Writing Techniques & Style Flashcards

A writer wants to combine two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning. Which option is INCORRECT?

Answer: Joining them with a comma alone

Joining two independent clauses with only a comma creates a comma splice, which is a grammatical error.

What is the effect of using short, fragmented sentences in narrative writing?

Answer: It creates urgency, tension, and a fast pace

Short, clipped sentences accelerate the reader's pace and heighten tension, commonly used in action or crisis scenes.

Which type of irony occurs when the audience knows something a character does not?

Answer: Dramatic irony

Dramatic irony arises when readers or viewers possess information that one or more characters lack, creating tension or humor.

A professional writer is instructed to write in a 'neutral' tone. What does this require?

Answer: Presenting information without personal bias, emotional language, or advocacy

Neutral tone means presenting facts and perspectives objectively, without injecting the writer's personal feelings or persuasive intent.

What is 'hedging language' in professional writing?

Answer: Words that qualify statements to indicate uncertainty or limit scope

Hedging language (e.g., 'may,' 'suggests,' 'appears to') signals that a claim is qualified rather than absolute, which is essential in academic and scientific writing.

Which revision best improves the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that'?

Answer: because

'Because' is a direct, concise substitute that eliminates the unnecessary words in 'due to the fact that.'

What does 'syntax' refer to in the context of writing style?

Answer: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences

Syntax refers to the rules and patterns governing how words are arranged into phrases and sentences.