Introduction
There are rules to follow to make a proper sentence in English. You learn what words must be used to make a sentence. You learn how to add words to make sentences express more detail. You learn when each type of word can and cannot be used. It is not easy to understand all the rules, or to remember them all. So mistakes are sometimes made when creating sentences.
One common type of error is to use too many words. The extra word may be an article, a verb, a pronoun, a preposition, an adjective, a conjunction, or an entire phrase. Using words with the same meaning in one sentence is another kind of unnecessary word error. Sometimes a sentence can be written with less words if the word order is changed.
In this section, you will need to use all of your knowledge of grammar. Read through the question. Decide if each answer choice MUST be in that sentence to make it work.
Learning Hint:
Read the sentence out loud and pay attention to how the sentence sounds. If a phrase sounds awkward or incorrect, check to see if there are extra words that are not needed.
Too many words with the same meaning used:
Incorrect: He is nearly almost finished with the financial statement.
Correct: He is nearly finished with the financial statement.
Correct: He is almost finished with the financial statement.
Incorrect: Despite leaving 10 minutes early, the worker arrived late nonetheless.
Correct: Despite leaving 10 minutes early, the worker arrived late.
Correct: Leaving 10 minutes early, the worker nonetheless arrived late.
Extra words:
Incorrect: The secretary was annoyed when the copier broke on down.
Correct: The secretary was annoyed when the copier broke down.
The preposition on is not used in the verb form broke down.
Incorrect: I will have buy a new car. (Mixed up verb tense formation.)
Correct: I will buy a new car. (Future tense of irregular verb buy is will buy.)
Correct: I will have bought a new car. (Future perfect form: will have + verbs past participle.)
Incorrect: The postman delivers a mail in the morning.
Correct: The postman delivers mail in the morning.
The indefinite article a is not used in front of a non-count noun.
Incorrect: My manager she has some contracts for me to sign.
Correct: My manager has some contracts for me to sign.
Right after a noun, do not also use a pronoun that replaces the noun.
Unnecessary phrase:
Simple, direct sentences are better than complicated, indirect ones.
Incorrect: It was a project which was very complex in structure and very ambitious in nature.
Correct: The project was complex and ambitious.