BARC Recruitment – English Language
Topic: Error Spotting
Error spotting is a common paper in the BARC (Bharat Administrative Research Centre) recruitment exam.
Candidates are asked to read a short passage and identify any grammatical, punctuation, or stylistic mistakes. They must then correct the errors in the same line or in a separate line.
1. Simple Explanation
| What is it? | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A section where you read a paragraph and find any mistake in grammar, usage, or punctuation. | Demonstrates your command of English rules, precision, and editing skills – all crucial for a civil‑service role. |
- Typical length: 100–120 words.
- Number of errors: 3–6.
- Time allotted: 4–5 minutes.
2. Key Points to Master
| Category | Common Types of Errors | How to Spot Them |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar | 1. Subject–verb disagreement (e.g., “The team are ready.”) 2. Wrong verb tense (e.g., “He had went.”) 3. Pronoun‑antecedent mismatch (e.g., “Everyone should bring their notebook.”) |
Look for verbs that do not match the subject, mismatched verb forms, and pronouns that do not agree in number or gender. |
| Punctuation | 1. Missing commas in a list or after introductory clauses. 2. Incorrect use of apostrophes (e.g., The students test vs The student’s test). 3. Run‑on sentences lacking a conjunction or semicolon. |
Scan for places where clauses are joined without a comma/conjunction, or where possessives are missing/over‑used. |
| Spelling & Word Choice | 1. Homophones (e.g., accept vs except). 2. Mis‑used words (e.g., affect vs effect). 3. Common misspellings (e.g., completely spelled completly). |
Read carefully, especially words that look similar or are often confused. |
| Tone & Style | 1. Repetition of the same word/phrase. 2. Unnecessary filler words (e.g., very, really). 3. Awkward phrasing (e.g., “in the event that”). |
Check for flow; if a phrase feels clunky or redundant, it’s a candidate for correction. |
3. Worked Example
Original Sentence:
“The committee decided to launch a new program for students, but they will decide later about the funding.”
Step‑by‑Step Error Detection
| Position | Error | Reason | Corrected Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "they will decide later" | Wrong pronoun: “committee” is a collective noun that should take a singular verb. | “it will decide later” |
| 2 | Comma before “but” | The clause before the coordinating conjunction is independent; a comma is required. | Already correct – keep it. |
| 3 | “about the funding” | Preposition mismatch: we “decide on” something, not “about.” | “on the funding” |
| 4 | Repetition of “decide” | Awkward repetition can be smoothed. | “but it will decide later” is fine; no change needed. |
Corrected Sentence
“The committee decided to launch a new program for students, but it will decide later on the funding.”
4. Quick Revision Summary (Bullet‑Point)
- Read carefully: one pass to spot errors, a second to confirm.
- Check subject–verb agreement: singular vs. plural.
- Verify verb tense: past, present, future.
- Ensure pronoun–antecedent agreement: gender and number.
- Look for missing or extra commas: after introductory phrases, in lists.
- Watch apostrophes: possessive vs. plural.
- Compare homophones: accept/except, affect/effect, etc.
- Replace redundant words: “very” + adjective, “really” + verb.
- Use a checklist: grammar, punctuation, spelling, style.
- Practice under timed conditions: 4–5 minutes per passage.
Practice Tip
Create a 120‑word paragraph with 4–5 intentional errors and try to spot them in 3 minutes. Use a timer. Gradually reduce the time as you get comfortable.
Good luck with your BARC prep!