Writing & Grammar Proficiency Flashcards

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with an indefinite pronoun?

Answer: Everyone has submitted their forms.

Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone,' 'someone,' and 'nobody' always take singular verbs.

What is the main purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

Answer: To state the central argument or claim of the essay.

A thesis statement presents the main argument or position that the essay will develop and support.

Which sentence correctly uses 'its' vs. 'it's'?

Answer: It's important to proofread your work.

'It's' is a contraction of 'it is,' while 'its' shows possession without an apostrophe.

Which revision eliminates the double negative?

Answer: I don't have any time for that.

Standard English uses only one negative element per clause; 'don't have any' correctly expresses the negative idea.

Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

Answer: She had one goal: to finish the project by Friday.

A colon follows a complete independent clause to introduce a list, explanation, or emphasis.

Which is an example of a run-on sentence?

Answer: He finished the report he sent it to his manager.

A run-on fuses two independent clauses without proper punctuation or a conjunction.

Which word choice makes the sentence more formal? 'The new policy will ___ the number of errors.'

Answer: reduce

'Reduce' is a single, precise, formal verb appropriate for professional and academic writing.