Identify the error in the following sentence: (a) The accusation of abatement to the crime (b) that had been levelled at him (c) was eventually not proven in court. (d) No error.
Answer
The correct answer is A: The accusation of abatement to the crime. The error lies in part (a). The word 'abatement' means a reduction or lessening (as in 'abatement of nuisance').
A.The accusation of abatement to the crime✓ Correct
B.that had been levelled at him
C.was eventually not proven in court.
D.No error.
Explanation
The error lies in part (a). The word 'abatement' means a reduction or lessening (as in 'abatement of nuisance'). The correct legal term required here is 'abetment', which means the action of encouraging or assisting in a crime. The phrase should be 'the accusation of abetment to the crime'. This is a classic confusing pair, and the substitution of 'abatement' for 'abetment' constitutes the error. Parts (b) and (c) are grammatically and idiomatically correct.
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