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Editing Skills for PSLE: Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Editing is an essential component of PSLE English that requires students to identify and correct grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and spelling issues in sentences. This section tests a student’s grasp of grammar rules, word choice, and sentence structure.
Many students struggle with subject-verb agreement, tenses, prepositions, articles, and commonly misspelt words, which leads to lost marks in the Editing, Grammar Cloze, and Comprehension Cloze sections. This guide will cover common editing mistakes, how to fix them, and tips to improve accuracy, along with sample PSLE-style questions and solutions.
Understanding the PSLE Editing Section
The PSLE Editing section typically consists of a short passage with 12 errors—six grammar errors and six spelling errors. Students must:
- Identify the incorrect word
- Write the correct word in the answer box
Each mistake follows common PSLE grammar and vocabulary patterns, making it crucial for students to recognise and correct errors efficiently.
Common Grammar Mistakes in PSLE Editing and How to Fix Them
1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
A singular subject must take a singular verb, while a plural subject must take a plural verb.
Incorrect: She have a new dress.
Correct: She has a new dress.
PSLE Sample Question:
Identify the subject-verb agreement error in the sentence below:
"The group of students are planning a trip to the zoo."
Answer:
"The group of students is planning a trip to the zoo."
Tip: When the subject is a collective noun (e.g., team, group, class), use a singular verb.
2. Incorrect Verb Tenses
Verbs must match the time frame of the sentence.
Incorrect: Yesterday, I eat a burger for lunch.
Correct: Yesterday, I ate a burger for lunch.
PSLE Sample Question:
Choose the correct verb form:
"After he ______ (complete) his homework, he went outside to play."
Answer: "After he completed his homework, he went outside to play."
Tip: Look for time indicators such as yesterday, last week, tomorrow, already, and use the correct verb tense.
3. Misuse of Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships between words but are often misused.
Incorrect: She is married with a doctor.
Correct: She is married to a doctor.
PSLE Sample Question:
Identify the incorrect preposition:
"The boy is afraid with the dark."
Answer: "The boy is afraid of the dark."
Tip: Learn common preposition + adjective combinations, such as good at, interested in, afraid of, familiar with.
4. Articles (A, An, The) Errors
Articles (a, an, the) must match the noun they modify.
Incorrect: She bought an apple and a orange.
Correct: She bought an apple and an orange.
PSLE Sample Question:
Choose the correct article:
"There was ___ elephant in the zoo."
Answer: "There was an elephant in the zoo."
Tip: Use "a" before words starting with a consonant sound (a cat, a book). Use "an" before words starting with a vowel sound (an apple, an hour).
5. Spelling Errors in PSLE Editing
Some commonly misspelt words in PSLE include:
- Incorrect: tommorow → Correct: tomorrow
- Incorrect: definately → Correct: definitely
- Incorrect: seperate → Correct: separate
PSLE Sample Question:
Identify the misspelt word:
"He was truely sorry for his mistake."
Answer: "He was truly sorry for his mistake."
Tip: Maintain a vocabulary journal of commonly misspelt words and practice spelling drills.
6. Wrong Use of Connectors
Connectors link ideas in a sentence but are often misused.
Incorrect: Since he was late, therefore he missed the bus.
Correct: Since he was late, he missed the bus.
PSLE Sample Question:
Fill in the blank with the correct connector:
"He worked hard ______ he passed the exam with flying colors."
a) so
b) because
c) but
d) although
Answer: "He worked hard so he passed the exam with flying colors."
Tip: Avoid using two connectors together (e.g., because… therefore).
How to Improve Editing Skills for PSLE
1. Read the Entire Sentence Carefully
- Identify clues that indicate the type of grammatical error.
- Check for missing, misplaced, or redundant words.
2. Look for Context Clues
- Time indicators help with verb tense selection (e.g., yesterday requires past tense).
- Preposition errors can be spotted by understanding word relationships.
3. Check for Common Error Patterns
- Subject-verb agreement: singular subject = singular verb.
- Tenses: Match the action to the correct time frame.
- Prepositions: Use the correct phrase (e.g., interested in, afraid of).
4. Proofread and Double-Check
- Re-read the sentence after correcting it.
- Ask, "Does this sentence sound natural?"
PSLE Editing Practice Questions
Practice Exercise 1: Identify the Grammar Mistake
"Each of the students are given a textbook."
What is the error?
- a) students
- b) are
- c) given
- d) textbook
Answer: b) are → is (Each of the students is given a textbook.)
Practice Exercise 2: Spelling Correction
"The magician made the rabbit disapear in an instant."
What is the correct spelling of the underlined word?
- a) disappear
- b) dissapear
- c) disapper
- d) desapear
Answer: a) disappear
Practice Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Preposition
"She is looking forward __ the holidays."
- a) to
- b) with
- c) at
- d) of
Answer: a) to
Conclusion
Editing is a key skill in PSLE English that helps students spot and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. By understanding common mistakes, using context clues, and practising regularly, students can improve their accuracy and confidence in this section.
Final Tips:
- Read widely to recognise correct sentence structures.
- Practice editing exercises regularly.
- Keep a list of common grammar and spelling mistakes for revision.
By applying these strategies, students can develop strong editing skills, ensuring they perform well in PSLE English.
