Writing Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real Language Proficiency practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Writing Skills flashcards as text
Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun?
Answer: The committee has reached its decision.
In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' typically take singular verbs and pronouns.
What does 'parallel structure' require in a list?
Answer: All items must use the same grammatical form.
Parallel structure means each element in a series uses the same grammatical form (all nouns, all gerunds, etc.).
Which is the most appropriate tone for a formal business email?
Answer: I am writing to inform you that the project timeline has been delayed.
Formal writing avoids slang, contractions, and casual phrasing, using clear and professional language instead.
Which sentence correctly uses 'who' vs. 'whom'?
Answer: Whom should I contact for assistance?
'Whom' is correct when it functions as the object of a verb or preposition; substituting 'him' works as a test.
Which sentence avoids a comma splice?
Answer: The meeting ended early; everyone left by noon.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses without creating a comma splice.
What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
Answer: To introduce the main idea that the paragraph will develop.
A topic sentence states the controlling idea of a paragraph, which all other sentences then support or develop.
Which best describes the revision strategy of 'cutting for clarity'?
Answer: Removing redundant words and phrases without losing meaning.
Cutting for clarity means eliminating unnecessary words to make writing more direct and readable.