Editing Exercises
Q. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with its correction in the space provided.
While evening falls, the street gets incredibly 1. _________ _________
crowded. While music spills away from the 2. _________ _________
houses, mouth-watering aroma steam out 3. _________ _________
from the eateries that cater upon the taste buds 4. _________ _________
of all nationalities. These streets of Istanbul have some reason or season to celebrate. 5. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- while – as
- away – out
- steam – steams
- upon – to
- some – no
Q. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with its correction in the space provided.
Kitty is a lazy Tabby cat. It’s, noisy snore 1. _________ _________
have often left the guests searching for 2. _________ _________
the that person which made such 3. _________ _________
earth-shattering noise. Trip over the tall 4. _________ _________
column in books while trying to catch the big white lizard is Tabby’s beloved pastime. 5. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- It’s – Its
- have – has
- which – who
- Trip – Tripping
- in – of
Q. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with its correction in the space provided.
The sarpanch was a chief guest. The sweets 1. _________ _________
were distributed among the two teams 2. _________ _________
who had reached the finals. Rural sports 3. _________ _________
events are promising in terms of identify 4. _________ _________
sports talents. The government may hold such 5. _________ _________
events to encourage the rural children and youth.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- a – the
- among – between
- who – which
- identify – identifying
- may – can
Q. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with its correction in the space provided.
Memories often leaves craving for the past. 1. _________ _________
These were beautiful days when ‘rainy day’ 2. _________ _________
was a ‘officially unofficial’ holiday for us. 3. _________ _________
Books tucked into safely in our ragged 4. _________ _________
rucksacks, we plunge into an ocean of chitter chatter. 5. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- leaves – leave
- These – Those
- a – an
- into – away
- plunge- plunged
Q. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with its correction in the space provided.
The tingling sensation and numbness in 1. _________ _________
the hand are not something to be ignored 2. _________ _________
for an aftermath of typing for long hours. 3. _________ _________
You should be in the initial stage of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 4. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- The – A
- are – is
- for – as
- should – may
Q. There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the answer sheet as given below:
My day begins on five o’clock in the morning. 1. _________ _________
It has been so since the last forty years 2. _________ _________
except for the two years which I was 3. _________ _________
very ill. I wake up at the sound of an aeroplane 4. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- on – at
- since – for
- which – when
- wake – woke
Q. There is an error in each line. Write the error and the correction in the answer sheet as given below:
Education is a process, which was deemed to 1. _________ _________
develop desirable qualities with people. 2. _________ _________
The need of this quality differs by person to 3. _________ _________
person, place to place but time to time. 4. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- was – is
- with – in
- by – from
- but – and
Q. There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the answer sheet as given below:
He start to complain about this wicked world, 1. _________ _________
but is interrupted by a knock at the door. 2. _________ _________
A girl came in and put an envelope on his desk. 3. _________ _________
It contains five hundred rupees.‘‘ I found this 4. _________ _________
outside this gentlemen’s room, ‘‘she said.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- start – started
- is – was
- puts – put
- contains – contained
Q. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank is given.
Could you do something for me?
I have left mine blue bag on the 1. _________ _________
table at the drawing room 2. _________ _________
Please go till my house tomorrow and 3. _________ _________
got it from my mother. 4. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- mine -my
- at – in
- till – to
- got – get
Q. There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the answer sheet as given below:
India is very fortunate that it have many 1. _________ _________
rivers. Their famous rivers are Sutlej, 2. _________ _________
Ganga, Yamuna and Narmada. Some of the river like Ganga, which 3. _________ _________
originated from the Himalayas, flow 4. _________ _________
throughout the year.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- have – has
- Their – The
- river – rivers
- originated – originate
Q. There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the answer sheet as given below:
Flowers transform into fruits at a process 1. _________ _________
called fertilization. Although that process 2. _________ _________
is most similar in all the plants, the presence 3. _________ _________
of reproductive organ in flowers and the 4. _________ _________
pollination process may vary.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- at – in
- that – this
- most – mostly
- organ – organs
Q. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each numbered line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct number.
When Charles could not get work,
he wander about the city streets. 1. _________ _________
He found food and warmth wherever he can. 2. _________ _________
Sometimes, he was sent away to a orphanage 3. _________ _________
that is a boarding school for children 4. _________ _________
who had no parents.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- wander – wandered
- can – went
- a – an
- a – the
Q. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line against which a blank is given. Write the incorrect word and correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.
It is bad to have food stuck between your teeth
for a long time. This is because food attract germs and 1. _________ _________
germs produce acid. This hurts our teeth and gums. 2. _________ _________
Floss helps to remove the food 3. _________ _________
that gets stuck between your teeth. 4. _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- attract – attracts
- our – your
- Floss – Flossing
- teeth – teeth
Q. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line against which a blank is given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank.
Earlier this month, the finals of
a first Kabbadi World Cup for women 1. _________ _________
saw India defeat Iran. The Patna crowds 2. _________ _________
cheered, as team India pulled, tugged and tackle 3. _________ _________
team Iran to a nail–biting finish. Yet, what remain 4. _________ _________
fresh in memory is the sight of seven
Iranian women covered from head to toe playing
excellent kabaddi.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- a – the
- crowds – crowd
- tackle – tackled
- remain – remains
Q. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction as given in the example against the correct blank number in your answer sheet.
It has been rightly said that the
choice of books are as important as 1. _________ _________
the choice of friends. Books that is 2. _________ _________
selected are friends of a lifetime. 3. _________ _________
I know that it is no possible to 4. _________ _________
read all the books on a particular subject.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- are – is
- is – are
- of – for
- no – not
Q. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction as given in the example against the correct blank number in your answer sheet.
Our age is a different one.
It is a age of doubt and 1. _________ _________
uncertainty. We could no longer 2. _________ _________
accept much of the ancient belief 3. _________ _________
and customs. We have no more faithful 4. _________ _________
in them.
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- a – an
- could – can
- belief – beliefs
- faithful – faith
Q. There is an error in each line. Underline the incorrect word and write the correct word in the blank given.
I entred the manager’s office and sat down. (1) _________ _________
I have just lost five hundred rupees and I felt very upset. (2) _________ __________
“I leave the money in my desk,” I said, (3) _________ _________
“and it is not there now”. The manger was very sympathetic but he can do nothing. (4) _________ _________
“Everyone loses money theses days,” (5) _________ _________
he said. He start to complain about this wicked world, (6) _________ ________
but is interrupted by a knock at the door. (7) _________ _________
Answer (Incorrect – Correct)
- entred – entered
- have – had
- leave – left
- can – could
- theses – these
- start – started
- is – was
Q. Use capital letters, full-stops, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph. Rewrite the paragraph in the space given below.
My little 10 years daughter Sarah was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. she came home jumping up and down one beautiful spring day to tell me that she had competed in “field day”- that’s where they have lots of races and other competitive events because of her leg support my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah i wanted to tell some hard facts of life not letting this to get her down But, before I could get my word out, she said, Daddy, I won two of the races! I couldn’t believe that! and then Sarah came out with a declaration, I had an advantage. Ah, i knew it. i thought she must have been given a head start, some kind of physical advantage. but again, before I could say anything, she said, Daddy, i didn’t get a head start… my advantage was that i didn’t give in i had to try harder! That’s my Sarah.
Answer
My little 10 years daughter Sarah was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home jumping up and down one beautiful spring day to tell me that she had competed in “field day”- that’s where they have lots of races and other competitive events because of her leg support. My mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah. I wanted to tell some hard facts of life, not letting this to get her down. But, before I could get my word out, she said, “Daddy, I won two of the races!” I couldn’t believe that! And then, Sarah came out with a declaration, “I had an advantage.” “Ah, I knew it.” I thought she must have been given a head start, some kind of physical advantage. But again, before I could say anything, she said, “Daddy, I didn’t get a head start… my advantage was that I didn’t give in. I had to try harder!” That’s my Sarah.
Q. Some of the prepositions are incorrectly used in the following story. Correct them and read the story aloud. Then rewrite the story in the space given below.
THE DOG AND HIS BONE
A hungry dog while searching about food found a bone. He picked it out and held it tightly in his mouth and ran out into the woods, to a safe place to enjoy it in ease. He growled and frowned at anyone who attempted to take it over. He chewed the bone for a very long time, and this made him quite thirsty. He came to a stream to quench his thirst. He trotted around the footbridge and happened to glance into the water. He saw his own reflection in the water. Thinking it was another dog with a bigger bone, he growled and scowled towards it. The reflection growled and scowled back. Being greedy by nature, he wanted that bone too. He snapped his sharp teeth at the image on the water. He barked at the other dog, hoping to scare him into giving that bone. His own big bone fell with a splash, went over of sight, the moment he opened his mouth to bite!
Answer
THE DOG AND HIS BONE
A hungry dog while searching for food found a bone. He picked it up and held it tightly in his mouth and ran out of the woods, to a safe place to enjoy it at ease. He growled and frowned at anyone who attempted to take it over. He chewed the bone for a very long time, and this made him quite thirsty. He came to a stream to quench his thirst. He trotted around the footbridge and happened to glance into the water. He saw his own reflection in the water. Thinking it was another dog with a bigger bone, he growled and scowled at it. The reflection growled and scowled back. Being greedy by nature, he wanted that bone too. He snapped his sharp teeth at the image in the water. He barked at the other dog, hoping to scare him for giving that bone. His own big bone fell with a splash, went out of sight, the moment he opened his mouth to bite!