to correct the sentence.

I read almost the entire book.

This sentence makes more sense than the original.

The Girl Scout only sold one box of cookies this week.

The adverb "only" is misplaced in this sentence because it appears to modify the verb "sold" instead of the adjective "one." This sentence implies that she "only sold" the cookies. She did not eat them, she did not hide them, she did not crush them under her feet – she only sold them. "Only" should modify "one" because she sold "only one box." Move "only" closer to the word it modifies so that the sentence makes more sense.

The Girl Scout sold only one box of cookies this week.

Another type of misplaced modifier is called a "dangling modifier." The modifier is said to be "dangling" from the end of a sentence when it does not clearly and logically modify any word in the sentence.

To prepare for a hurricane, many bottles of water and cans of food should be bought.

The modifier, the infinitive phrase "to prepare for a hurricane," modifies the subject of the sentence. The subject is "many bottles of water and cans of food." Bottles and cans do not prepare for a hurricane. A person must prepare for a hurricane. Restructure the sentence so that the modifier refers to a logical subject.

To prepare for a hurricane, you should buy many bottles of water and cans of food.

This dangling modifier was an infinitive phrase. A dangling participle is a misplaced modifier that is a participial phrase.

• Read examples of misplaced modifiers at Celebrity Grammar.
• Read more about dangling participles on this site and view examples of dangling participles at Celebrity Grammar and Celebrity Usage.
• Take these interactive quizzes to test your ability to identify misplaced modifiers: 1, 2.
• If you do not understand a question, post the text in the comments and we will try to explain your mistake.

Words about “verbal attacks”

These verbs, nouns, and adjectives all relate to the concept of "verbal attack." Familiarize yourself with these words and their definitions so that you will be able to recognize them and remember their negative connotations when you approach the sentence completion and reading comprehension sections of the college entrance examinations.

asperse (verb) – to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges [noun form: aspersion]

billingsgate (noun) – coarsely abusive language

calumniate (verb) – to utter maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about [noun form: calumny]

censure (verb) – to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy [noun form: censure; adjective form: censorious]

denounce (verb) – to pronounce, especially publicly, to be blameworthy or evil [noun form: denunciation]

derision (noun) – the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt

diatribe (noun) – bitter and abusive speech or writing

invective (noun) – 1. an abusive expression or speech 2. insulting or abusive language [adjective form: invective]

lambaste (verb) – 1. to attack verbally 2. to assault violently

malign (verb) – to utter injuriously misleading or false reports about

obloquy (noun) – 1. abusive language 2. bad repute as a result of being discredited

philipic (noun) – a discourse full of bitter condemnation

reprehend (verb) – to voice disapproval of [noun form: reprehension]

scurrilous (adjective) – containing obscenities, abuse, or slander

tirade (noun) – a protracted speech marked by harshly censorious language

vilify (verb) – to utter slanderous and abusive statements against

• Read examples of the usage of some of these words at Celebrity Vocabulary:
  • lambaste, diatribe, and invective
  • aspersion and censorious
  • vilify
• Definitions are courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online and Chambers Online Reference.

Commonly Confused: lay/lie

"To lay" is a transitive verb that means "to place something on a surface, to put" and requires an object. You lay something down.

"To lie" is an intransitive verb that means "to be in or take on a horizontal position, to recline." Since it is intransitive, it never takes a subject. You lie down to sleep.

to lay

• base form: lay
• past: laid
• present participle: (is/are) laying
• past participle: (has/have/had) laid

to lie

• base form: lie
• past: lay
• present participle: (is/are) lying
• past participle: (has/have/had) lain

Notice that the past tense of "to lie" is the same as the base form of "to lay."

Review these examples of each tense of both verbs.

Infinitives using the base form:

I am tired, so I am going to lie down. ("to lie" is intransitive; "down" is an adverb modifying "to lie")

I can't wait to lay my head down on my pillow. ("to lay" is transitive; its object is "my head")

Past tense:

Last night, I lay in bed for hours before I finally fell asleep. ("lay" is intransitive; "in bed" is a prepositional phrase modifying "lay")

I laid my keys on the table yesterday, but now I can't find them. ("laid" is transitive; its object is "my keys")

Present participle:

My clothes are lying on the floor. ("are lying" is intransitive; "on the floor" is a prepositional phrase modifying "are lying")

My mother is laying my clothes on the bed. ("is laying" is transitive; its subject is "my clothes")

Past participle:

Before I got up, I had lain in bed for hours. ("had lain" is intransitive; "in bed for hours" is a prepositional phrase modifying "had lain")

Before I put my clothes away, I had laid them on my bed. ("had laid" is transitive; its object is "my clothes")

• Take this interactive quiz to test your knowledge of these two verbs.
• If you do not understand a question, post the text in the comments and we will try to explain your mistake.

Commonly Confused: The “All” Words (all together/altogether; all ready/already; all right, but not alright)

These pairs of homonyms (words that are pronounced alike) can cause confusion in choosing the proper words to use in standard written English. Review the differences between the words in each pair.

all together/altogether

"all together" means "in a group" when used as an adjective or "at the same time" when used as an adverb.

We were all together in the car. ("all together" is used as an adjective modifying "we")

We went to the concert all together. ("all together" is used as an adverb modifying "went")

"altogether" is an adverb that means "entirely, wholly, completely."

I am altogether fed up with your behavior. ("altogether" is used as an adverb modifying "fed up")

all ready/already

"all ready" is an adjective that means "all prepared."

We were all ready to go to the concert. ("all ready" is an adjective modifying "we")

"already" is an adverb that means "previously."

When we got there, the opening band had already played. ("already" is an adverb modifying "played")

all right/alright

"all right" means "satisfactory" when used as an adjective and "satisfactorily" when used as an adverb.

The opening band was all right, but the headline band was amazing. ("all right" is used as an adjective modifying "band")

The opening band played all right, but the headline band really brought down the house. ("all right" is used as an adverb modifying "played")

"alright" is not a word. Do not use it.

Practice Reading Comprehension at “Learning Resources”

The Learning Resources site features news stories with associated reading comprehension questions similar to those found in college entrance examinations. The types of questions include vocabulary, sentence completion, and conclusions. Conclusion questions test your ability to draw inferences based on your reading.

To use the site, click on the Story Archive icon in the upper left corner and then choose a story. The story page is divided into two sections. Read the complete story in the right panel, then choose a category of questions to test your skills. Scroll down in the left panel to see the story so that you can refer to the text while answering the questions.

Need-to-know Grammar: Verb Tense Sequence

The tense of a verb indicates the time frame of an action's occurrence. Actions that occur now use the simple present tense, actions that already occurred use the simple past tense, and actions that will occur use the simple future tense.

simple present tense: I study. [This is happening now.]

simple past tense: I studied. [This happened in the past.]

simple future tense: I will study. [This will happen in the future.]

The perfect tense of verbs is used to indicate the relative sequence of events in a sentence. The present perfect tense indicates that an action has been occurring and may be continuing to occur now. The past perfect tense indicates that an action occurred in the past before another action. The future perfect tense indicates that an action will occur in the future before another action.

present perfect tense: I have studied, so I will pass the test. [I studied in the past and might still be studying now. I will pass in the future.]

past perfect tense: I had studied, so I passed the test. [First I studied. I completed this action, then I passed the test.]

future perfect tense: I will have studied, so I will pass the test. [In the future, I will study. I will complete this action and then I will pass in the future.]

• Review the forms of verb tenses.

The college entrance examinations will test your ability to identify and correct errors in verb tense sequence. This will require both a knowledge of the verb tenses and context-reading skills.

By the time we arrived at the concert, the opening band finished its set.

This sentence contains an error in verb tense sequence. The band finished playing before we arrived, so the verb in the main clause should be in the past perfect tense.

By the time we arrived at the concert, the opening band had finished its set.

This sentence is correct.

• Read more about verb tense sequence at Purdue's OWL.
• Read examples of errors in verb tense sequence at Celebrity Grammar.

Grammar Basics: Indefinite Pronouns

These are singular indefinite pronouns:

each, either, neither, one,

no one, nobody, nothing,

anyone, anybody, anything,

someone, somebody, something,

everyone, everybody, everything

A singular indefinite pronoun takes a singular verb.

• Everyone is happy.
• No one knows what to do in this situation.

When a singular indefinite pronoun serves as an antecedent in a sentence, it must take a singular pronoun referent.

• Everyone brought his book.
• No one forgot her homework.

These are plural indefinite pronouns:

several, few, both, many

A plural indefinite pronoun takes a plural verb.

• Both are acceptable.
• Few are going to the party.

When a plural indefinite pronoun serves as an antecedent in a sentence, it must take a plural pronoun referent.

• Both passed their tests.
• Few did not understand their assignments.

These are indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural depending on how they are modified by a prepositional phrase:

some, any, most, all, none (Use this mnemonic device: SAMAN)

The number of the verb or the pronoun referent depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.

When the object of the preposition is uncountable, use a singular verb.

• All of my knowledge was useful during the test. (Knowledge cannot be counted: how many knowledge? This does not make sense.)
• None of the cake was eaten. (How many cake? Cake cannot be counted.)

When the object of the preposition is uncountable, use a singular pronoun referent.

• All of her work made its impact on her grades. (Work cannot be counted: how many work?)
• Some of the water left its mark on the wooden table. (How many water? Water cannot be counted.)

When the object of the preposition is countable, use a plural verb.

• Most of the words were on the vocabulary test. (Words can be counted.)
• None of these sentences are hard to understand. (Sentences can be counted.)

When the object of the preposition is countable, use a plural pronoun referent.

• All of the books were useful in their own ways. (Books can be counted.)
• Some of my friends drove their cars to the beach. (Friends can be counted.)

Need-to-know Grammar: Parallelism

Items listed in a sentence must have parallel structure. Make sure that similar items in a sentence conform to a single part of speech.

This car is sporty, economical, and goes very fast.

This sentence is incorrect. The words "sporty" and "economical" are adjectives, but "goes very fast" is a verb phrase. This is an error in parallel structure.

This car is sporty, economical, and fast.

This sentence is correct. The three adjectives are in parallel structure.

This car looks sporty, runs economically, and goes very fast.

This sentence is also correct. There is parallel structure among the three verb phrases.

Look at the following sentence and determine whether there is an error in parallelism:

I like reading books, walking my dog, and crossword puzzles.

This sentence is incorrect. The first two items in the list are gerund phrases, but the last item is a compound noun. The structure of this sentence is not parallel.

I like reading books, walking my dog, and doing crossword puzzles.

This sentence is correct. There is parallel structure among the three gerund phrases in the sentence.

• Read examples of sentences with errors in parallelism at Celebrity Grammar and Celebrity Usage.
• Take these interactive quizzes to test your ability to identify proper parallel structure in a sentence: 1, 2, 3.
• If you make any mistakes on the quizzes that you do not understand, copy the text and paste it into a comment. We will try to explain your error to you.

Need-to-know Grammar: Faulty Comparisons

A faulty comparison is one that is not logical. Items that are compared must in fact be similar.

I like Bruce Springsteen's songs more than Madonna.

This sentence is illogical. What is being compared? A person's songs should not be compared to a person. Songs should be compared to songs.

I like Bruce Springsteen's songs more than Madonna's songs.

This sentence is correct.

The following sentence is incorrect:

The weather in Canada is colder than Mexico.

Weather should not be compared to a country.

The weather in Canada is colder than the weather in Mexico.

When you see a word or phrase that indicates that there is a comparison in the sentence, ask yourself, "What is being compared?" Here are some such words and phrases:

• like
• as
• less than
• more than
• compared to

Read some sentences with examples of faulty comparisons at Celebrity Grammar and Celebrity Usage.

Need-to-know Grammar: Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement

An antecedent is the noun, compound noun, or pronoun to which a pronoun refers. The referent pronoun and its antecedent must agree in person, number, and gender.

To check for pronoun/antecedent agreement, first find the referent pronoun. Then figure out to which word the pronoun refers; this is the antecedent. Finally, confirm that the pronoun and antecedent are in agreement.

The student studied their vocabulary.

This is an obvious error in number agreement. The pronoun "their" is plural but the subject "student" is singular. Change the number of either the pronoun or the antecedent so that they are in agreement.

The students studied their vocabulary.

The student studied his vocabulary.

With practice, all errors in pronoun/antecedent agreement with be as simple as this to correct. There are just a few rules to remember.

+ When the antecedent is an indefinite pronoun, the referent pronoun must match it in number. Independent singular pronouns take singular referent pronouns; plural indefinite pronouns take plural referent pronouns.

Each of my friends passed their test.

This sentence is incorrect. The antecedent is not "friends" because this word is the object of a preposition. The antecedent is the subject, "each," which is a singular indefinite pronoun. Therefore, the pronoun that refers back to "each" must be singular.

Each of my friends passed his test.

This sentence is correct. The following sentence is also correct:

Several of my friends passed their test.

Since "several" is a plural indefinite pronoun, the referent pronoun must be plural.

Review the indefinite pronouns and their rules for both subject/verb agreement and pronoun/antecedent agreement.

+ The antecedent in an "either/or" or "neither/nor" couple is the word that is closer to the pronoun. Consider crossing out all the words from "either" to "or" (or "neither" to "nor") to make it easier to identify the antecedent.

Neither the students nor the teacher finished their work.

This sentence is incorrect. The antecedent is "teacher" because this word is closer to the pronoun than "students." The pronoun must be singular because the antecedent is singular.

Neither the students nor the teacher finished his work.

+ When the antecedent is a collective noun, look at the context of the sentence to determine the number of the referent pronoun.

The team won its game.

The team as a collective unit won the game, so the referent pronoun is singular.

The team put on their uniforms.

The individual members of the team put on individual uniforms, so the pronoun is plural.

The jury made its decision.

The jury as a collective unit made a decision, so the pronoun is singular.

The jury could not make up their minds.

The individual members of the jury could not make up their individual minds, so the pronoun is plural.

+ When the antecedent is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, the referent pronoun is plural.

The cat and the dog ate their food.

• Read examples of sentences with errors in pronoun/antecedent agreement at Celebrity Grammar and Celebrity Usage.
• Take these interactive quizzes to practice identifying pronoun/antecedent agreement and working with pronouns in general: 1, 2, 3.
• If you make any mistakes on the quizzes that you do not understand, copy the text into a comment. We will try to explain your error to you.

Need-to-know Grammar: Subject/Verb Agreement

A singular subject must have a singular verb; a plural subject must have a plural verb.

Look for the subject of the sentence and determine whether it is singular or plural.

If you see a preposition, ignore the nouns or pronouns in the prepositional phrase. Consider crossing out the prepositional phrase so that it does not distract you from the subject of the sentence.

A group of students were studying for the test.

This sentence is incorrect. The subject is "group," which is singular. Ignore the prepositional phrase "of students" and use a verb that agrees with the subject of the sentence.

A group of students was studying for the test.

This sentence is correct.

Any modifying phrase or clause that comes between the subject and the verb must be ignored when determining subject/verb agreement.

The football player, in addition to the rest of the team, were awarded a trophy.

This sentence is incorrect. The subject is "football player," which is singular. The verb is "were," which is plural. Ignore the phrase between the subject and the verb and correct the number of the verb.

The football player, in addition to the rest of the team, was awarded a trophy.

This sentence is correct.

The following sentence has a dependent clause between the subject and the verb:

The song that they are playing in all the clubs are my favorite.

This sentence is incorrect because the singular subject, "song," does not agree with the plural verb, "are." Ignore the words that come between the subject and the verb to correct the sentence.

The song that they are playing in all the clubs is my favorite.

When subjects in a sentence are linked by "either/or" or "neither/nor," the subject that is closer to the verb will determine the number of the verb. The following sentences demonstrate subject/verb agreement in this type of structure:

Either the dogs or the cat has knocked over the vase.

Either the cat or the dogs have knocked over the vase.

Consider crossing off all the words from "either" to "or" (or "neither" to "nor") to help you determine the number of the subject.

Neither my brothers nor my sister are coming to the show.

This sentence is incorrect. Since "sister" is closer to the verb and is singular, the verb must be singular.

Neither my brothers nor my sister is coming to the show.

This sentence is correct.

• Read examples of sentences with errors in subject/verb agreement at Celebrity Grammar and Celebrity Usage.
• Take these interactive quizzes to practice identifying subject/verb agreement: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• If you make any mistakes on the quizzes that you do not understand, copy the text and paste it into a comment. We will try to explain your error to you.

“How I Gamed the SAT”

A journalist from the LA Times reports her experiences as a reader for the essay portion of the SAT. She offers several tips for students taking the test:

• "Varied sentences and vocabulary are good, and smooth transitions help."
• "Write at least a page and a quarter."
• "Prepackage some thinking. Get familiar with a couple of Greek myths or literary classics that would work for multiple themes."
• "Prepare a few highly burnished words that can be applied to almost any situation. A prepared sentence or two wouldn't hurt."

Read the article. Registration is required for this site; you can get a user name and password to bypass registration at bugmenot.com.

Need-to-know Grammar: The Dangling Participle

Both the SAT and the ACT will test your ability to identify and correct a dangling participle, which is a participial phrase that does not clearly modify a word in a sentence.

Reading the question carefully, it was obvious that there was a grammatical error.

When you encounter a participial phrase ("Reading the question carefully"), ask yourself, "Who is doing the action?" and then find the subject in the sentence. If the subject is doing the action, the sentence is correct. If not, you must correct the dangling participle.

In the example, the subject is "it." "It" was not reading – a person has to do the reading.

Reading the question carefully, she spotted the obvious grammatical error.

Here, we see that "she" is the subject. Who was reading? She was reading. The dangling participle has been corrected.

Fortified by hours of studying, the test was a breeze.

Who was fortified? The subject is "test" – was the test fortified? No.

Fortified by hours of studying, he found that the test was a breeze.

"He" was fortified. This sentence is correct.

• Review dangling participles at Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL).
• Read the OWL's section about participles and participial phrases.
• See examples of sentences with dangling participles at Celebrity Grammar and Celebrity Usage.
• Use this quick online quiz to test your ability to identify a dangling participle.

The Notorious Confusables

The Notorious Confusables is a two-part list of common usage mix-ups.  The site also features multiple interactive quizzes that test your knowledge of these words.

Writing the Successful College Application Essay

Quintessential Careers features a section on their website that provides a guide for brainstorming ideas, choosing a topic, and writing an effective college application essay.

Common Errors in English

This site features an extensive list of common usage errors in English. The author states in his introduction that "[the] aim of this site is to help you avoid low grades, lost employment opportunities, lost business, and titters of amusement at the way you write or speak." The list can also be helpful in studying for college entrance exams, as it contains several usage errors that are likely to show up on the Writing Skills section of the SAT. Some noteworthy examples:

• majority is/majority are ("majority" can be singular or plural – be careful!)
• amount/number (use "number" if the things can be counted)
• hanged/hung (remember that a person is hanged and a picture is hung)
• already/all ready and altogether/ all together (don't confuse the adverbs with the phrases)

While the site does not offer a comprehensive review of grammar, it does include several entries concerning types of grammatical errors that consistently show up on the SAT:

• dangling and misplaced modifiers
• parallelism in a series
• number of verb
• verb tense