Style and Clarity Flashcards
6 cards from real Writing and Editing practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Style and Clarity flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
Answer: To introduce the main idea of the paragraph
A topic sentence states the controlling idea of a paragraph, setting up everything that follows.
Which sentence uses 'that' vs. 'which' correctly according to US style guides?
Answer: The report that I submitted was approved.
In American English, 'that' introduces restrictive clauses (no commas); 'which' introduces nonrestrictive clauses (with commas).
Which is the best way to define a technical term for a general audience?
Answer: Follow it immediately with a plain-language definition or example
Defining a technical term in context ensures all readers understand it without needing to look it up.
In professional writing, what does 'tone' refer to?
Answer: The writer's attitude toward the subject and audience, expressed through word choice
Tone reflects the writer's attitude and is established through diction, sentence structure, and level of formality.
Which revision best reduces nominalization (turning verbs into nouns)?
Answer: We investigated the issue.
Using the verb 'investigated' instead of the nominalization 'conducted an investigation' produces clearer, more direct writing.
Which writing principle does the Inverted Pyramid structure follow?
Answer: Present the most important information first, followed by supporting details.
The Inverted Pyramid places the most newsworthy information at the top, with details following in decreasing importance.