Meghalaya PSC – English Language
Topic: Error Spotting
Error spotting is a type of question in the PSC exam where you’re given a sentence or paragraph that contains one or more grammatical, lexical, or punctuation mistakes.
Your task is to identify the error(s) and correct them.
1. Simple Explanation
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Purpose: Tests your command over grammar, punctuation, and word choice.
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Typical format:
- A single sentence or a short paragraph (≈ 40–70 words).
- One or more errors are deliberately inserted.
- You must underline the erroneous part and rewrite the corrected version.
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Why it matters:
- The PSC exam evaluates clarity and accuracy in written communication.
- Spotting errors demonstrates a solid grasp of the English language.
2. Key Points to Remember
| Area | What to Check | Common Pitfall |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar | Tense consistency, subject‑verb agreement, article usage, prepositions, pronoun‑antecedent agreement, inversion. | Mixing past/present in the same clause. |
| Lexical Choice | Homophones, idiomatic expressions, register (formal vs informal). | Using “accept” instead of “except”. |
| Punctuation | Commas (series, clause separation), semicolons, apostrophes (possessive vs plural). | Omission of comma before “and” in a list. |
| Spelling | Common misspellings, silent letters, double consonants. | “Definately” instead of “definitely”. |
| Capitalisation | Proper nouns, titles, first word of a sentence. | Capitalising “india” instead of “India”. |
Tip: Read the sentence aloud. If it sounds wrong or ambiguous, there’s likely an error.
3. Worked Example
Original sentence (with errors):
The committee will meet at 10 AM tomorrow, however, they had to postpone the meeting to next week because the venue was not ready for the conference.
Step‑by‑Step Analysis
| No. | Error | Why it’s wrong | Corrected version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comma splice: “10 AM tomorrow, however,” | Two independent clauses joined by a comma. | Use a semicolon or a period before “however.” |
| 2 | Tense inconsistency: “will meet … however, they had to postpone” | “Will meet” (future) vs “had to postpone” (past). | Past tense for both actions: “would meet” or change “had to postpone” → “will postpone.” |
| 3 | Unnecessary comma after “next week” | The clause “because the venue was not ready” is essential, no comma needed. | Remove the comma. |
| 4 | Missing article before “venue” | The venue is a specific place. | “the venue” is fine; no error here. |
| 5 | Word choice: “conference” vs “meeting” | Same meaning, but redundant. | Keep one term. |
Corrected Sentence
The committee will meet at 10 AM tomorrow; however, they have to postpone the meeting to next week because the venue was not ready for the conference.
Alternative (more natural):
The committee will meet at 10 AM tomorrow, but they have to postpone the meeting to next week because the venue is not ready for the conference.
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Category | Check List |
|---|---|
| Grammar | Tense, subject‑verb, articles, prepositions, pronouns |
| Lexical | Homophones, idioms, register |
| Punctuation | Commas, semicolons, apostrophes |
| Spelling | Common misspellings, silent letters |
| Capitalisation | Proper nouns, sentence starts |
| Logical Flow | Parallel structure, consistent voice |
Final Tips
- Read aloud – Catch rhythm and missing commas.
- Underlined errors first – Highlight the problematic part before rewriting.
- Check consistency – Tense, voice, and style should stay uniform.
- Use a grammar guide – Keep a quick reference for common errors handy.
- Practice – Solve at least 10 error‑spotting questions daily.
Good luck with your Meghalaya PSC preparation!