Many questions on the Writing and Language test focus on words—mainly transitions, verbs, and pronouns. While we will discuss a few grammar rules along the way, this chapter will boil these concepts down to three main terms: consistency, precision, and concision. With less minutiae to remember, you will be able to work through Words questions with confidence and ease.
Most of the questions you’ll see on the Writing and Language test have words changing in the answers. “Words” is a broad term, but most of the questions deal with three specific types of words: transitions, verbs, and pronouns. In order to figure out what’s being tested, you’ll want to stick with the basic approach from the previous chapter.
Check what’s changing in the answer choices and use POE.
Throughout this chapter, we talk a lot about certain parts of speech, but we don’t use a lot of grammar terms. That’s because we find that on the SAT, the correct answers across a lot of different parts of speech can be summed up more succinctly with three basic terms: consistency, precision, and concision.
You don’t need to know a ton of grammar if you can remember these three basic rules.
CONSISTENCY: Correct answers are consistent with the rest of the sentence and the passage.
PRECISION: Correct answers make the meaning of the sentence as precise as possible.
CONCISION: Barring other errors, correct answers are as concise as possible.
Let’s look at some examples of how to apply these concepts to transitions, verbs, and pronouns.
The term “English” seems, on the surface, to apply to just one language. On closer examination,
therefore, it refers to many different languages, the most obvious of which are the versions spoken within different English-speaking countries.
1. A) NO CHANGE
B) for example,
C) however,
D) moreover,
Here’s How to Crack It
First, as always, check what’s changing in the answer choices. In this case, transition words change. That means this question is testing transitions.
When you see transitions changing in the answer choices, look at the ideas that the transition word connects. The transition should be consistent with the relationship between those ideas. In this case, the two ideas are that English is just one language and that it is many different languages. These ideas contrast with each other, so you need a transition that indicates a contrast. Choices (A), (B), and (D) all indicate that ideas agree with each other, so get rid of them. Only (C) indicates a contrast, so that’s the only choice that is consistent with the ideas here.
Whenever transitions change in the answers, the first thing to figure out is whether the ideas being connected agree or contrast.
Take a look at another example.
Even within a single English-speaking country there are many different dialects of English. In the United States,
consequently, distinct regional dialects include those spoken in Boston, the Mid-Atlantic, Southern states, the Upper Midwest, and California.
2. A) NO CHANGE
B) additionally,
C) by contrast,
D) for instance,
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. The transitions change, so first establish whether the ideas agree or contrast. The first sentence is about the many different dialects, and the second sentence gives a list of distinct regional dialects. These ideas agree, so you want a same-direction transition. Eliminate (C) because it’s an opposite-direction transition.
Choices (A), (B), and (D) are all same-direction transitions, but they indicate different things. Use POE to choose the one that indicates the correct relationship. Consequently indicates a conclusion, which isn’t what the second sentence is here, so eliminate (A). Additionally indicates a new point is being introduced, which also isn’t the case here, so eliminate (B). For instance introduces an example, which is exactly what’s going on here. That means (D) is consistent with the ideas in these sentences.
After you eliminate transitions that indicate the wrong direction, use POE to get rid of the ones that don’t work in the particular context. Remember, with transitions, keep things consistent.
Here’s a list of some of the most common same-direction and opposite-direction transitions that appear on the SAT.
Same-Direction
For example
In addition
Likewise
Therefore
Thus
Similarly
Subsequently
Opposite-Direction
Conversely
Despite this
However
Instead
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
On the other hand
When you see transitions changing in the answer choices, first check whether the ideas being connected agree or disagree. Then, make sure the transition is
CONSISTENT with the relationship between the ideas.
The speakers of what has come to be known as Appalachian English
has used a form of English that few can explain.
3. A) NO CHANGE
B) uses
C) use
D) using
Here’s How to Crack It
First, as always, check what’s changing in the answer choices. In this case, the forms of the verb to use change. Therefore, because the verbs change, you know that the question is testing verbs.
When you see verbs changing in the answer choices, the first thing to check is the subject of the sentence. Is the verb consistent with the subject? In this case, it’s not. The subject of this sentence is speakers, which is plural. Therefore, (A) and (B) have to be eliminated, because both are singular verbs. Eliminate (D) because it makes the sentence incomplete. Only (C) works in this context.
Thus, when you see verbs changing in the answer choices, check the subject first. Subjects and verbs need to be consistent with each other.
Take a look at another.
Many scholars believe Appalachian pronunciation comes from Scots-Irish immigration, but some
theorizes that this dialect of English may be closer to what Londoners spoke in Elizabethan times.
4. A) NO CHANGE
B) theorized
C) have theorized
D) theorize
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. The verbs are changing. Remember from the previous question that whenever you see verbs changing, make sure the verb is consistent with the subject. Because the subject of this sentence is some, which is plural, you can eliminate (A), which is singular. Therefore, the verb in (A) is not consistent with the subject.
Then, because all of the other choices are consistent with the subject, make sure they are consistent with the other verbs. All the other verbs in this sentence—believe, comes, may be—are in the present tense, so the underlined verb should be as well, as it is in (D). Eliminate (B) and (C) because they’re both past tense. The correct answer is (D).
As you can see, verbs are all about consistency.
When you see verbs changing in the answer choices, make sure those verbs are
CONSISTENT with their subjects
CONSISTENT with other verbs in the sentence and surrounding sentences
Let’s try one that has a little bit of everything.
Trying to understand these changes
demonstrate that although we all technically speak English, we speak very different languages indeed.
5. A) NO CHANGE
B) demonstrate that although we all technically spoke English, we speak
C) demonstrates that although we all technically speak English, we might have been speaking
D) demonstrates that although we all technically speak English, we speak
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. It looks like lots of verbs!
First, determine whether demonstrate or demonstrates is consistent with the subject. That subject is Trying, which is singular, thus eliminating (A) and (B).
Then, you have to choose between speak and might have been speaking. Since both of these are consistent with the subject we, pick the one that is most consistent with other verbs. The only other verbs are demonstrates and speak, both of which are in the present tense and don’t use the odd might have been form. Therefore, eliminate (C) because it isn’t consistent. The correct answer is (D).
Speakers of Appalachian English and
there families communicate in a way that shows just how influential diversity can be on the language we speak.
6. A) NO CHANGE
B) its family communicates
C) their families communicate
D) it’s family communicates
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answers. Everything changes: the pronoun, family versus families, and communicate versus communicates. Start with the pronoun. A pronoun must be consistent with the noun it refers to, so identify that noun. In this case, the pronoun refers to speakers, which is plural, so the underlined pronoun also has to be plural. Eliminate (B) and (D) because its and it’s are both singular.
Their and there both sound the same, but there indicates a location, which doesn’t work here. Eliminate (A). Their is a possessive pronoun that indicates that the families belong to the speakers, so (C) is the best choice.
As with transitions and verbs, consistency is the first thing to check when pronouns change in the answer choices.
Take a look at another pronoun question.
Scholars today are not sure whether Appalachian English belongs to the category of European dialects or American dialects. Really,
most are collections of many influences, but the Appalachian dialect seems unique.
7. A) NO CHANGE
B) most of them
C) most of those
D) most American dialects
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. Choices (B) and (C) have pronouns, so find the noun that the pronoun refers back to. The previous sentence mentions European dialects and American dialects, but the pronouns (or the word most in (A)) could refer to either or both. If it’s at all unclear what a pronoun refers to on the SAT, you can’t use one! So eliminate (A), (B), and (C) because the meaning of the sentence isn’t precise with any of those options. Choice (D) makes it absolutely clear what most refers to, so that’s the best choice.
When you see pronouns changing in the answer choices, make sure the pronouns:
are CONSISTENT with the nouns the refer to
are as PRECISE as possible; if they could refer to more than one thing, eliminate them!
Another way that the SAT tests the idea of precision is with vocabulary. If you’ve heard stories from your parents or older siblings about memorizing obscure SAT vocabulary words, don’t worry—the way that the SAT tests vocabulary these days isn’t with difficult words. Instead, it’s usually with more common words that are synonyms of each other but that don’t all work in the same context. Your job is to find the word that gives the most precise meaning in context.
Take a look at this example.
The Appalachian region’s
solitude from major urban centers has led to some hypotheses that its dialect has remained intact from the days of its earliest settlers.
8. A) NO CHANGE
B) withdrawal
C) isolation
D) aloneness
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. In this case, it’s vocabulary. All the words are similar in meaning, so look for the one that’s most consistent with the other ideas in the sentence and that gives the most precise meaning in context. Both solitude and aloneness describe the state of being alone, which doesn’t work in this context with from major urban centers, so eliminate (A) and (D).
Withdrawal suggests an action, which also doesn’t make sense here—a region can’t withdraw from someplace. Eliminate (B). Isolation works here—it means that the region is removed or separated from the big cities. So (C) gives the most precise meaning in context.
When you see vocabulary changing in the answer choices, make sure the word you choose
is CONSISTENT with the ideas in the sentence
provides the most PRECISE meaning in context
Ever hear the saying “less is more”? Concision has its advantages. For example, if you were to ask for directions, which answer would you rather receive?
Turn right at Main Street and walk four blocks.
or
Since this street, Elm Street, is facing in a northerly direction, and your destination is due northeast, go east when you arrive at the intersection of Elm and Main. Going east will entail making a right turn in quite that easterly direction. After having made this turn and arrived on the perpendicular street…
The first one, obviously.
That’s because concision is key when you want to communicate meaning. As long as the sentence is otherwise consistent and precise, the correct answer is typically the shortest one.
Let’s see an example.
It is precisely this isolation that has led many scholars to believe that Appalachian English is
alike and similar to the English spoken in Shakespeare’s time.
9. A) NO CHANGE
B) similar
C) likely similar
D) similarly alike
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. In this case, the word similar appears in all the answer choices, and in some it is paired with the word alike. Typically, if you see a list of answer choices wherein one answer is short and the rest mean the same thing but are longer, the question is testing concision.
What, after all, is the difference between the words similar and alike? There isn’t one, so there’s no use in saying both of them, as in (A), or pairing them awkwardly, as in (D). In fact, the shortest answer choice, (B), does everything the other choices do, but it does so in the fewest words. Therefore, (B) is the correct answer.
Let’s see one more.
Whatever the case may be, Appalachian is a fascinating dialect, and we can only hope that it persists against the onslaught of mass media.
10. A) NO CHANGE
B) In the end, Appalachian
C) All things considered, Appalachian
D) Appalachian
Here’s How to Crack It
As always, check what’s changing in the answer choices. The changes could be summed up like this: there’s a bunch of stuff before the word Appalachian. Does any of that stuff contribute in a significant way to the sentence? No. Does the word Appalachian alone help the sentence to fulfill its basic purpose? Yes. Therefore, the correct answer is (D).
As we have seen in this chapter, when SAT is testing words (any time the words are changing in the answer choices), make sure that those words are
Consistent—Verbs, nouns, and pronouns should agree within sentences and passages.
Precise—The writing should communicate specific ideas and events.
Concise—When everything else is correct, the shortest answer choice is correct.
Answers can be found on this page.
Time: 7–8 minutes
War and Peace (1869) is
Czech novelist Milan Kundera cited Tolstoy as the last novelist who
The very fact that such an achievement is impossible now shows us just how much things have changed since Tolstoy’s death in 1910. This was the year,
War and Peace is the great document of that pre-1910 era, of a moment when the great scientists were also the
you may become, you can always stand to be reminded that there is a world outside of our immediate circle.
1. D
Notice that the length of the phrase is changing in the answer choices. Some of the answer choices have extra words, which indicates that the question is testing concision. Because the words famous and well-known are synonyms, it would be redundant to use both. Choose the most concise answer, which eliminates this redundancy. Choice (D) is correct.
2. B
Since the verb is changing in the answer choices, the question is testing subject-verb agreement. First, find the subject. Readers is the subject of the sentence, which is plural. The verb will need to be consistent with that subject. Eliminate (A). The remaining options are all plural, but only (B) is concise and consistent with the meaning of the sentence, which makes it the correct answer.
3. B
When the use of pronouns changes in the answer choices, the question is usually testing precision. It is unclear who they (A), many of them (C), and some (D) are. Only (B) precisely identifies readers as the subject.
4. D
Verbs change in the answer choices, so this questions tests consistency of verbs. The subject of the verb is Tolstoy, which is singular, so the underlined verb should also be singular. Eliminate (C) because it’s plural. The other verb in the sentence, identified, is in past tense, so the underlined verb should also be in past tense. Eliminate (B) because it’s in future tense. There’s no reason for the longer verb in (A), so eliminate (A) as well. The correct answer is (D).
5. B
Vocabulary changes in the answer choices, so this question tests precision of word choice. Look for a word with a definition that is consistent with the other ideas in the sentence. The words neighboring, touching, and bordering, all mean “physically next to.” The sentence is discussing the ideas in Tolstoy’s books, which can’t be “physically next to” each other, so eliminate (A), (C), and (D). Alongside can mean “with” in a more abstract sense, which works in this context. The correct answer is (B).
6. A
Notice that verb tense changes in the answer choices. The subject of the sentence is Shakespeare, a playwright from the past. Therefore, to remain consistent with the sentence, use past tense. Eliminate (B), (C), and (D) because they use verbs in the present tense. Choice (A) is correct.
7. A
Transitions change in the answer choices, so this question tests consistency. The previous sentence says that Tolstoy’s novels show the fruits of his vast study, and this sentence discusses what is conceivable about what Tolstoy might have learned. These ideas agree with each other, so eliminate (B), (C), and (D) because they all have contrasting transitions. The correct answer is (A).
8. C
Verbs change in the answer choices, so this question tests consistency of verbs. The subject of the verb is a man, which is singular, so the underlined verb should also be singular. Eliminate (B) and (D) because they are both plural. The sentence is talking about what Tolstoy may have done, so the verb should be in the past tense. Eliminate (A) because it’s present tense. The correct answer is (C).
9. B
Transitions change in the answer choices, so this question tests consistency. The previous sentence discusses how much things have changed since Tolstoy’s death in 1910, and this sentence gives a quote from Virginia Woolf that says that human character changed in that same year. These ideas agree with each other, so eliminate (A) and (D) because they have contrasting transitions. The second sentence is not a conclusion based on the first sentence, so eliminate (C). The correct answer is (B).
10. D
The length of the phrase changes in the answer choices, and there is also the option to DELETE the underlined portion, so this question tests concision. The underlined phrase describes philosophers, who are already described as great, so adding best or famous doesn’t make the sentence more precise. The correct answer is (D).
11. C
Pronouns change in the answer choices, so this question tests pronoun consistency. A pronoun should be consistent with the noun it refers to. In this case, the noun the underlined pronouns refer to is another pronoun in the sentence, our. Our is first-person plural, so the underlined pronoun should also be first-person plural. Eliminate (A), (B), and (D) because neither you nor one is consistent with our. We is consistent with our, so the correct answer is (C).
On Writing and Language questions, the first step is always to check what’s changing in the answer choices and then use POE.
The correct answers across many different parts of speech can be summed up succinctly with three basic terms: consistency, precision, and concision. You don’t need to know a ton of grammar if you can remember these three basic rules:
Correct answers are consistent with the rest of the sentence and the passage.
Correct answers are as precise as possible.
Barring other errors, correct answers are as concise as possible.
When you see transitions changing in the answer choices, make sure those transitions are consistent with the ideas they connect.
When you see verbs changing in the answer choices, make sure those verbs are consistent with their subjects as well as with other verbs in the sentence and surrounding sentences.
When the nouns are changing in the answer choices, make sure those nouns are consistent with the other nouns in the sentence and the paragraph.
When you see vocabulary changing in the answer choices, choose the word that is consistent with the other ideas in the sentence and that gives the most precise meaning in context.
Concision is key when you want to communicate meaning. As long as the sentence is consistent and precise, the correct answer will almost always be the shortest.