ACT English add/delete questions ask whether a sentence or phrase should stay, go, or be added—your job is to judge whether it supports the paragraph's purpose without repeating or derailing the flow. "DELETE the underlined portion" is often correct when the text is redundant.
How to recognize them
Prompts ask whether to add a sentence, delete one, or keep/delete an underlined phrase. They are rhetorical, not grammar-rule drills. Overview in ACT English question types.
When DELETE wins
- The underlined part repeats information already stated
- It breaks tone or formality for the passage
- It introduces an off-topic detail
- Removing it leaves a complete, logical sentence
Redundancy overlaps with wordiness and redundancy—if DELETE and a shorter rewrite both work, read the choices carefully.
When to ADD or KEEP
A sentence earns its place if it provides necessary context, a concrete example, or a logical bridge between ideas. Ask: if I remove this, does the paragraph feel incomplete or jumpy?
Quick process
- Read the paragraph for its main point.
- Test DELETE first when the underlined chunk feels extra.
- For add-at-[#] items, check the sentence before and after the marker.
- Pick the option that improves clarity, not the longest one.
Start practicing
Start with a free diagnostic, then drill your weak spots with 15-question quizzes and track how you're doing across Reading, English, and Math. Compare plans whenever you're ready to go further.
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