Error Spotting
Error Spotting questions test the ability to identify grammatical, vocabulary, or usage errors in a sentence. A sentence is usually divided into parts, and one part may contain a mistake. The task is to find the incorrect portion and correct it.
Types of Errors in Error Spotting
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject–Verb Agreement Errors | Verb does not match subject in number or person. | She go to school daily. → She goes to school daily. |
| Tense Errors | Wrong tense usage compared to context. | He will went yesterday. → He went yesterday. |
| Article Errors | Wrong or missing use of a/an/the. | He is a honest man. → He is an honest man. |
| Preposition Errors | Incorrect preposition choice. | She is good in math. → She is good at math. |
| Pronoun Errors | Wrong case or agreement with antecedent. | Everyone should do their duty. → Everyone should do his/her duty. |
| Word Choice Errors | Incorrect word usage (often confused words). | He is an intelligent than his brother. → He is more intelligent than his brother. |
| Redundancy Errors | Unnecessary repetition of meaning. | He returned back home. → He returned home. |
How to Solve Error Spotting Questions
- Read the sentence fully first: Understand the context.
- Check one rule at a time: Subject–verb, tense, articles, prepositions, etc.
- Identify the most obvious error: Many questions test common traps.
- Apply elimination: Rule out grammatically correct parts.
- Confirm correction: Ensure the revised sentence is smooth and logical.
Conceptual Tips and Common Mistakes
- Don’t trust your ear only: Spoken English often skips grammar rules that written English requires.
- Pay attention to modifiers and comparisons: Errors often hide in degree words (better vs more better).
- Articles and prepositions are common traps: They account for many exam questions.
- Check consistency: Tense and pronouns must remain consistent throughout.
Examples
Example 1 — Subject–Verb Agreement
Sentence: She go to school daily.
Correction: She goes to school daily.
Example 2 — Tense Error
Sentence: He will went yesterday.
Correction: He went yesterday.
Example 3 — Preposition Error
Sentence: She is good in math.
Correction: She is good at math.
Example 4 — Redundancy Error
Sentence: He returned back home.
Correction: He returned home.