---
title: "SAT Writing: Word Choice and Diction Errors · PrepScholar"
description: Diction errors are common SAT Writing grammar mistakes that confuse one word for another. Make sure you know exactly how to use the dozens of word choice errors in our guide.
image: https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/header_wrong_words.png
---

**[![PrepScholar](https://www.prepscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PrepScholar-Logo-Colored.png)](https://www.prepscholar.com/)**

CALL NOW:

[+1 (866) 811-5546](tel:18668115546)

[![Start Free Trial](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/360031/interactive-171805697634.png)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKJluK2NyG3jpAJh%2F2lClc1fhnVHyMZoQonqRxtJngB8FMX6lc78F84JqOaVAL0d36TA5%2FYuH%2FLCJw8AG3ewREi%2F7a3XDouZgjxWfYCBUge6z76KnSykOxONl3avMK0gUjJGpJdyJE2BDTx8g3bsgHwMtx4Kr9Jfh6Jr7WA2XEIgtLw1OoVvAMo4Kw%3D&webInteractiveContentId=171805697634&portalId=360031)

## Choose Your Test

SAT Prep ACT Prep

[PrepScholar Advice Blog](https://blog.prepscholar.com/)

 ☰

- Search Blogs By Category
- [SAT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/sat)
- [ACT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/act)
- [College Admissions](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/college-admissions)
- [AP and IB Exams](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/advanced-placement-ap)
- [PSAT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/psat-info-and-strategies)
- [TOEFL](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/toefl)
- [GPA and Coursework](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/coursework-gpa)

# [SAT Writing: Word Choice and Diction Errors](https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors)

![author image](http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/360031/author_maryann.png)

Posted by [Mary Ann Barge](https://blog.prepscholar.com/author/mary-ann-barge) | Updated on August 19, 2024

[SAT Writing](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/sat-writing)

 

![header_wrong_words](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/header_wrong_words.png?width=500&height=222&name=header_wrong_words.png)

Mark Twain famously once wrote in a letter that the “difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

**The SAT agrees with good old Mark,** and tests students on their ability to recognize when the almost-right word has been subbed in for the right one.

Are you confident in your ability to not be tricked by the SAT's unusual diction questions? Read on for some strategies and tips for this section.

 

[![Struggling to get the SAT score you need?   We can help! Our self-paced, adaptive online program lets you study at your own pace while targeting your unique strengths and weaknesses. If that's not enough, our expert tutors can provide further support one-on-one or in group classes.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/360031/interactive-174551174656.png)](https://blog.prepscholar.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIH5Z8g9zcn%2FxUh8JaSiRku3j%2BX58RFMh%2B2xWANkeGFoiGsm6mLzkHmGWVTARgObc0Z3y8U2QgvsjC8ygIktaOTDInxZZmZLKJymyYSfNB83SkPNhwrPXz8zFtEL3fl5oxo6y%2FvFnNDv19Xf9QU1JcBiTJnTaGUaW3ONddUtywDfxT3m4O8Gnk1z%2B0NCwlVLd2reW8%2FMjvR57PS&webInteractiveContentId=174551174656&portalId=360031)

 

In this guide, I will:

- explain what diction is and why the SAT asks about it
- tell you when to look for diction errors on the SAT and how to approach these questions
- show you examples of this kind of question similar to those on the SAT
- give you a master list of commonly-confused words in English

 

## What does “diction” mean, anyway?

Diction is a fancy way of saying “word choice”—you may have heard your literature teacher talk about this idea when analyzing a famous author’s writing style.

When used by the College Board, however, it refers to something on a slightly lower level. A lot of words in the English language are easy to confuse because **they look or sound similar but have quite different meanings**.

For example, can you spot which words are incorrectly used in the sentences below?

When Allen heard that the SAT would be changing, the news was difficult for him to except. He had spent allot of time studying for the old test, and now he wondered if that had been a total waist. How would these changes effect his scores?

There are actually **four diction errors** in the above passage, but they can be difficult to spot **because they sound like the correct words that should have been used.**

**Except **should be **accept**

**Allot **should be **a lot**

**Waist **should be **waste**

**Effect **should be **affect**

 

## Why diction errors?

Most of the questions you will see on SAT Writing tests your ability to spot basic grammar errors. As such, learning the grammar rules that the SAT thinks are important will usually go a long way in helping to improve you score.

Diction errors are very different: there's no clear rule you can learn that will help you out or even a set list of easily-confused words that the SAT might use, making this section particularly difficult to prepare for.

SAT Writing is all about your ability to edit and spot when something doesn't make sense. Can you only catch errors that follow strict grammar rules or can you also see when something doesn't make sense because the wrong word is being used?

![body_magnifying_glass](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/body_magnifying_glass.jpg?width=197&height=255&name=body_magnifying_glass.jpg)

## Where will I find diction questions?

Since these question are fairly different from the others you will encounter on this part of the SAT, they are considered to be more difficult. **The more difficult questions usually appear towards the ends of sections.**

You are most likely to find diction questions in the **Identifying Errors** section of the test because they don't give you answer choices to correct the errors on this part of the test. These questions would not be nearly as difficult to catch if the correct word were given in the answer choices—in fact, that would be an easy giveaway that one of the original words was incorrect!

Diction questions will rarely, if every, appear in the Improving Paragraphs section.

Keep in mind that **not every SAT will have diction errors.** Sometimes they don't appear on a test at all! Other times, there will be a few of them. This uncertainty is another reason that they are difficult to prepare for and even harder to recognize.

It seems that diction errors are becoming a little more common on recent tests than they were in the past, but they still don't make up a large amount of the questions on SAT Writing.

The June 6, 2015 SAT, as an example, had **two diction questions.**

 

## Strategies for Diction Questions

![body_strategy-4](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/body_strategy-4.jpg?width=350&height=221&name=body_strategy-4.jpg)*Always have a plan.*

When diction questions do appear on the SAT, they're very unpredictable. You never know which commonly confused word the College Board will choose to test, and they tend to not repeat themselves.

Spend a bit of time reviewing the list of commonly confused words below and see if there are any words that jump out at you as things that you might confuse. **Limit your studying on this section to just what's trickiest for you.**

When you get to the final questions on the Identifying Errors or Improving Sentences section, pay particular attention to any questions that seems to have "No Error" or correct as is as an answer. **This is where you will most likely find a diction question.**

Go back and double check everything that is underlined. Is each word correct? Did you read too quickly and mentally sub in a similar word for what is actually written? Does anything jump out at you that you can remember from the list below of commonly-confused words?

If you can see a diction error, choose that as the answer. If not, keep your answer as "No Error."

And keep in mind that you're statistically more likely to have "No Error" as an answer, or a totally different grammar mistake that you just didn't spot the first time, than a diction error!

 

## Let's look at one together

Though Joe was not implied in (A) the cheating scandal at the school (B), he still was questioned (C) by the principal (D). No Error. (E)

As always when you are reading through a question on SAT Writing, you should start by looking for the **most common grammar errors. **([Not sure what the most common mistakes are? We go over the eight most common ones here](https://blog.prepscholar.com/8-tips-for-avoiding-the-most-common-sat-writing-mistakes)!) 

Looking at this sentence, I don't see any problems in verb tense and form or subject-verb agreement, and the sentence is correctly formed (meaning it's not a fragment or a run-on). "At the school" is fine as a prepositional phrase. So far I don't see any **grammar errors**, and so I'm leaning towards No Error.

But not so fast! At this point, I have to go back and double check that all of the underlined words are used correctly. "At the school" and "was questioned" are both phrases with words I'm very familiar with—there's no way these are being used incorrectly.

However, I remember that "implied" and "principal" are both on the list of commonly-confused words.

"Principal" sounds a lot like "principle." One word means a person who runs a school, while the other refers to an ideal or belief. If I had been unsure about which is which when looking over the list below, I would have found a way to remember which is which—such as thinking, "At school, your princi**pal** is your **pal." **Therefore, principal is correctly used in the sentence.

What about implied? That's also on the list, as a word that's commonly confused with "implicated." If I had been having trouble with these two words, I would have had to memorize the definitions or come up with another way to remember the difference between them. From looking at the list below, I know that "imply" means "to suggest" and "implicate" means "to suggest involvement in something."

When I sub those definitions back into the sentence, it's clear that "implied in" doesn't make sense. I should be "implicated in." Therefore, (A) is the correct answer.

![body_cheating](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/body_cheating.jpg?width=400&height=266&name=body_cheating.jpg) 

## Here are some more to do on your own!

Some of the following questions have No Error, and others have diction errors. Can you spot them?

1. Due to human interventions, the Alaskan salmon now struggle (A) to reach their spawning grounds, a situation that has (B) adversely effected (C) the area's (D) mammals. No error (E)

2. Most warning signs of cancer are not alarming individually, though several of the symptoms (A) added together (B) are seen (C) as (D) a signal of the disease. No error (E)

3. Only by using (A) unconventional methods were (B) the doctors able to successfully complete (C) what had been (D) a difficult surgery. No error (E)

4. The public has excess (A) to an economical and efficient (B) recycling center that is responsible to community needs and complies with (C) current federal regulations governing (D) waste disposal. No error (E)

5. The report is essentially (A) a vague and extremely lacking (B) record of what (C) happened to each of (D) the victims. No error (E)

6. In (A) American letters, Rachel Carson is a prime example of a reporter who, by assuring (B) public interest in (C) an important topic, achieved immortality for herself. (D)  No error (E)

7. Love is one of our most indiscriminate (A) emotions; it can (B) unexpectedly (C) strike you or me (C), millionaires or paupers (D), cynics or romantics. No error (E)

8. As (A) exotic pets mature, they develop destructive behaviors (B) that their owners, who wanted (C) adorable, furry companions, often find difficult to except (D). No error (E)

Answers: 1. C; 2. E; 3. E; 4. A; 5. E; 6. B; 7. E; 8. D

 

## List of commonly confused words

| WORD | MEANING | WORD | MEANING |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **accept** | to receive, take | **except** | excluding |
| **access** | entrance; opportunity | **excess** | more than needed |
| **addition** | something added | **edition** | a certain production of something |
| **adopt** | to legally take on, accept | **adapt** | to change to be more suitable |
| **advice** | a recommendation | **advise** | to give a recommendation |
| **adverse** | bad; unfavorable | **averse** | opposed to |
| **affect** | to influence | **effect** | a result |
| **afflict** | to cause suffering | **inflict** | to force something harmful |
| **aisle** | space between rows | **isle** | island |
| **allude** | to make an indirect reference | **elude** | to avoid |
| **allusion** | an indirect reference | **illusion** | a false idea or vision |
| **already** | happened before now | **all ready** | to be entirely prepared |
| **altar** | table for religious ceremony | **alter** | to change |
| **altogether** | completely; entirely | **all together** | all things with each other |
| **a lot** | a large number of something | **allot** | to give out an amount of something |
| **ambivalent** | to have two different feelings about something | **ambiguous** | having more than one possible meaning |
| **amoral** | having no sense or right and wrong | **immoral** | having intentionally bad morals |
| **anecdote** | a short personal story | **antidote** | a substance or activity that stops something bad |
| **angel** | a spiritual creature | **angle** | space between intersecting lines measured in degrees |
| **apart** | separated, into pieces | **a part** | a piece of something |
| **appraise** | to examine and judge | **apprise** | to tell someone of something |
| **are** | 3rd person plural of “to be” | **our** | belonging to us |
| **accent** | how someone pronounces words | **ascent** | movement up |
|   |   | **assent** | agreement/approval |
| **assistance** | help | **assistants** | helpers |
| **attribute** | a quality/characteristic | **contribute** | to give something |
| **auditory** | related to hearing | **audible** | able to be heard |
| **aural** | related to hearing | **oral** | spoken or related to the moth |
| **balmy** | pleasantly warm | **barmy** | crazy or silly |
| **bare** | not covered | **bear** | to carry or accept something |
| **bated** | in suspense; excited | **baited** | to harass (past tense) |
| **bazaar** | a market | **bizarre** | very strange and surprising |
| **berth** | a bed on a boat/train | **birth** | time when a baby is born |
| **beside** | next to something | **besides** | in addition to something |
| **boar** | a wild pig | **bore** | a dull person |
| **board** | a long, flat piece of wood | **bored** | feeling uninterested |
| **born** | to have been birthed | **borne** | carried |
| **bough** | a large branch of a tree | **bow** | bend upper body forward |
| **breath** | air that comes from lungs | **breathe** | to take air in and out |
| **brake** | part of a vehicle that stops it | **break** | to separate into pieces |
| **buy** | to purchase | **by** | shows a person who does something |
| **canvas** | a strong cloth | **canvass** | to ask people their opinions |
| **censure** | to criticize formally | **censor** | to remove offensive things from public |
| **capital** | city where government is based OR money | **capitol** | state legislature building |
| **choose** | to decide or pick | **chose** | past tense of choose |
| **climactic** | an important or exciting time | **climatic** | relating to the weather |
| **coarse** | rough and thick | **course** | a series of lessons |
| **collaborate** | to work together | **corroborate** | to provide supporting information |
| **command** | to order | **commend** | to praise |
| **complacent** | feeling you don’t need to try hard | **complaisant** | willingness to please others |
| **complement** | something that goes well with something else | **compliment** | saying something to show praise |
| **comprehensive** | thorough | **comprehensible** | easy to understand |
| **conscience** | the part of you that makes you feel guilty | **conscious** | aware; awake |
| **contemptuous** | showing contempt | **contemptible** | extremely bad |
| **corps** | a group of people or military force | **corpse** | a dead body |
| **council** | an elected group of people | **counsel** | to give advice |
| **credible** | able to be believed | **credulous** | gullible |
| **dairy** | milk products | **diary** | a book of personal thoughts |
| **descent** | a movement down | **dissent** | disagreement |
| **desirous** | wanting something | **desirable** | attractive |
| **dessert** | sweet food | **desert** | hot, dry area |
| **device** | equipment used for a particular purpose | **devise** | to design or invent something |
| **discreet** | secretive | **discrete** | separate and different |
| **disinterested** | impartial | **uninterested** | not interested |
| **do** | a helping verb | **dew** | drops of water |
|   |   | **due** | expected or planned |
| **dominant** | most important or wanting control | **dominate** | to control or have power over |
| **die** | to stop living | **dye** | substance used to change color |
| **dyeing** | to change the color of | **dying** | present participle of “die” |
| **elicit** | to get info or a reaction from someone | **illicit** | not legal |
| **eminent** | respected | **imminent** | about to happen |
|   |   | **immanent** | permanent part of something |
| **emit** | to send out gas/heat/light | **omit** | exclude |
| **envelop** | cover something | **envelope** | what letters go in |
| **everyday** | consecutive days | **every day** | used a lot |
| **exhaustive** | repetitive use | **exhausting** | tiring |
| **expandable** | gets bigger | **expendable** | to leave out |
| **explicit** | gratuitous | **implicit** | complete |
| **fair** | reasonable | **fare** | cost |
| **farther** | far | **further** | more |
| **flaunt** | exaggerate | **flout** | intentionally |
| **formally** | properly | **formerly** | before |
| **foreboding** | over-powering | **forbidding** | not allowed |
| **forth** | forwards | **fourth** | first, second, third….. |
| **gorilla** | large monkey | **guerrilla** | unofficial military group |
| **hear** | sounds | **here** | present |
| **heard** | noise | **herd** | flock/gaggle/group |
| **hoard** | collect/store | **horde** | large group |
| **hole** | hollow space in something | **whole** | complete |
| **human** | people/person | **humane** | kind |
| **implicit** | complete | **complicit** | involved in |
| **imply** | suggest | **implicate** | suggest someone is involved in something |
|   |   | **infer** | guess something based on the information you have |
| **incur** | experience something unpleasant | **occur** | to happen |
| **indeterminate** | impossible to know | **interminable** | lasting a long time, in a boring way |
| **influence** | make an impression | **affluence** | wealth |
| **ingenious** | really clever | **ingenuous** | honest |
| **its** | belongs to | **it’s** | it is |
| **knew** | knowledge you have | **new** | not old |
| **know** | knowledge | **no** | denied |
| **laid** | the past of lay | **lain** | lied down |
| **later** | in the past | **latter** | near the end of a period |
| **lay** | to put something down | **lie** | horizontal |
| **lead** | to take charge | **led** | had taken charge |
| **lessen** | to weaken | **lesson** | what a teacher teaches |
| **lightning** | weather | **lightening** | not as dark |
| **loose** | not fitting tightly | **lose** | to not win |
| **maybe** | perhaps/possibly | **may be** | accepting something as true despite your opinion on it |
| **meat** | flesh | **meet** | assemble |
|   |   | **mete** | punish |
| **metal** | hard, shiny substance | **medal** | metal object given as a prize |
|   |   | **mettle** | determination when doing something |
| **miner** | someone who works in a mine | **minor** | not important |
| **moral** | right and wrongs | **morale** | the meaning |
| **passed** | to qualify | **past** | something that’s happened |
| **patience** | to stay calm | **patients** | sick people |
| **peace** | tranquility | **piece** | a part of |
| **peak** | the top | **peek** | a quick look |
|   |   | **pique** | annoyed |
| **pedal** | foot operated part of machine | **petal** | part of a flower |
|   |   | **peddle** | to sell |
| **perpetrate** | do something bad | **perpetuate** | elongate |
| **personal** | relating to a person | **personnel** | staff |
| **persecute** | treat someone unfairly | **prosecute** | to convict |
| **perspective** | viewpoint | **prospective** | potential buyer |
| **plain** | ordinary | **plane** | flying vehicle |
| **pore** | small hole for sweat to pass through | **pour** | make liquid flow from a container |
| **precede** | to happen before something else | **proceed** | to go forward |
| **precedent** | to set an example for others | **president** | the head of |
| **prescribe** | give medical treatment | **proscribe** | to not allow something |
| **presence** | being in a place | **presents** | gifts |
| **principal** | most important | **principle** | basic rule |
| **quiet** | no noise | **quite** | completely |
| **rain** | precipitation | **reign** | to rule |
|   |   | **rein** | straps that control a horse |
| **raise** | to lift | **raze** | completely destroy |
| **rational** | reasonable | **rationale** | the reason |
| **reluctant** | unwilling | **reticent** | saying little about what you feel |
| **respectfully** | showing respect | **respectively** | in the same order |
| **reverend** | Christian official | **reverent** | showing respect |
| **right** | correct | **rite** | traditional religious ceremony |
|   |   | **write** | produce words |
| **road** | surface built for vehicles | **rode** | to have ridden |
| **scene** | a view | **seen** | to have looked |
| **sense** | logic | **since** | from a time in the past |
| **sensible** | well behaved | **sensitive** | to be dealt with carefully |
|   |   | **sensory** | connected to the physical senses |
| **sight** | vision | **site** | a place of importance |
|   |   | **cite** | mention something as proof |
| **simulate** | to mimic | **stimulate** | to make something happen |
| **stationary** | still motion | **stationery** | office supplies |
| **straight** | not curved | **strait** | narrow area of sea |
| **suppose** | think something is true | **supposed to** | expected to do something |
| **taught** | educated, instructed | **taut** | stretched very tight |
| **than** | used to compare two things | **then** | at that time |
| **their** | belongs to them | **there** | used to show something exists |
|   |   | **they’re** | they are |
| **through** | from one end to the other | **threw** | to have thrown |
|   |   | **thorough** | completely |
| **to** | used to give the reason | **too** | as well as |
|   |   | **two** | comes after one |
| **track** | narrow path | **tract** | large area of land |
| **visual** | relating to seeing | **visible** | able to seen |
| **waist** | around the middle of your body | **waste** | a bad use of something |
| **waive** | allow someone to break the rules | **wave** | move hands from side to side |
| **weak** | not strong | **week** | 7 days |
| **weather** | conditions in the air above the earth (wind, rain etc) | **whether** | if, or not |
|   |   | **wether** | a castrated ram |
| **where** | to, at, or in what place | **were** | past tense of be |
| **which** | determining pronoun | **witch** | woman with magical powers |
| **whose** | which person owns or is responsible for something | **who’s** | who is |
| **your** | belonging to the person being spoken to | **you’re** | you are |
|   |   | **yore** | a long time ago |

 

## What's Next?

Familiarize yourself with some other **errors you're likely to see** on the Identifying Sentence Errors questions, like [pronoun agreement](https://blog.prepscholar.com/pronoun-agreement-on-sat-writing-tips-and-practice), [adjectives vs. adverbs](https://blog.prepscholar.com/adjectives-and-adverbs-in-sat-writing-practice-tips), and [subject-verb agreement](https://blog.prepscholar.com/subject-verb-agreement-on-sat-writing-strategies-and-practice).

More concerned about **the big picture**? Make sure you know the best way to approach [Identifying Sentence Errors](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-approach-identifying-sentence-errors-sat-writing-strategies) and [Improving Sentences](https://blog.prepscholar.com/strategies-for-improving-sentences-on-sat-writing).

If you're a member of the class of 2017, determine whether you should study for the **current SAT or the redesigned version** with [this guide](https://blog.prepscholar.com/new-sat-vs-old-sat-quick-summary).

 

[![Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?   We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible.   Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next.   Check out our 5-day free trial today:](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/360031/interactive-151896378542.png)](https://blog.prepscholar.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIOL29xO%2F5x360gZff4VRMRq7UliTz5Fx9eDFQ7npLLGip6Cm0JPhfcFcsIHOiL%2FKi6w5%2FPAl5RPYjDIVB7KUNY7crQPP3QZY%2FDXyB23AidbQzkXqiNVmA77GVnlW3Sxsew%2BnD9VE7qEtT5CYMAIhpfWdZW%2By%2B%2BTbaJz15Kyox781k0dX7VlUz8j9s%3D&webInteractiveContentId=151896378542&portalId=360031)

 

### Trending Now

[How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-into-harvard-and-the-ivy-league-by-a-harvard-alum)

[How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-a-4-0-gpa-and-get-better-grades-by-a-harvard-alum)

[How to Write an Amazing College Essay](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-write-a-college-essay)

[Should You Take the SAT or ACT?](https://quiz.prepscholar.com/sat-vs-act)

[What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?](https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-do-colleges-look-for)

[ACT vs. SAT: 10 Key Differences](https://blog.prepscholar.com/act-vs-sat)

[Calculate Your College Chances](https://mycollegechances.prepscholar.com/)

Get Your Free

**[![PrepScholar](https://www.prepscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PrepScholar-Logo-Colored.png)](https://www.prepscholar.com/)**

eBook

[5 Tips to Raise Your SAT Score 160+ Points](https://www.prepscholar.com/rp/sat-5-tips-ebook/)

[5 Tips to Raise Your ACT Score 4+ Points](https://www.prepscholar.com/rp/act-5-tips-ebook/)

### SAT Prep

[Find Your Target SAT Score](https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-is-a-good-sat-score-a-bad-sat-score-an-excellent-sat-score)

[Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests](https://blog.prepscholar.com/complete-official-sat-practice-tests-free-links)

### **[How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-a-perfect-sat-score-by-a-2400-sat-scorer)**

[Score 800 on SAT Math](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-800-on-sat-math-by-a-perfect-scorer)

[Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-800-on-sat-reading-and-writing)

[Raise Your SAT Score by 160+ Points GUARANTEED. Start Your 5-Day Risk-Free Trial](https://www.prepscholar.com/sat-test-prep/?utm_source=databasepage&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=sat_guarantee)

### ACT Prep

[Find Your Target ACT Score](https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-is-a-good-act-score-a-bad-act-score-an-excellent-act-score)

[Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests](https://blog.prepscholar.com/complete-official-act-practice-tests-free-links)

### **[How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-a-perfect-act-score-by-a-36-full-scorer)**

[Get a 36 on ACT English](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-36-on-act-english-9-strategies-from-a-perfect-scorer)

[Get a 36 on ACT Math](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-36-on-act-math-8-strategies-by-a-perfect-scorer)

[Get a 36 on ACT Reading](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-36-on-act-reading-11-strategies-from-a-perfect-scorer)

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

- [![Follow us on Facebook (icon)](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/facebook_logo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/prepscholar)
- [![Follow us on X (icon)](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/twitterx-50.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/follow?region=follow_link&screen_name=PrepScholar&tw_p=followbutton)
- [![Follow us on Instagram (icon)](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/instagram-sidebar.webp)](https://www.instagram.com/prepscholar/)

 Get Exclusive Tips for College Admissions

 Sign up to receive free guidance on everything from acing the SAT to writing a standout college admissions essay.

×

## Thanks for Subscribing!

![Check icon](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/file-2386656898.png/subscribe_check.png.png?width=175&name=subscribe_check.png)

 To receive immediate updates on all our helpful guides and strategies, **follow us** on social media: [![Facebook](https://blogprepschola.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/26de6c2beb2b71ee5b8d660200359259.png)](https://www.facebook.com/prepscholar) [![X](https://blogprepschola.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/f233666501ea25d3fcf3c390d2f08c7b.png)](https://x.com/intent/follow?region=follow_link&screen_name=PrepScholar&tw_p=followbutton) [![LinkedIn](https://blogprepschola.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/prepscholar/) [![Instagram](https://blogprepschola.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/download-1.png)](https://www.instagram.com/prepscholar/)

**Have friends who also need help with test prep?** Share this article!

[![Share on email](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/email-color.png?width=24&name=email-color.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.prepscholar.com%2Fsat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.prepscholar.com%2Fsat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) [![Share on facebook](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.prepscholar.com%2Fsat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on twitter](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/x-twitter-color.png?width=24&name=x-twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.prepscholar.com%2Fsat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.prepscholar.com%2Fsat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on linkedin](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.prepscholar.com%2Fsat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin)

 About the Author

![author image](http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/360031/author_maryann.png)

 Mary Ann Barge

 Mary Ann holds a BA in Classics and Russian from the University of Notre Dame, and an MA from University College London. She has years of tutoring experience and is also passionate about travel and learning languages.

## Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

**[![PrepScholar](https://www.prepscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PrepScholar-Logo-White.png)](https://www.prepscholar.com)**

- [WHO WE ARE](https://www.prepscholar.com/who-we-are/)
- [SUCCESS STORIES](https://www.prepscholar.com/case-studies/)
- [ADVICE BLOG](https://blog.prepscholar.com/)
- [FOR SCHOOLS](https://www.prepscholar.com/for-schools/)

- [SAT](https://www.prepscholar.com/sat-test-prep/)
- [ACT](https://www.prepscholar.com/act-test-prep/)
- [PSAT](https://www.prepscholar.com/psat-test-prep/)
- [AP](https://www.prepscholar.com/ap-tutoring/)
- [GRE](https://www.prepscholar.com/gre-test-prep/)
- [GMAT](https://www.prepscholar.com/gmat-test-prep/)
- [TOEFL](https://www.prepscholar.com/toefl-test-prep/)
- [ADMISSIONS](https://www.prepscholar.com/college-admissions-consulting/)

- [TERMS OF SERVICE](https://www.prepscholar.com/terms-of-service/)
- [PRIVACY POLICY](https://www.prepscholar.com/privacy-policy/)

- [![follow us on X (icon)](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/360031/twitter-64.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/follow?region=follow_link&screen_name=PrepScholar&tw_p=followbutton)
- [![Follow us on Facebook (icon)](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/360031/facebook-64.png)](https://www.facebook.com/prepscholar)
- [![follow us on Instagram (icon)](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/instagram-64.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/prepscholar/)
- [![follow us on TikTok (icon)](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/tiktok-50.svg)](https://www.tiktok.com/@prepscholarofficial)
- [![Follow us on LinkedIn (icon)](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/linkedin50.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/prepscholar/)

© PrepScholar 2013-2025. All rights reserved

 SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this web site.   
 ACT® is a registered trademark belonging to ACT Education Corporation ("ACT"). ACT is not involved with or affiliated with PrepScholar Inc., nor does ACT endorse or sponsor any of the products or services offered by PrepScholar Inc.   
 GRE® and TOEFL® are registered trademarks of the ETS®. The ETS® does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with, the owner or any content of this web site.   
 GMAT® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council®. The Graduate Management Admissions Council® does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with, the owner or any content of this website.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Mary Ann Barge",
    "url" : "https://blog.prepscholar.com/author/mary-ann-barge"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-08-19T19:39:57+00:00",
  "datePublished" : "2015-08-06T12:30:00+00:00",
  "description" : "Diction errors are common SAT Writing grammar mistakes that confuse one word for another. Make sure you know exactly how to use the dozens of word choice errors in our guide.",
  "headline" : "SAT Writing: Word Choice and Diction Errors",
  "image" : "http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/360031/header_wrong_words.png",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-writing-word-choice-and-diction-errors",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.prepscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PrepScholar-Logo-Colored.png"
    },
    "name" : "PrepScholar"
  }
}
```