Style & Word Choice

mansplaining bropropriating

Choose the terms or phrases in the sentence that are examples of jargon. Select all that apply. Weldon reports that not only was she subject to bropropriating while working in the senator's district office, she also experienced mansplaining and sexist language.

inappropriate

Choose the word that accurately completes the blank in the analysis of the sentence below. The management training session started at 10 a.m., but everyone was in his seat by 9:45. In the sentence above, the use of a gender-specific possessive pronoun is _____________ (appropriate/ inappropriate).

Each customer enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa. Each customer enjoyed their cup of hot cocoa.

Choose which of the following revisions to the sentence below eliminate gender-biased language while maintaining the original sentence's meaning. Select all that apply. Each customer enjoyed his cup of hot cocoa.

In Quebec City, a cannonball said to be from the 1759 war between the British and the French is still lodged in a tree, which I saw when I visited the city last summer. Today the site of the Battle of Quebec is called the Plains of Abraham, and it is a national historic park that in the summertime hosts a number of events that tourists, like me, enjoy alongside locals.

Choose which of the following sentences needs to be revised to eliminate the subjective tone. Select all that apply.

He is the type of worker who always gets things done. Okonomiyaki is a type of food that is eaten in Japan.

Contains an unnecessary label.

Pickles are a kind of food that is often very sour. His eyes in his head popped out in surprise.

Contains an unnecessary label.

Sharon slept in bed, weak and feverish, unable to sit up or eat. Kelly worried that she should take Sharon to the doctor, but Sharon didn't want to go, putting Kelly off in a voice gravelly from coughing, turning to face the wall.

Cumulative

A mouse is used to move the pointer on a computer. Penguins live in Antarctica.

Does not contain an unnecessary label.

You can see Venus without a telescope. The house on the hill has yellow trim.

Does not contain an unnecessary label.

Energetically, Jasmine made her sales pitch to the prospective clients.

Identify the correctly revised sentence that uses an adverb to add variety to the following sentence. Jasmine made her sales pitch to the prospective clients.

enjoy the adventure

Identify the correctly structured answer choice to complete the following sentence so that the series is parallel. If I were you, I would move somewhere warm, find a new job, and ______.

Brooke complimented me on my new sweater. The sweater was knitted by my grandmother. It was red and patterned with snowflakes.

Identify the example with unvaried sentence structure.

We check our stock of physical products against our database during July.

Identify the revision of the sentence that removes labels without changing the meaning of the sentence. We check our stock of physical products against our company database during the month of July.

The coaches recruited him because of his discipline and his 40 time.

Identify the sentence that contains jargon.

When filming the next scene, the director ordered the camera crew to pan left.

Identify the sentence that contains jargon.

The people of the United States were stoked when their country won the Summer Olympic Games.

Identify the sentence that contains slang.

When composing a series, you can create parallelism by ensuring that the elements on either side of the coordinating conjunction match in their grammatical structure.

Identify the statement that correctly describes how to create parallelism in a series of elements joined by a coordinating conjunction.

their

Identify the word or words that complete the sentence so that the sentence does not contain gender-biased language and so that it makes logical sense. A successful mystery shopper must use ______ acting skills when visiting businesses.

Selections: "There are" and "who"

Identify the words or phrases in the following sentence that are filler and should be removed to make the sentence less wordy. There are many scientists who research human biology at universities across the United States.

so very

Identify the words or phrases in the following sentence that are filler and should be removed to make the sentence less wordy. Yesterday's meeting on techniques for writing good-news messages was so very interesting.

As preparation for life, athletics can be as helpful as, if not more helpful, than many academic subjects.

Identify which of the following revises the comparison correctly in the following sentence: As preparation for life, athletics can be as helpful, if not more helpful, than many academic subjects.

Any of my friends can invite me to his house when they make special foods!

Identify which of the following sentences contains inappropriate or awkward use of gender-specific pronouns.

in actual fact

Indicate the filler text that should be removed to make the sentence less wordy. Jane thought the train was going to be late but in actual fact it arrived on time.

Note that

Indicate the filler text that should be removed to make the sentence less wordy. Note that some of the best students spend only a few hours a night preparing for exams.

Catch you later Bye What's up? Hey

informal tone

Desperately, Sam poured a glass of water into the wastebasket. Unfortunately, some other papers in the can blazed up, threatening a nearby drapery.

Adverb

Pens

Choose the answer choice that should be placed in the following list to create parallelism. Office supplies needed: -Pencils -Staples -Paper clips -______

informal

Choose the correct word to complete the analysis of the paragraph below correctly. I was surprised to learn that the Canadian Football League (CFL) was officially founded in 1958. But the league can really claim it started in the 1880s when the Canadian Rugby Football Union, which the CFL came from, was formed. The CFL's championship game is called the Grey Cup, and this game seems to be a pretty popular thing to watch in Canada. Canadian football fields are bigger than American football fields. Canadian teams have twelve players on the field at once, which I suppose is helpful since their fields are bigger. American teams have eleven players on the field. This passage has a(n) _____________ (formal/informal) tone.

ignored

Choose the correct word to complete the following sentence correctly.Gender-biased language can make some readers feel ______________ (ignored/ understood/ acknowledged), which is a barrier to effective communication.

lay off workers furlough employees fire employees

Choose the familiar phrases that could effectively replace the jargon (the word in bold) in the sentence. Select all that apply. The CEO decided the best way forward for the company was to downsize.

Kalani has an MBA from the University of Chicago and was hired as the new regional director. Kalani, who was hired as the new regional director, has an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Choose the options that correctly combine the two sentences below to eliminate unnecessary repetition. Select all that apply. Kalani has an MBA from the University of Chicago. Kalani was hired as the new regional director.

The house's new owners fixed the porch, planted three pine trees, and repainted the bedrooms.

Identify the answer choice that is correctly revised to make the series in the following sentence parallel: The house's new owners fixed the porch, planted three pine trees, and the bedrooms were repainted.

identifying employees interested in working on the BluLand project

Identify the answer choice that should be placed in the following list to create parallelism. Goals of this week's staff meeting include: -informing employees of the new time card system -promoting attendance at the annual holiday party -handing out instructions for the new copier -______

While I was away, Roni dropped the ball and failed to respond to customer emails.

Identify the answer option that contains slang.

When Kev got the bill for the new muffler, he pounded the table and swore.

Identify the answer option that most effectively removes or replaces the cliché (the word in bold) in the following sentence. When Kev got the bill for the new muffler, he was fit to be tied.

After days of negotiating, we finally reached an agreement.

Identify the answer option that most effectively replaces the colloquialism (the word in bold) in the following sentence. After days of negotiating, we finally struck a deal.

After working on the bakery's annual budget for so many hours, Chris is exhausted.

Identify the answer option that most effectively replaces the colloquialism (the word in bold) in the following sentence. After working on the bakery's annual budget for so many hours, Chris is plum tired.

You now have homemade chocolates, delicious, and fit to serve to all your friends and family.

Identify the cumulative sentence in the following passage. Making chocolate from scratch is quite easy. First, buy cocoa butter. Then, combine the melted butter with raw cocoa powder. Next, add sugar or honey to sweeten. Finally, refrigerate until solid. You now have homemade chocolates, delicious, and fit to serve to all your friends and family.

My coworker Miri messed up the script in the first five minutes, sounding as if she'd never made a pitch before, letting down the rest of the team.

Identify the cumulative sentence in the following passage. Yesterday's sales presentation was the worst. My coworker Miri messed up the script in the first five minutes, sounding as if she'd never made a pitch before, letting down the rest of the team. Ten minutes later, the potential clients started making excuses. By the time the presentation was over, we had obviously failed to make the sale.

Jessica swims a mile every day. She lifts weights on Thursdays. Jessica works out at the local rec center.

Identify the example with unvaried sentence structure.

hard drive's temporary storage area

Identify the familiar phrase that should replace the jargon (the word in bold) in the sentence. Lea received an error message indicating the Web page could not be found, so she checked the cache to see if it might still be there.

The airport was noisy and filled with commuters.

Identify the option that best combines the two sentences below to eliminate unnecessary repetition. The airport was noisy. The airport was filled with commuters.

Khalia was more talented than the other applicants, so she will be hired for the position.

Identify the revision of the sentence that removes fillers without changing the meaning of the sentence. Khalia was more talented than all of the other applicants, so, needless to say, she will be chosen to be hired for the position.

As the snow piled up and the streets became as icy as a skating rink, I grew more alarmed.

Identify which of the following revises the comparison correctly in the following sentence: I grew more alarmed as the snow piled up and the street became icy as a skating rink.

I've often asked my teachers, "Is getting a college degree as valuable as getting work-experience, and is spending money on college tuition as rational as any other financial investment?"

Identify which of the following revises the comparison correctly in the following sentence: I've often asked my teachers, "Is getting a college degree valuable as getting work-experience, and is spending money on college tuition as rational as any other financial investment?"

As often as I put in extra hours, accomplishing as much as I need to for my small business is difficult for me.

Identify which of the following revises the comparison correctly in the following sentence: Often as I exercise, I still find it difficult to stay as fit as I was when I was younger. Often as I put in extra hours, I still find it difficult to accomplish as much as I need to for my small business.

heroine

Identify which word from the following passage should be replaced with a gender-neutral term. Tonight, we honor a person who has had an incredible, indelible impact on humanity. This person has fought tirelessly for racial, gender, and economic equality, and has gone up against some of the most powerful people in the country in the pursuit of justice. This person is truly a heroine for our times. Please welcome our honoree!

I am going to start by telling you that

Indicate the filler that should be removed to make the sentence less wordy. First, I am going to start by telling you that the university dining center will be changing its hours of opertaion.

All of the people I met yesterday were very talented in their fields.

Indicate the sentence that does not contain any unnecessary phrases.

The computer hasn't been working as well as before.

Indicate the sentence that does not contain any unnecessary phrases.

The concert included music by Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach.

Indicate the sentence that does not contain any unnecessary phrases.

We have to get started on the project now or else we won't be able to finish.

Indicate the sentence that does not contain any unnecessary phrases.

To cover his tracks, Sam lit the parking ticket on fire and dropped it into the trash can. To extinguish the fire completely, however, he had to carry the trash can outside and use the hose.

Infinitive

Javier's father was weak and feverish when Javier saw him last month. Javier's father was quite ill when Javier saw him last month.

No cliché

Kelly hated it when Sharon was sick. She felt so helpless.

Not Cumulative

Substitute a plural indefinite noun and change to a plural pronoun.

Podcasters' success depends greatly on their efforts to connect with their audiences.

but

Select the coordinating conjunction that logically completes the following sentence. The presentation was a little rough, ______ the clients were impressed anyway.

My manager, Denise, is helpful and friendly. She is a good manager, and I enjoy working with her.

Which answer choice best uses coordination and subordination to add sentence variation to the following passage? My manager's name is Denise. She is helpful. She is friendly. Denise is a good manager. I enjoy working with her.

The café I work at offers a special lunch deal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for businessmen in the area.

dentify the sentence with gender-biased language.

Sincerely Best Regards Dear

formal tone

member of Congress laborer

gender neutral

Change the pronoun to an article.

A podcaster's success depends greatly on the effort to connect with the audience.

Use his or her, her or his, or their instead of one gender-specific pronoun. Eliminate the pronoun and replace it with the appropriate article. Substitute a plural for the generic noun and change to a plural pronoun.

Choose the answer or answers that provide appropriate strategies for revising gender-biased language with generic nouns and indefinite pronouns. Select all that apply.

lost

Choose the correct element to create a parallel structure in the following sentence. Viktor spilled coffee on his shirt, dropped his phone in the sink, and ______his keys before he even left the house this morning.

does not

Choose the correct word to complete the analysis of the revisions seen below. Sentence: I have always enjoyed working on products that truly make our customers' lives better. Revision: I have always enjoyed working on products that truly make our customers' lives better, such as the virtual assistant my company recently released. This revision ___________ (does/does not) eliminate the subjective tone.

does

Choose the correct word to complete the analysis of the revisions seen below. Sentence: The musical Miss Saigon, which is based on Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, was created by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, also the creators of Les Misérables, which I saw last fall when the touring show came to my city. Revision: The musical Miss Saigon, which is based on Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, was created by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, also the creators of Les Misérables.This revision _______________ (does/does not) eliminate the subjective tone.

you are

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence below, which is a formal letter to a potential client. When _________ (you are/you're/your) ready to move forward with this offer, please contact me.

formal

Choose the correct word to correctly complete the analysis of the paragraph below.Our company recently revised the contract we provide to new clients. The new contract contains information about fees for services, when fees are expected to be paid, and the consequences clients face if they fail to make payments in accordance with the contract. It also clarifies how the company addresses client privacy concerns.This passage has a(n) ________________ (formal/informal) tone.

The mall was a drab place, aging, with scuffed tile floors and hallways that could stand a new coat of paint. Customers shuffled around, aimlessly flowing in and out of stores, never seeming to purchase anything.

Choose the cumulative sentences in the following passage. Select all that apply. Last December, I took a job at the food court. I needed the money. The mall was a drab place, aging, with scuffed tile floors and hallways that could stand a new coat of paint. Customers shuffled around, aimlessly flowing in and out of stores, never seeming to purchase anything. The air stank of fried food.

Mike spotted a lizard, Rachel saw a hawk,

Choose the parallel elements in the series found in the sentence below. Select all that apply. On our walk yesterday, Rachel saw a hawk, Mike spotted a lizard, but nothing was seen by me.

I was very impressed by Diana's presentation at the management conference.

Choose the sentence that avoids using slang.

Our manager told the regional office that men and women deserve equal pay.

Choose the sentence that is most suitable for formal writing.

Reuben, our IT manager, fixes our computers when they stop working.

Choose the sentence that is succinct.

I am happy to inform you that you are on our shortlist of candidates for the accounting position.

Choose the sentence that would be appropriate for inclusion in a letter to a job applicant.

Oliver has cleaned the men's restroom but hasn't cleaned the women's yet. Mariza is the new student director of our school's women's choir.

Choose the sentences in which gender-specific language is most likely appropriate and/or necessary. Select all that apply.

Choose a uniform pattern to begin every point (i.e., all verbs or all nouns). Keep each point roughly the same length. Use the same verb tense (past, present, or future) and voice (active or passive). Maintain the singular or plural form of subjects.

Choose the statements that correctly describe how to create parallelism in a numbered or bulleted list. Select all that apply.

laugh

Choose the term that avoids slang and is appropriate to use in formal writing.Some of the things Kyle said in today's staff meeting made me (LOL/crack up/laugh) ____________.

Javier's father was under the weather when Javier saw him last month. Javier's father was sick as a dog when Javier saw him last month.

Cliché

so as

Highlight the wordy phrase. He put away his homework so as to prepare for the party.

She is learning Portuguese so that she can take over management of our Brazilian office.

Identify the revision of the sentence that removes labels without changing the meaning of the sentence. She is a language learner who is learning Portuguese so that she can take over management of our Brazilian office.

Our employee Magda is a woman who works hard and who is always on time.

Select the sentence that uses parallel subordinate clauses correctly.

At high altitudes, pasta takes longer to cook and water boils at a lower temperature. At high altitudes, pasta takes longer to cook; water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes.

Sentence variety can be achieved by coordinating ideas. Choose the sentences that correctly combine these two sentences using coordination. Select all that apply. At high altitudes, pasta takes longer to cook. Water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes.

Dorian was my favorite boss because he was always patient and kind.

Sentence variety can be achieved by subordinating ideas, or joining sentences. Identify the sentence that correctly combines these two sentences using subordination. Dorian was my favorite boss. Dorian was always patient and kind.

context

When you review your writing for gender-biased language and you find a gender-specific noun or pronoun, you need to examine its _____________ (spelling/context/position).

salesman fireman

gender-specific for men

heiress landlady chairwoman

gender-specific for women