Writing Error Identification Flashcards

Identify the error: 'The officer, along with her partner, were dispatched to the scene of the accident on Fifth Street.'

Answer: 'were' should be 'was'

The subject is 'the officer' (singular). 'Along with her partner' is parenthetical and does not change the subject.

Which sentence contains an apostrophe error?

Answer: The departments' policy requires body cameras for all officers.

'Departments'' implies multiple departments. Context suggests one department: 'department's.'

Find the error: 'The evidence was laying on the ground when the first officer arrived.'

Answer: 'laying' should be 'lying'

'Laying' requires a direct object. 'Lying' means resting in a position. The evidence was lying on the ground.

Identify the error: 'Neither the fingerprint analysis nor the DNA results was conclusive enough to identify the perpetrator.'

Answer: 'was' should be 'were'

With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Results' is plural, so 'were' is correct.

Which sentence has a pronoun reference error?

Answer: The sergeant told the officer that his report needed revision, but he wasn't sure which report.

In option D, 'he' and 'his' could refer to either the sergeant or the officer.

Find the error: 'The three suspects confessed independently, which the detective felt strongly indicated that the crime was committed by they.'

Answer: 'by they' should be 'by them'

'By' is a preposition requiring the objective pronoun 'them,' not subjective 'they.'