Introduction

Contextual Error

Identifying the contextual error can be one of the challenging questions for most of us since it requires a complete understanding of the sentence and the context it might be part of. Here are some tips that will help you master this skill:

Read the sentence carefully and try to find errors or words that are illogical and contain grammatical errors.

Identify the “who”, “what”, “where”, and “when” in the sentence.

Locate adjectives, adverbs, and descriptive words used, for they should give you an idea about what the writer is heading to

Keep an eye on connecting words such as however, consequently, but, therefore, because…etc.

Look carefully for all the possible choices and check if the sentence would be complete and meaningful if one of these choices were used.

Read the sentence AGAIN to see if it makes sense or not.

Find the contextual error in each of the following sentences:

     I.         The owners of the bed-and-breakfast were extremely hostile to their guests, who enjoyed elegant meals, prompt service, and beautifully decorated rooms.

 Error: hostile                        

Correction: Hospitable

Explanation: Logically, if the guests enjoyed the prompt service and decorated rooms, the owners would be hospitable, not hostile.

   II.         Homeless people often lead a(n) stylish lifestyle because they repeatedly get uprooted from the streets and alleys where they live.

Error: Stylish                 

Correction: Nomadic

Explanation: Homeless people who move from one place to another have a nomadic lifestyle. Roaming the streets and alleys looking for shelter is not a stylish lifestyle.

 III.         Linda’s refusal to pick the right stocks made her a very wealthy woman.

Error: Refusal

Correction: Talent

Explanation: Refusing to do the right thing will never make you wealthy; using your skills or talents, on the other hand, will make you poor

 IV.         Computers and word processing software have made the art of handwritten letters quite relevant.

Error: Relevant        

Correction: Obsolete

Explanation: Because of computers and the digital revolution, written letters have become obsolete or are not used.

   V.         Marco has an irresistibly arrogant manner that many young women find charming and attractive.
Error: Arrogant       

Correction: Charismatic

Explanation: Words like “young”, “charming”, and “attractive” all have positive connotations; “arrogant” does not.

 VI.         Chantel kept the appearance of her beloved nemesis in her mind as she traveled to countries far and wide in her quest to find him.
Error: Nemesis         

Correction: Lover

Explanation: Nemesis means enemy. You don’t love your enemy or keep looking for him or her.

VII.         The cozy beach cottage was ineffective for summer tenants because it provided a comfortable winter stay.

Error: Ineffective     

Correction: Habitable

Explanation: A cozy beach is usually comfortable and full of tenants or renters, which means it is habitable.

VIII.         The villains decided to build their town at the intersection of two rivers; that settlement became the city of Pittsburgh.
Error: Villains

Correction: Settles

Explanation: Words like “build”, “settlement”, and “city” are more connected to settlers than villains.

 IX.         Excited that Lou had lied about his references, Jennifer withdrew her decision to promote him to assistant manager.

Error: Excited          

Correction: Furious

Explanation: When a boss decides not to promote an employee, he or she is definitely angry with him, not excited about his or her actions

   X.         To prove your theory, you need to design an advertisement that will provide reliable evidence.

Error: Advertisement

Correction: Experiment

Explanation: Theories are related to experiments, not advertisements.