Word Choice & Sentence Clarity Flashcards

Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a semicolon for clarity?

Answer: The experiment failed; however, the team learned valuable lessons.

A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, and 'however' as a conjunctive adverb follows it properly.

Which word best replaces 'bad' in a formal essay? 'The company's decision had bad consequences for employees.'

Answer: detrimental

'Detrimental' is formal and precise, meaning harmful or causing damage.

Which revision corrects the misplaced modifier? 'Covered in mud, the mother scolded the children.'

Answer: Both B and C are correct.

Both B and C correctly place 'covered in mud' next to 'the children,' who are actually muddy.

What is the meaning of 'mitigate' in: 'The new policy was designed to mitigate the risks of flooding.'?

Answer: lessen or reduce

'Mitigate' means to make something less severe, not necessarily to eliminate it.

Which sentence uses 'comprise' correctly?

Answer: The anthology comprises twenty short stories.

'Comprise' means 'to consist of' and should not be followed by 'of'; the whole comprises its parts.

Which option most effectively combines these sentences? 'Marco studied every night. He still struggled on tests.'

Answer: Although Marco studied every night, he still struggled on tests.

'Although' clearly signals the contrast between effort and outcome in a single, smooth sentence.

Which sentence best maintains a consistent formal tone?

Answer: The results indicate a significant correlation between diet and cognitive performance.

Formal writing uses precise verbs ('indicate'), technical vocabulary ('correlation'), and avoids colloquialisms.