Editing

Introduction

This tests the student's skill in detecting mistakes. Having acquired comprehensive knowledge of English grammar, he should be able to apply his skills effectively in the following exercises.

Example

The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which there is a blank. Underline each error and write your correction in the space provided.

I entered the manager's office and sat down.

I have just lost five hundred rupees and I felt very upset. a) ______

"I leave the money in my desk," I said, b) ______

"and it is not there now". The manager was very sympathetic

but he can do nothing. "Everyone loses money these days", c) ______

he said, He start to complain about this wicked world, d) ______

but is interrupted by a knock at the door. e) ______

A girl came in and puts an envelope on his desk. f) ______

It contains five hundred rupees. "I found this g) ______

outside this gentleman's room," she said.

"Well! I say to the manager, "there is still some h) ______

honesty in this world !"

Suggested answer:

I entered the manager's office and sat down.

I have just lost five hundred rupees and I felt very upset. a) had

"I leave the money in my desk," I said, b) left

"and it is not there now". The manager was very sympathetic

but he can do nothing. "Everyone loses money these days", c) could

he said, He start to complain about this wicked world, d) started

but is interrupted by a knock at the door. e) was

A girl came in and puts an envelope on his desk. f) put

It contains five hundred rupees. "I found this g) contained

outside this gentleman's room," she said.

"Well! I say to the manager, "there is still some h) said

honesty in this world !"

Example

The following passage is incomplete. One word has been omitted in every line against which there is a blank. Indicate the place where the word has to be inserted with a / and write the word in the space provided.

Parmesh and his friends planning a trip a) _____

during the summer vacations. While all of them b) _____

keen to get away from the heat, none them were able to suggest which place to visit. c) _____

It only draw of lots which could finally decide the matter. d) _____

They decided on Ooty as it neither too far away nor too crowded.

e) _____

The date of departure and the duration of their stay still to be decided. f) _____

The announcement of their final exam date sheet still two weeks away. g) _____

Until then, each of them resolved h) _____

collect information about hill station. i) _____

Suggested answer:

Parmesh and his friends / planning a trip a) were

during the summer vacations. While all of them / b) were

keen to get away from the heat, none / them were able to suggest which place to visit. c) of

It / only draw of lots which could finally decide the matter. d) was

They decided on Ooty as it / neither too far away nor too crowded.

e) was

The date of departure and the duration of their stay / still to be decided. f) was

The announcement of their final exam date sheet / still two weeks away. g) was

Until then, each of them resolved / h) to

collect information about / hill station. i) the

Example

Edit the passage underlining the mistake present in every line by writing the correct word in the blank space.

My day begins on five O'clock in the morning a) _____

It has been so since the last forty years b) ______

except for the two years of which I was c) _______

very ill. I wake up at the sound of an d) ______

alarm clock bought at 1952. e) _______

From then until today, it has never f) _______

let me down. My routine, however turns topsy-turvy

in holidays when I cannot sleep for ten O'clock. I have g) ______ maintained a fairly regular routine over my working years. h) _______

When I retire on two years' time, I hope I will be i) _______

able to continue this practice.

Suggested answer:

My day begins on five O'clock in the morning a) at

It has been so since the last forty years b) for

except for the two years of which I was c) during

very ill. I wake up at the sound of an d) to

alarm clock bought at 1952. e) in

From then until today, it has never f) till

let me down. My routine, however turns topsy-turvy

in holidays when I cannot sleep for ten O'clock. I have g)till maintained a fairly regular routine over my working years. h) during

When I retire on two years' time, I hope I will be i) in

able to continue this practice.

Example

Underline each error and write the correction in the space provided.

One morning, the Nawab call a) _________

his minister and said him b) _________

that I wanted the length and c) _________

breadth from the earth d) _________

measured. He also feel the e) _________

need to have the stars on the f) _________

sky counted. The minister says g) _________

that the task he have been h) _________

set being impossible. i) _________

Suggested answer:

One morning, the Nawab call a) called

his minister and said him b) told

that I wanted the length and c) he

breadth from the earth d) of

measured. He also feel the e) felt

need to have the stars on the f) in

sky counted. The minister says g) said or replied

that the task he have been h) had

set being impossible. i) was

Example

Underline each error and write the correction in the space provided.

Couples who marries to settle a) __________

down is likely to be headed b) __________

for difficulties, said Dr. Paul,

Director of the Institute of Family relations,

Los Angeles

Most marriage difficulty are caused c) __________

by improper balance in normal human needs. d) __________

These are the needs of social acceptance, e) __________

a full emotion life, and f) __________

some outlet of individual g) __________

creative impulse. h) __________

Suggested answer:

Couples who marries to settle a) marry

down is likely to be headed b) are

for difficulties, said Dr. Paul,

Director of the Institute of Family relations,

Los Angeles

Most marriage difficulty are caused c) difficulties

by improper balance in normal human needs. d) of

These are the needs of social acceptance, e) for

a full emotion life, and f) emotional

some outlet of individual g) for

creative impulse. h) impulses

Example

Underline each error and write the correction in the space provided.

India is very fortunate that it have many a) _________

rivers. Their famous rivers are Sutlej, b) _________

Ganga, Yamuna and Narmada. Some of

the river like Ganga, which c) _________

originated from the Himalayas, flow d) _________

throughout the year. They provide water

for both drinking and irrigational purpose. e) _________

Some river in India are considered very f) _________

sacred and are worshipped.

Suggested answer:

India is very fortunate that it have many a) has

rivers. Their famous rivers are Sutlej, b) The

Ganga, Yamuna and Narmada. Some of

the river like Ganga, which c) rivers

originated from the Himalayas, flow d) originate

throughout the year. They provide water

for both drinking and irrigational purpose. e) purposes

Some river in India are considered very f) rivers

sacred and are worshipped.

Example

Mark the places where a word has been omitted with a '/' and indicate the omitted word in the space provided:

After the holy man had spoken Rama, __________

he told Rama's mother that should __________

be sent to pray the Kali Temple at the __________

village. He promised good lady that if __________

this was done, Kali, the goddess appear, __________

take pity on him and bless. Then, all her __________

worries would over. __________

Suggested answer:

After the holy man had spoken / Rama, to

he told Rama's mother that/ should he

be sent to pray / the Kali Temple at the in or at

village . He promised / good lady that if the

this was done, Kali, the goddess/ appear, would

take pity on him and bless. /. Then all her him

worries would / over. be

Example

Mark the places where a word has been omitted and indicate the omitted word in the space provided:

Srinagar abounds natural beauty ___________

It is often termed a paradise on earth ___________

Tourists from all world come to ___________

see its ever lasting beauty scattered over ___________

its outskirts. It is a small place, intensely ___________

fascinating.

Suggested answer:

Srinagar abounds / natural beauty in

It is often termed / a Paradise on Earth as

Tourists from all / world come to over the

see its ever lasting beauty / scattered over that is

its outskirts. It is a small place, / intensely but

fascinating.