CCE CCE Word Usage and Diction Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' versus 'less'?
- He has fewer mistakes than before. (Correct answer)
- He has less mistakes than before.
- He has fewer money than before.
- He has less items than before.
Correct answer: He has fewer mistakes than before.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (mistakes), while 'less' is used with uncountable or mass nouns.
Question 2: A copyeditor encounters 'the data shows a trend.' What is the traditional editorial concern?
- 'Data' is traditionally plural, so 'show' is preferred in formal contexts. (Correct answer)
- 'Data' is always singular in American English.
- 'Shows' is correct because 'data' is a collective noun.
- There is no concern; either form is always acceptable.
Correct answer: 'Data' is traditionally plural, so 'show' is preferred in formal contexts.
Traditionally, 'data' is the plural of 'datum,' so formal style often prefers 'the data show,' though singular usage is increasingly accepted.
Question 3: Which of the following is the correct usage of 'that' versus 'which'?
- Use 'that' for restrictive clauses and 'which' for nonrestrictive clauses. (Correct answer)
- Use 'which' for restrictive clauses and 'that' for nonrestrictive clauses.
- 'That' and 'which' are always interchangeable.
- Use 'which' only when referring to inanimate objects.
Correct answer: Use 'that' for restrictive clauses and 'which' for nonrestrictive clauses.
In American editorial style, 'that' introduces restrictive (essential) clauses, while 'which' introduces nonrestrictive (parenthetical) clauses set off by commas.
Question 4: The word 'enormity' is used in a manuscript to mean 'enormous size.' What should the copyeditor do?
- Flag it, because 'enormity' traditionally means great wickedness or moral outrageousness, not large size. (Correct answer)
- Accept it, since 'enormity' is a synonym for 'enormousness.'
- Replace it silently with 'enormousness.'
- Delete the word entirely as redundant.
Correct answer: Flag it, because 'enormity' traditionally means great wickedness or moral outrageousness, not large size.
Traditional usage reserves 'enormity' for extreme wickedness; using it to mean large size is considered an error in formal edited prose.
Question 5: Which word choice is correct: 'The committee will comprise/compose the new board members'?
- 'Compose': the members compose (make up) the committee. (Correct answer)
- 'Comprise': the members comprise the committee.
- Either word is correct in this context.
- 'Comprise' is correct when referring to people.
Correct answer: 'Compose': the members compose (make up) the committee.
'Comprise' means 'to include or contain,' so the whole comprises the parts (the committee comprises the members), not the reverse.
Question 6: A manuscript uses 'hopefully' to mean 'it is hoped that.' What is the traditional editorial stance?
- It is a disputed usage; formal style guides often restrict 'hopefully' to mean 'in a hopeful manner.' (Correct answer)
- It is universally accepted and requires no flag.
- The word should be deleted as redundant.
- 'Hopefully' may only be used in informal writing.
Correct answer: It is a disputed usage; formal style guides often restrict 'hopefully' to mean 'in a hopeful manner.'
Many style guides flag 'hopefully' as a sentence adverb (meaning 'it is to be hoped') as disputed, preferring 'in a hopeful manner' or rephrasing to 'I hope that.'
CCE CCE Word Usage and Diction Questions and Answers 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' versus 'less'?