Master editing exercises for Classes 8-10. Learn systematic approaches to identify and correct errors in passages covering grammar, spelling, punctuation, and coherence.
✅ Recommended for: Class 8-10 (CBSE/UP Board) | Class 11-12 (Revision)
1. Understanding Editing Exercises
Editing exercises test your ability to identify and correct errors in a given passage. Errors can be grammatical, spelling, punctuation, or word choice errors. One line contains one error that needs correction.
| Error Type | Example Sentence with Error | Corrected Sentence | Type of Error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spelling Error | He recieved a letter yesterday. | He received a letter yesterday. | Spelling (i before e except after c) |
| Grammar Error | She don't like coffee. | She doesn't like coffee. | Subject-verb agreement |
| Punctuation Error | What is your name. | What is your name? | Question mark missing |
| Word Choice Error | He is very much intelligent. | He is very intelligent. | Redundant word "much" |
| Preposition Error | She is good in mathematics. | She is good at mathematics. | Wrong preposition |
2. Step-by-Step Editing Strategy
| Step | Action | What to Look For | Time (per passage) | Example Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Quick Read | Read the entire passage once | Overall meaning, flow | 1 minute | Understand context |
| Step 2: Line-by-Line Scan | Read each sentence carefully | Subject-verb agreement, tense | 2 minutes | "He go" → "He goes" |
| Step 3: Word-Level Check | Examine each word | Spelling, articles, prepositions | 2 minutes | "a apple" → "an apple" |
| Step 4: Punctuation Check | Look for punctuation marks | Commas, full stops, question marks | 1 minute | "Hello how are you." → "Hello, how are you?" |
| Step 5: Final Read | Read corrected passage | Overall correctness, flow | 1 minute | Ensure no missed errors |
| Step 6: Write Corrections | Write answers neatly | Correct format: a) ______ → ______ | 1 minute | a) recieved → received |
3. Common Error Patterns in Editing
| Error Category | Common Patterns | Examples (Incorrect → Correct) | Frequency in Exams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement | • Singular subject + plural verb • Plural subject + singular verb • Collective noun errors |
The team are playing → is playing My friends is here → are here The committee have decided → has decided |
Very High (30%) |
| Tense Errors | • Wrong tense sequence • Present perfect with past time • Mixed tenses |
I have seen him yesterday → saw She is living here since 2020 → has been living He said he will come → would come |
High (25%) |
| Preposition Errors | • Wrong preposition after verb • Wrong preposition of place/time • Missing preposition |
Good in maths → at maths On Monday morning → On (correct) Listen music → listen to music |
High (20%) |
| Article Errors | • Missing article • Wrong article (a/an/the) • Unnecessary article |
He is honest man → an honest man It is a unique opportunity → a (correct) I play the cricket → play cricket |
Medium (15%) |
| Spelling Errors | • Common misspellings • Homophone confusion • Doubling errors |
Recieve → receive Their → there/they're Occured → occurred |
Medium (10%) |
4. Punctuation Error Patterns
| Punctuation Mark | Common Errors | Incorrect Example | Correct Example | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comma (,) | • Missing in lists • Missing after intro phrase • Unnecessary comma |
I bought apples oranges and bananas. | I bought apples, oranges, and bananas. | Use commas to separate items in a list |
| Apostrophe (') | • Missing in possessives • Wrong placement • Unnecessary apostrophe |
The dogs tail was wagging. Its a beautiful day. |
The dog's tail was wagging. It's a beautiful day. |
Apostrophe for possession or contraction |
| Question Mark (?) | • Missing in questions • Used in statements |
What is your name. I wonder what he wants? |
What is your name? I wonder what he wants. |
Only use for direct questions |
| Quotation Marks (" ") | • Missing in dialogue • Wrong punctuation inside |
He said, I am tired. "Are you coming?", he asked. |
He said, "I am tired." "Are you coming?" he asked. |
Commas and periods inside quotes |
| Full Stop (.) | • Run-on sentences • Fragments |
I went to market I bought fruits. | I went to market. I bought fruits. | End complete sentences with full stop |
5. Common Spelling Error Categories
| Spelling Rule | Common Mistakes | Correct Spelling | Memory Tip | Examples in Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i before e except after c | recieve, nieghbor, wieght | receive, neighbor, weight | "I before E, except after C, or when sounded as A, as in neighbor or weigh" | I will receive the parcel. My neighbor is kind. |
| Double consonant before -ing/-ed | runing, stoped, begining | running, stopped, beginning | One-syllable words with short vowel: double final consonant | He is running fast. It stopped raining. |
| -ful not -full | beautifull, carefull, helpfull | beautiful, careful, helpful | Always one 'l' at end of -ful suffix | She is beautiful. Be careful on the road. |
| -ly adverb spelling | happyly, easyly, angryly | happily, easily, angrily | y → i before -ly (except shyly, dryly) | She smiled happily. He answered easily. |
| Silent letters | writting, lisening, sissors | writing, listening, scissors | Memorize common silent letter words | I am writing a letter. Listen carefully. |
| Homophones | their/there/they're, your/you're, its/it's | Context determines spelling | Learn meanings: their = possession, there = place, they're = they are | Their house is there. They're coming today. |
🎯 Editing Exercises Challenge
Identify and correct one error in each sentence.
1. Neither of the candidates have submitted their applications on time.
Error Type: Subject-verb agreement + pronoun agreement
Reason: "Neither" is singular → needs singular verb "has" and singular pronoun "his or her".
2. The Principal, along with the teachers, are attending the conference.
Error Type: Subject-verb agreement
Reason: "Along with" doesn't make compound subject. Main subject "Principal" is singular.
3. She insisted that she has already saw the movie last week.
Error Type: Tense sequence
Reason: Past tense "insisted" requires past perfect "had seen" for earlier action.
4. The childrens' toys were scattered all over the room.
Error Type: Apostrophe usage
Reason: "Children" is plural (irregular). Plural possessive = children's.
5. He was accused for stealing the money from the office.
Error Type: Preposition error
Reason: "Accused" takes preposition "of", not "for".
7. Editing Quick Tips & Memory Aids
The Editing Checklist (SCAMP):
S - Spelling errors (common misspellings, homophones)
C - Capitalization (proper nouns, start of sentences)
A - Articles (a/an/the, missing or wrong articles)
M - Missing words (prepositions, articles, verbs)
P - Punctuation (commas, apostrophes, full stops)
Use SCAMP to systematically check each line
Common Preposition Pairs (Must Memorize):
• Accused of (not for)
• Good at (not in)
• Interested in (not for)
• Depend on (not of)
• Different from (not than)
• Arrive at (place), Arrive in (city/country)
• Listen to (not hear)
• Wait for (not to)
Exam Strategy for Editing:
1. Read passage twice - once for meaning, once for errors
2. Trust your first instinct - often correct
3. Check subject-verb agreement - most common error
4. Look for preposition errors - second most common
5. Don't over-correct - only one error per line
6. Write neatly - a) wrong → right format
7. Review - quick final check
Allocate 8-10 minutes for editing passage
📝 Practice Editing Exercises
Master editing skills with our comprehensive worksheet covering CBSE/UP Board patterns!
Go to Editing Exercises WorksheetIncludes answer key • Grammar errors • Spelling corrections • Punctuation fixes • Preposition errors • Full passages
