Efficiency Errors Gist | Verbal for GMAT PDF Download

EFFICIENCY ERRORS 

10% of GMAT SC Questions 

Conciseness

Modern business writing is clear and concise. Although some right answers could still be more concise, the right answer is always the most concise option, but not necessarily the shortest.

Example:  
 Wrong: 
Lars Bergsweissen held seven titles gathered from within a single season.

Right: 
Lars Bergsweissen held seven titles gathered in a single season.

The Jumbler

Quite frequently the test-writers will present one or more options that are seemingly jumbled. These will be pretty straightforward to eliminate just by their very nature.

Example:  
 Wrong: 
As having been gathered, astonishing as it may have been, to team sought to remedy the matter at hand, the evidence presented.

Right: 
Once the astonishing evidence was gathered, and presented, the team sought to remedy the matter at hand. 

Passive Voice

Passive voice refers to a sentence in which the actor in the sentence appears near the end. Passive voice is incorrect on the GMAT. Example:  Wrong: Offering local tax incentives to encourage new commerce to the region did Buckham Right: Buckham sought to encourage new commerce to the region by offering local tax incentives.

One of more common error types on the GMAT 

Redundancy

Redundancy refers to two words or phrases in a sentence that express the same idea. You only need one of those words or phrases.

Example:  
 Wrong: 
In the future, automated vehicles will be commonplace in the years to come.

Right: 
In the future, automated vehicles will be commonplace.

Transitions

These words are commonly used to extend a sentence (but on the GMAT you can only have one transition per sentence)  

and - Continuation
but - Contrast/downside
yet - Surprise/twist
although - Introduces an initial condition then an following result
because - Introduces an explanatory condition

You may also extend a sentence with a “, [VERB]ing”

Example:  
Right:
The new menu was a triumph, appealing to the diverse array of the restaurant’s patrons.