NUM8ERS SAT Writing and Language: Deep Dive into Conventions of Usage

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on Conventions of Usage for the SAT Writing and Language section! If you’re preparing for the SAT and aiming to master the Writing and Language section, you’re in the right place. This resource will take you through the critical aspects of Conventions of Usage, which is a key component of the Standard English Conventions tested on the SAT.

Before diving into Conventions of Usage, it’s essential to have a good understanding of Sentence Structure, which is another fundamental element of this section. Now, let’s get started with a deep dive into Conventions of Usage, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and consistency in your writing.

Overview of Conventions of Usage in SAT Writing and Language

The SAT Writing and Language section is more technical compared to the other language sections of the SAT. This section focuses on standard usage practices, which are crucial for ensuring that your writing is clear and consistent. We’ll explore the key areas that the College Board emphasizes, offering detailed explanations and practice questions to help you grasp these concepts effectively.

1. Pronoun Clarity

What the College Board Says: Recognizing and correcting ambiguous or vague pronouns.

Understanding Pronoun Clarity: Pronoun clarity is all about ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to the correct nouns in a sentence. Ambiguous or vague pronouns can make sentences confusing because the reader might not know what the pronoun is referring to.

Example of Clear Pronoun Use:

• Clear: “Maria finished her homework before going to bed.”
• Ambiguous: “She finished her homework before going to bed.” (Who is “she”?)

Practice Question:

• Original Sentence: After the meeting, Sarah told Emily that she was late.
• Options:
  • (A) NO CHANGE
  • (B) Emily was
  • (C) Sarah was
  • (D) they were

Correct Answer: (C) Sarah was. This change clarifies that it was Sarah who was late, not Emily.

Key Takeaway: When using pronouns, ensure that it’s clear which noun the pronoun is referring to. This avoids confusion and makes your writing clearer.

2. Possessive Determiners

What the College Board Says: Distinguishing between possessive determiners (its, your, their), contractions (it’s, you’re, they’re), and adverbs (there).

Understanding Possessive Determiners: Possessive determiners indicate ownership, while contractions are shortened forms of words, and adverbs often indicate location or condition.

Examples of Possessive Determiners:

• Its: “The cat chased its tail.”
• It’s: “It’s going to rain today.” (It’s is a contraction of “it is.”)
• Their: “The students presented their projects.”
• They’re: “They’re going to the museum.” (They’re is a contraction of “they are.”)
• There: “There is a book on the table.”

Practice Question:

• Original Sentence: The dog wagged it’s tail as its owner approached.
• Options:
  • (A) NO CHANGE
  • (B) its
  • (C) their
  • (D) there

Correct Answer: (B) its. “Its” is the correct possessive determiner referring to the dog’s tail.

Key Takeaway: Understand the difference between possessive determiners, contractions, and adverbs to avoid common mistakes in your writing.

3. Agreement (Subject-Verb and Pronoun-Antecedent)

What the College Board Says: Ensuring agreement between subject and verb, and between pronoun and antecedent.

Understanding Agreement: Agreement in grammar refers to matching the correct form of the verb with the subject and ensuring pronouns correctly match their antecedents (the nouns they replace).

Subject-Verb Agreement:

• Correct: “The dog barks.”
• Incorrect: “The dog bark.”

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement:

• Correct: “The students finished their homework.”
• Incorrect: “The students finished his homework.”

Practice Question:

• Original Sentence: The committee make their decision based on the evidence presented.
• Options:
  • (A) NO CHANGE
  • (B) makes its decision
  • (C) make its decision
  • (D) makes their decision

Correct Answer: (B) makes its decision. “Committee” is a singular noun, so it should be paired with the singular verb “makes” and the singular pronoun “its.”

Key Takeaway: Ensure that subjects and verbs agree in number and that pronouns correctly match their antecedents to avoid grammatical errors.

4. Frequently Confused Words

What the College Board Says: Distinguishing between words that are commonly mistaken for one another (e.g., affect and effect).

Understanding Frequently Confused Words: The English language has many words that sound alike but have different meanings. It’s important to use the correct word based on the context.

Examples of Frequently Confused Words:

• Affect vs. Effect:
  • “Affect” is usually a verb meaning “to influence.”
  • “Effect” is usually a noun meaning “a result.”
• Than vs. Then:
  • “Than” is used for comparisons.
  • “Then” is used to indicate time or sequence.

Practice Question:

• Original Sentence: The new policy had a positive affect on employee productivity.
• Options:
  • (A) NO CHANGE
  • (B) effect
  • (C) affectation
  • (D) effects

Correct Answer: (B) effect. “Effect” is the correct word because it refers to the result of the new policy.

Key Takeaway: Pay close attention to word usage to ensure that you are using the correct word for the context.

5. Logical Comparison

What the College Board Says: Recognizing and correcting cases in which unlike terms are compared.

Understanding Logical Comparison: Logical comparisons require that you compare similar items or ideas. When comparing two things, ensure that they are logically comparable.

Examples of Logical Comparison:

• Correct: “Her skills are better than those of her peers.”
• Incorrect: “Her skills are better than her peers.”

Practice Question:

• Original Sentence: The performance of the violinist was better than the other musicians.
• Options:
  • (A) NO CHANGE
  • (B) better than those of the other musicians
  • (C) better than that of the other musicians
  • (D) better than the other musicians’

Correct Answer: (B) better than those of the other musicians. This corrects the comparison by ensuring that “skills” is compared with “those” (the skills of the other musicians), rather than with the musicians themselves.

Key Takeaway: Ensure that you compare similar items or ideas to maintain logical consistency in your writing.

6. Conventional Expression

What the College Board Says: Recognizing and correcting cases in which language fails to follow conventional practice.

Understanding Conventional Expression: Some phrases and expressions in English follow specific conventions that may not always align with typical grammatical rules. These expressions need to be used correctly in context.

Examples of Conventional Expressions:

• Neither… nor: “Neither the teacher nor the students were present.”
• Either… or: “You can either walk or take the bus.”
• Both… and: “She is both a singer and a songwriter.”

Practice Question:

• Original Sentence: The project will be completed by either John or I.
• Options:
  • (A) NO CHANGE
  • (B) me
  • (C) myself
  • (D) John or me

Correct Answer: (D) John or me. “Me” is the correct pronoun to use after “either” and “or” in this context.

Key Takeaway: Understand and apply conventional expressions correctly to avoid awkward or incorrect phrasing in your writing.

Conclusion: Mastering Conventions of Usage for the SAT

Mastering Conventions of Usage is crucial for success in the SAT Writing and Language section. By understanding and practicing the concepts of pronoun clarity, possessive determiners, subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement, frequently confused words, logical comparison, and conventional expression, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle this section of the exam.

Take your time to practice these concepts with real SAT questions and ensure that you fully understand each area. As you continue to refine your skills, you’ll gain the confidence needed to excel in the SAT Writing and Language section.

Once you feel comfortable with Conventions of Usage, move on to mastering the Conventions of Punctuation, the final piece of the SAT Standard English Conventions. With dedication and practice, you’re well on your way to achieving a high score on the SAT. Good luck!

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