Writing Skills
What the section tests
Writing skills items test grammar, usage, punctuation, sentence structure, and clarity. Formats include choosing the best version of a sentence, spotting errors, and selecting the option that best combines or corrects sentences. The emphasis is on standard written English used in professional and technical settings.
Concepts to master
Know subject-verb agreement, especially when words sit between the subject and verb. Understand pronoun agreement and clear pronoun reference. Master comma use: separating independent clauses joined by a conjunction, setting off introductory phrases, and separating items in a list. Recognize sentence fragments and run-ons, and know how to fix them. Understand parallel structure in lists and comparisons. Distinguish commonly confused words such as their, there, and they're; its and it's; affect and effect; and then and than. Choose the active voice and concise wording when both are grammatically correct.
Traps to watch
Beware answer choices that fix one error but introduce another, such as a comma splice or a mismatched tense. Watch for sentences where the subject is separated from the verb by a long phrase. Do not choose an option just because it is longer or more formal; clarity and correctness matter more.
Worked example
"The crew, along with the new recruits, was dispatched at dawn." The subject is crew (singular), so the verb is was, even though recruits sits nearby. Rule of thumb: strip out the interrupting phrase and read the sentence to check agreement.