Episode 8 — Aptitude and Reasoning / 8.26 — Error Identification
8.26.b -- Tips and Common Patterns: Error Identification
1. The Error-Spotting Checklist
Use this checklist in order when reading each sentence. It covers the errors from most common to least common.
Step 1: Check Subject-Verb Agreement
- Find the subject (ignore phrases between subject and verb).
- Is the subject singular or plural?
- Does the verb match?
Trigger words: each, every, neither, either, one of, a number of, the number of, collective nouns.
Step 2: Check Tense Consistency
- What tense is the sentence in?
- Are all verbs in the same tense (unless a time shift is justified)?
- Is "since" paired with present/past perfect?
- Is the conditional structure correct?
Trigger words: since, for, before, after, when, while, if, had, has, have.
Step 3: Check Pronouns
- Does every pronoun have a clear antecedent?
- Does the pronoun agree in number and gender with its antecedent?
- Is the correct case used (subject/object/possessive)?
Trigger words: he/him, she/her, they/them, it/its, who/whom, myself/himself.
Step 4: Check Articles
- Is "a" used before a consonant sound and "an" before a vowel sound?
- Is "the" used for specific/unique items?
- Is any article used unnecessarily (before abstract nouns, sports, languages)?
Trigger words: a, an, the -- or their absence.
Step 5: Check Prepositions
- Is the correct preposition used with the verb/adjective?
- Watch for transitive verbs that need no preposition (discuss, comprise, reach, enter).
Trigger verbs: consist of, depend on, prefer to, superior to, discuss (no prep), comprise (no prep).
Step 6: Check Parallelism
- Are list items in the same grammatical form?
- Do correlative conjunctions (not only...but also, either...or) connect parallel structures?
Step 7: Check Modifiers
- Does the opening phrase modify the correct subject?
- Is "only," "nearly," "almost" placed next to the word it modifies?
Step 8: Check Redundancy
- Are any words repeated in meaning? (return back, revert back, repeat again)
Step 9: Check Commonly Confused Words
- affect/effect, fewer/less, its/it's, principal/principle, who's/whose, than/then
Step 10: Check Degree Errors
- No double comparatives (more taller).
- Absolute adjectives (unique, complete, perfect, unanimous) cannot be compared.
2. Most Frequent Error Types in Exams (Ranked)
Based on analysis of past papers from SSC, IBPS, SBI, and CAT:
| Rank | Error Type | Approximate Frequency | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subject-Verb Agreement | 25--30% | "Each of the students have passed." |
| 2 | Preposition Errors | 15--20% | "He discussed about the matter." |
| 3 | Tense Errors | 15--20% | "He is working here since 2010." |
| 4 | Article Errors | 10--15% | "He is a honest man." |
| 5 | Pronoun Errors | 8--10% | "Everyone must bring their books." |
| 6 | Parallelism | 5--8% | "She likes reading, to write, and dancing." |
| 7 | Redundancy | 5--7% | "Please revert back immediately." |
| 8 | Modifier Errors | 3--5% | "Walking quickly, the school was reached." |
| 9 | Confused Words | 3--5% | "The principal of gravity." |
| 10 | Comparative/Superlative | 2--3% | "He is more smarter than me." |
Strategy: If you master just the top 5 error types, you can correctly answer 75--85% of all error identification questions.
3. High-Frequency Traps in Exams
Trap 1: "Each" and "Every" with Plural Verbs
Examiners love placing "each" or "every" before a plural noun to trick you into using a plural verb.
Wrong: Each of the boys are present. Right: Each of the boys is present.
Trap 2: "One of the" with Wrong Verb or Wrong Noun Form
Wrong: One of the boy has come. Right: One of the boys has come. (Noun after "one of the" must be plural.)
Trap 3: "Since" with Present Continuous
Wrong: She is living here since 2020. Right: She has been living here since 2020.
Trap 4: "Discuss about" / "Comprise of" / "Reach to"
These verbs are transitive and take a direct object -- no preposition needed.
Wrong: Let us discuss about the plan. Right: Let us discuss the plan.
Trap 5: "Superior than" / "Inferior than" / "Prefer than"
These take "to," not "than."
Wrong: This product is superior than that one. Right: This product is superior to that one.
Trap 6: "Between you and I"
"Between" is a preposition; it takes the object form.
Wrong: Between you and I Right: Between you and me
Trap 7: Dangling Modifier with Wrong Subject
Wrong: Being a rainy day, we stayed indoors. Right: It being a rainy day, we stayed indoors. Or: Since it was a rainy day, we stayed indoors.
Trap 8: "No Error" Is a Valid Answer
About 10--15% of exam questions have no error. Do not force-find an error.
Tip: If you have checked all the rules and nothing seems wrong, confidently choose "No Error."
4. Speed Strategies
Strategy 1: Start with the Verb
Most errors are in the verb. Immediately identify the verb and check:
- Does it agree with the subject?
- Is the tense correct?
- Is the verb form correct?
Strategy 2: Scan for Trigger Words
Train your eyes to spot these immediately:
| Trigger Word | What to Check |
|---|---|
| each, every, neither, either | Singular verb required |
| since, for | Perfect tense required for "since" |
| one of the | Plural noun after "of the," singular verb |
| not only...but also | Parallelism |
| the number of / a number of | "The number" = singular, "A number" = plural |
| discuss, comprise, reach | No preposition after these |
| superior, inferior, prefer | Takes "to," not "than" |
| more / most + -er / -est | Double comparative/superlative error |
| return, revert, repeat | Check for "back" or "again" (redundancy) |
Strategy 3: Read the Sentence Aloud (Mentally)
Sometimes your ear catches errors that your eye misses. If a part sounds awkward or unusual, examine it closely.
Strategy 4: Check Each Part Independently
Do not read the sentence as a flowing whole. Read each underlined part separately and ask: "Is this grammatically correct on its own and in context?"
Strategy 5: Eliminate Correct Parts
If you are certain that parts (a) and (c) are correct, the error must be in (b) or (d). This narrows your choice.
5. Common Patterns by Exam
SSC CGL / CHSL Pattern
- Heavy focus on subject-verb agreement, articles, and prepositions.
- Sentences tend to be short and direct.
- "No Error" appears frequently (15--20% of questions).
IBPS / SBI PO Pattern
- Mix of subject-verb agreement, tense errors, and commonly confused words.
- Sentences are moderately long.
- Preposition-based errors are very common.
CAT / XAT Pattern
- More subtle errors: parallelism, modifier placement, idiomatic expressions.
- Sentences are longer and more complex.
- "No Error" questions are rarer but trickier.
6. Practice Approach
Week 1: Foundation
- Day 1--2: Study subject-verb agreement rules. Solve 10 questions focused on this.
- Day 3--4: Study tense rules. Solve 10 questions.
- Day 5--6: Study preposition rules. Solve 10 questions.
- Day 7: Mixed practice -- 15 questions covering all three.
Week 2: Expansion
- Day 1--2: Study article and pronoun rules. Solve 10 questions.
- Day 3--4: Study parallelism and modifier rules. Solve 10 questions.
- Day 5--6: Study redundancy and confused words. Solve 10 questions.
- Day 7: Mixed practice -- 20 questions covering all types.
Week 3 Onward: Speed Building
- Solve 15--20 mixed questions daily.
- Target: under 30 seconds per question.
- Track error types you get wrong most often and revise those rules.
7. "No Error" Decision Framework
Choose "No Error" only when:
- The subject and verb agree.
- The tense is consistent and appropriate.
- All pronouns have clear antecedents and correct case.
- Articles are correctly used (or correctly absent).
- Prepositions are correct.
- Parallel structures are maintained.
- Modifiers are correctly placed.
- No redundancy exists.
- No commonly confused words are misused.
- Degrees of comparison are correct.
If all 10 checks pass, choose "No Error" with confidence.
Golden Rule: The error is almost always in the part that "feels right" at first glance. Exam-makers design sentences so that the incorrect part sounds natural. Always verify with rules, not just instinct.