SAT Writing: Freaking Idioms!

If you're familiar with the Identifying Sentence Error questions in the SAT Writing section, then you know that lurking among the verb tense errors and pronoun agreement mishaps are these sneaky little things called idioms. Idioms are quirky grammatical constructions that are intended to be taken figuratively. Each language has its own collection of idioms, and most people are so used to hearing them that they never think about them. For example, it would be correct to say "I live on this street." There's no specific rule explaining why we say we live "on" a street rather than "in" a street. But saying "I live in this street" is dead wrong (and it would cost you points on the test).

A star student of mine, Beverly, was nearly driven mad by SAT idioms. How was she ever supposed to know when it was the idiom part of the sentence that needed fixing? The sentence sounded okay to her. When everyone and their grandmother uses that idiom incorrectly in conversation, how was she to know that it's actually wrong? The answer, unfortunately, is that she just had to learn her idioms. And so do you. Here are a few things you can do:

1) Memorize the idioms that frequently appear on the SAT (we've conveniently provided a list below). When it comes to idioms, the SAT is primarily concerned that the correct preposition is being used after a word, usually a verb that is in either the -ing form or in the past tense.

2) If an idiom from the list below sounds really weird to you because you've been saying it incorrectly as long as you've been able to talk, write out the correct idiom in a sentence and repeat that sentence aloud to yourself several times. Try to use the idiom correctly in conversation from now on. Pay attention to the times other people use the idiom incorrectly. (And shoot them a disapproving glance when they do.)

3) Bolster your knowledge of the other grammatical errors tested on the SAT. Know the correct usage of pronouns and tenses and modification, so that when you get to an underlined portion of the sentence that has nothing to do with the other areas of grammar, your idiom alarm starts buzzing.

Here are some idioms that appear frequently on the SAT:

-according to
-agreed to
-a critic of
-originating in
-regarded as
-planning to
-provide for
-complain about
-conform to
-consist of
-blame on
-evolved from
-disintegrates into
-popular with
-impressed with
-necessary to
-attributed to
-protested against
-far from
-inconsistent with
-in a world where
-listening to

Want some more practice? Take this quiz.

The SAT writers may not have intended to changing your speaking patterns—after all, they're simply testing whether can speak, read, and write like an academically-inclined person. But in the end, you'll be a grammatically better person for what you've learned. And you'll be more prepared to master those college application essays.

Are idioms driving you crazy? Let us know in the comments or email your problem to testpreptutor@sparknotes.com.

Related Post: SAT Essay: Three Parts to a Great Introduction