Gmat Sentence Correction Cheat Sheet printable pdf download

GMAT Sentence Correction Cheat Sheet

Do NOT ignore the non-underlined portion of the sentence; it may include key information.

Shorter = Better.

–ING, especially BEING, usually = wrong. (Exceptions: idioms and participles used to join clauses).

Subjects + conjugated verbs & nouns usually = right.

Non-essential clauses are often used to distract from errors and “pad” sentences. Cross out to simplify.

Semicolons separate two complete sentences.

Singular/plural verb split = subject-verb agreement question. –S = singular verb; no –S = plural verb.

It vs. they splits = pronoun agreement. It(s) = singular, paired with singular noun. They/their = plural,

paired with plural noun.

Collective nouns (jury, agency, company) = singular.

This and that should be followed by nouns.

10. All items in a list must be parallel: noun, noun, and noun; verb, verb, and verb; -ING, -ING, and -ING. If items

are long, focus on the beginning of each item. Also: remember that constructions on either side of a conjunction

or word pair must be parallel.

11. Which often = wrong. This word must refer back to the noun that immediately precedes it.

12. Which = comma, that = no comma.

13. Where = places, not times, books, works of art, etc.

14. Whose = both people and things. Who = people only; which = things only.

15. Due to = caused by, usually wrong.

16. Keep comparisons equivalent: people = people; things = things. Correct comparisons are often introduced by

(un)like.

16. Such as = introduce examples; (un)like = introduce comparison.

17. Participial phrase (e.g. having gone, written by) at the start of a sentence often = dangling modifier

18. Make sure modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases) are placed next to the words they are

intended to modify.

19. Top word pairs: not (only)...but (also); both/ between...and; so/such...that; from...to, (n)either...(n)or; just as...so.

20. Amount, much, less = singular nouns; number, many, fewer = plural nouns.

Gmat Sentence Correction Cheat Sheet