NoRedInk Writing Style 3

Question 1

Which sentence most effectively uses a transition to show contrast?

Accepted Answer

The project was expensive; however, it succeeded beyond expectations.

Answer

'However' is a contrastive transition that signals an unexpected or opposing idea following the previous statement.

Question 2

A writer revises 'The ball was kicked by Marco' to 'Marco kicked the ball.' This change improves the sentence by:

Accepted Answer

Converting passive voice to active voice for greater clarity and directness

Answer

Active voice places the subject as the doer of the action, making sentences clearer and more direct than passive constructions.

Question 3

Which word choice best replaces 'very big' to make the writing more precise?

Accepted Answer

enormous

Answer

Precise single-word adjectives like 'enormous' are stronger and more professional than intensifier-adjective combinations.

Question 4

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

Accepted Answer

Exhausted from the hike, the trail seemed never-ending to them.

Answer

In 'Exhausted from the hike,' the participial phrase illogically modifies 'the trail' instead of the hikers.

Question 5

Why do style guides generally recommend avoiding nominalizations (turning verbs into nouns, like 'make a decision' instead of 'decide')?

Accepted Answer

Nominalizations make sentences longer and less direct

Answer

Nominalizations add unnecessary words and weaken writing by burying the action in a noun phrase rather than expressing it as a strong verb.

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