Three-Step Method to the Sentence Correction Questions
A. Read the sentence.
B. Figure out what the question is testing.
C. Eliminate answer choices.
A. Read the sentence.
Do not simply read the underlined part of the sentence. Read the complete sentence. Choice (A) will always be a copy of the original underlined part of the sentence. If you cannot find any errors in the original sentence, choose A. Don't worry about spelling, capitalization, or punctuation; they are not covered in Sentence Correction questions.
B. Figure out what the question is testing.
This is a multiple choice exam, so you know that one of the answer choices must be right. Therefore, you may look at the different answer choices and see what the changes are to figure out the problem in the sentence.
Example
"On arriving at the train station, his friends met him and took him immediately to his speaking engagement."
Give these answers a quick glance:
a) On arriving at the train station, his friends met him and took him immediately to his speaking engagement.
b) Arriving at the train station, his friends who met him immediately took him to his speaking engagement.
c) When he arrived at the train station, his friends met him and took him immediately to his speaking engagement.
d) When he arrived at the train station, he was taken immediately to his speaking engagement.
e) After arriving at the train station, he was immediately taken to his speaking engagement.
Notice that certain parts of the sentences change from choice A to choice E. These are the "controversial" parts of the sentence that contain variable elements.
a) On arriving at the train station, his friends met him and took him immediately to his speaking engagement.
b) Arriving at the train station, his friends who met him immediately took him to his speaking engagement.
c) When he arrived at the train station, his friends met him and took him immediately to his speaking engagement.
d) When he arrived at the train station, he was taken immediately to his speaking engagement.
e) After arriving at the train station, he was immediately taken to his speaking engagement.
The bolded parts of the sentence represent areas that change; the non-bolded are the areas that are fixed throughout the answer choices and therefore must not have problems. Thus, we may narrow the problem areas of the sentence. Choice C is correct because it clarifies the subject of the modifying phrase.
C. Eliminate answer choices.
The process of elimination is very important here. Eliminate a choice once you find one error in it. Gradually, you should be down to one or two choices, and you may make a reasonable guess.