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GRAMMAR PRACTICE
Error Recognition
 Redundancy: an unnecessary use of a word, phrase or clause that makes a
sentence too wordy.
Examples: reverse backward, white in colour, large in size, sole monopoly, etc.

 Cliché: an overused expression that has lost its effect

Example: burn the midnight oil, kill two birds with one stone

 Misused Metaphor: the use of two or more metaphors that are incompatible or
lack unity.
Example: The thorny problem kept rearing its ugly head though we swept it under
the carpet.

 Faulty Diction: is the inappropriate use of words.

 Grammatical Errors: includes issues with parallelism, tenses, subject and verb
agreement, double negatives, word functions, etc.
Directions:
Some of the following sentences are unacceptable because of an error; none of
them have more than one error. Some of them are also acceptable as they are.
Select the options from A to D that best describes each sentence.
(A)The sentence is too wordy, repetitive or contains redundancies.
(B)The sentence contains clichés or misused metaphors.
(C)The sentence contains faulty diction or grammatical error
(D)The sentence is acceptable as it stands.

1. Nicotine is a natural stimulant found mainly in tobacco.

2. His unique drawings were unlike any other.

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3. The teacher told the students that they will have to burn the midnight oil in
order to succeed in their examination.

4. Us workers should be given a month leave every year.

5. She took his photo without him knowing.

6. One should build in one’s youth to reap a harvest of achievement in

maturity.

7. The house roof was triangular in shape and green in colour.

8. Travelling under those conditions was difficult.

9. Jane, with her cousins Annie and Martha, plan to go to the park.

10.That restaurant was the cleaner of the five that they visited.

11.The pedestrian was killed in a fatal accident.

12.The team put their hands to the plough and sailed steadily to high waters of
progress.

13.They objected you coming to visit them.

14.The members of the group have diverse opinions.

15.The guard said he did not hear nothing on the night of the robbery.

16.The children’s mother warned them but her words fell on deaf ears.

17.One of the reasons for his lateness are the traffic on the roadways.

18.Hanging on her ears he saw her beautiful earring.

19.The students were happy with their final conclusion of the experiment.

20.If you should accomplish your goals you need to stop poking your nose into
other people’s affairs.