Writing and Language Usage
What this domain tests
Writing and Language Usage covers grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, usage, and revision skills: choosing the version of a sentence that is clearest and most correct, fixing errors, and improving organization and tone.
Concepts to master
- Subject-verb agreement, including with interrupting phrases ("The box of tools is heavy").
- Pronoun clarity: every pronoun needs one unambiguous antecedent; "they" with a vague referent is an error.
- Verb tense consistency within a passage.
- Punctuation: commas with introductory and nonessential elements, semicolons joining independent clauses, apostrophes for possession versus plurals, and colons introducing lists.
- Modifiers: place descriptive phrases next to the word they describe.
- Parallel structure in lists and comparisons.
- Conciseness and tone: the best answer is grammatical and no wordier than necessary.
Common traps
- The shortest option is not always best - it may drop needed punctuation or meaning.
- Comma splices disguised as smooth sentences.
- Dangling modifiers: "Walking to work, the rain started" wrongly makes rain the walker.
- Wrong word pairs: affect/effect, its/it's, their/there, then/than.
- Overcorrection: adding commas where the sentence needs none.
Rule of thumb
Check the original sentence against each choice in this order: subject-verb agreement, punctuation, modifier placement, then conciseness. The first rule broken eliminates the option.
Worked example
"The report, along with its appendices, (were / was) submitted late." The subject is report (singular); "along with its appendices" is an interrupting phrase, so the verb is was.