Grammar Style and Conventions Flashcards

Which transition best signals a contrasting relationship between two ideas?

Answer: Nevertheless

'Nevertheless' signals that what follows contrasts with or qualifies the preceding statement, making it a concessive transition.

Active voice is generally preferred in academic writing because it:

Answer: Uses fewer words and creates clearer, more direct sentences

Active voice places the subject as the actor, creating direct, efficient sentences that are easier for readers to follow.

A writer should use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when:

Answer: Two independent clauses are joined by FANBOYS conjunctions

A comma is required before coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) only when they join two complete independent clauses.

Which sentence is incorrectly punctuated?

Answer: She was tired, she finished the essay.

The second sentence is a comma splice — two independent clauses joined by only a comma, without a coordinating conjunction or semicolon.

Varying sentence length in an essay primarily contributes to:

Answer: Rhetorical effect through rhythm and emphasis

Strategic variation in sentence length creates rhythmic effect and can emphasize key ideas, which is a stylistic tool AP Lang readers value.

Which of the following is an example of a misplaced modifier?

Answer: She almost drove her children to school every day.

'Almost' is misplaced; it modifies 'drove' when it should modify 'every day,' implying she never completed the act of driving.