Written Communication Flashcards

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

Answer: The policy that requires annual review applies to all employees.

'That' introduces restrictive (essential) clauses without commas. 'That requires annual review' is essential to identify which policy, so 'that' is correct without commas.

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

Answer: The committee has submitted its final report.

'The committee' is a collective noun treated as singular in Canadian English, so 'has submitted' is correct.

Which sentence most clearly communicates the intended message to a general audience?

Answer: The new rules will not take effect until they are formally approved.

Option B uses plain, direct language that any reader can understand, consistent with federal plain language standards.

A colon is correctly used in which sentence?

Answer: The conference will cover three topics: budget planning, risk management, and communications.

A colon follows a complete independent clause before a list. 'The conference will cover three topics' is a complete clause.

What is the correct word choice? 'The government must ___ the privacy of all citizens.'

Answer: ensure

'Ensure' means to make certain something happens. 'Insure' refers to insurance. 'Assure' is used with people. 'Ensure' is the most precise choice here.

Which sentence is correctly formatted for a formal letter closing?

Answer: Yours truly, John Smith, Manager

In formal correspondence, only the first word of the closing is capitalized: 'Yours truly.' A comma follows the closing phrase.