Common SAT Word Combo


Word combo questions are very similar to idiom questions: certain words must appear together. However, there is one important difference. While both types don’t have clear explanations on why a certain word is used with another word, word combo questions require parallelism.


Below is a list of important word combos, also known as "correlative conjunctions."



Either A or B

Neither A nor B

Not only A but also B

Both A and B

Between A and B

Not A but B

A rather than B

A not to mention B

Prefer A to B

Whether....or

As...As

More/less...than

*This word combo is especially important for comparison questions. Watch out for answer choices that have “more…compared.” The correct word combo is “more…than.”

So...that

Such...that

On the one hand / On the Other hand

*’on the other hand’ can be used alone to compare & contrast.

     I like A. She, on the other hand, likes B.

However, ‘on the one hand’ must be used with ‘on the other hand.

     There are some factors to consider. On the one hand, S+V. On the other hand, S+V.

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