NoRedInk Editing Skills 5

Question 1

Which sentence correctly uses a dash (em dash)?

Accepted Answer

She had one goal — to win the championship.

Answer

She had one goal-to win the championship.

Answer

She had one goal, — to win the championship.

Answer

She had one goal; — to win the championship.

Question 2

What is wrong with: 'Everyone should bring their own lunch, and also they should bring a snack.'?

Accepted Answer

Redundancy — 'also' and 'and' repeat the additive idea

Answer

Incorrect verb tense

Answer

Pronoun-antecedent disagreement

Answer

Missing comma after 'snack'

Question 3

Which sentence uses passive voice? (Passive voice is not always wrong, but identify it.)

Accepted Answer

The report was submitted by the intern.

Answer

The chef prepared the meal expertly.

Answer

The storm destroyed three buildings.

Answer

Students completed the assignment on time.

Question 4

Which sentence correctly uses 'that' vs. 'which'?

Accepted Answer

The car that I bought last year broke down.

Answer

The car which I bought last year broke down.

Answer

The car, that I bought last year, broke down.

Answer

The car which, I bought last year broke down.

Question 5

Identify the tense shift error: 'She walked into the room and sees the package on the table.'

Accepted Answer

'sees' should be 'saw' to maintain past tense throughout

Answer

No error; mixing tenses is acceptable in creative writing.

Answer

'walked' should be 'walks' to match 'sees'

Answer

'the package' should be 'a package'

Question 6

Which revision eliminates the double negative?

Accepted Answer

I don't have no idea what happened. → I don't have any idea what happened.

Answer

I don't have no idea what happened. → I haven't no idea what happened.

Answer

I don't have no idea what happened. → I don't have no clue what happened.

Answer

I don't have no idea what happened. → I never don't know what happened.

Question 7

Which sentence is written in a consistently formal register suitable for academic writing?

Accepted Answer

The study yielded unexpected results, prompting further investigation by the researchers.

Answer

The study's results were kind of surprising, and the researchers were totally shocked.

Answer

The study got some weird results and the researchers couldn't believe it.

Answer

Basically the study showed stuff that nobody really expected at all.