Writing and Editing Style and Clarity 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which revision best improves clarity by eliminating wordiness?
- Due to the fact that it was raining, the event was cancelled.
- On account of the rain, the event was cancelled.
- Because it was raining, the event was cancelled. (Correct answer)
- In light of the rainy conditions, the event was cancelled.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, the event was cancelled.
'Because' replaces wordy phrases like 'due to the fact that' with a single clear subordinating conjunction.
Question 2: What is the main purpose of a style guide in professional writing?
- To restrict creative expression
- To ensure consistency in language, punctuation, and formatting across documents (Correct answer)
- To replace grammar rules
- To suggest only one correct way to write any sentence
Correct answer: To ensure consistency in language, punctuation, and formatting across documents
Style guides standardize usage decisions so that all documents from an organization are consistent.
Question 3: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes editing, to proofread, and writing.
- She likes editing, proofreading, and writing. (Correct answer)
- She likes to edit, proofreading, and write.
- She likes edit, proofread, and writing.
Correct answer: She likes editing, proofreading, and writing.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms for all items in a list.
Question 4: What does 'plain language' mean in US government and professional writing?
- Writing that avoids all technical terminology
- Writing that is clear, concise, and organized for the reader's understanding (Correct answer)
- Writing that uses only short sentences
- Writing without any punctuation
Correct answer: Writing that is clear, concise, and organized for the reader's understanding
Plain language means organizing information so the intended reader can understand it quickly and easily.
Question 5: Which revision best eliminates the redundancy in 'advance planning'?
- Pre-advance planning
- Future planning
- Planning (Correct answer)
- Advance future planning
Correct answer: Planning
Planning is inherently about the future, making 'advance' redundant.
Question 6: Which sentence uses gender-neutral language correctly?
- Each employee must submit his timesheet.
- Each employee must submit their timesheet. (Correct answer)
- Each employee must submit her timesheet.
- Each employees must submit a timesheet.
Correct answer: Each employee must submit their timesheet.
Singular 'they' is widely accepted in modern American style guides as a gender-neutral third-person pronoun.
Writing and Editing Style and Clarity 1
Which revision best improves clarity by eliminating wordiness?