Question 1

Why should passive voice not be overused in essay writing? Give at least two reasons why.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why should passive voice not be overused...

Question 2

Pronoun use in conversational speech is very loose and sometimes ungrammatical. In formal writing, pronouns can cause confusion. Read the following passage and revise it so that the antecedent is clearer (or replaced): Helicopter parents protect their children so much that they may fail to become strong and independent adults. They need to recognize that this hovering is not doing them a favour.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pronoun use in conversational speech is very...

Question 3

What is the most commonly used gender-neutral singular pronoun in formal writing? What gender-neutral singular pronoun would linguists and editors like to see instead and what reasons do they give for preferring that word? Which do you prefer and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the most commonly used gender-neutral...

Question 4

What type of nouns cannot be made singular or plural? Give at least three examples of these nouns.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of nouns cannot be made...

Question 5

Name at least two situations where English uses the s ending for different purposes. Give one or two examples for each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Name at least two situations where English...

Question 6

What is the primary function of a prepositional phrase? Write a sentence that contains at least three prepositional phrases and underline the prepositions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the primary function of a...

Question 7

What are coordinating conjunctions used for? Name at least four of the coordinating conjunctions and write as many sentences as it takes for you to use all four of your chosen conjunctions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are coordinating conjunctions used for? Name...

Question 8

What is a serial comma? Why can it be useful? Is it mandatory to use it in formal writing? Write a sentence that includes a serial comma.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a serial comma? Why can...

Question 9

Should a sentence begin with a coordinating conjunction? Why or why not? If not, what should be used instead and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Should a sentence begin with a coordinating...

Question 10

Explain why the placement of a subordinating conjunction matters to the logic of your sentence. Give an example that demonstrates your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why the placement of a subordinating...

Question 11

Which coordinating conjunction should you never use with although? Provide an example of these two words not working together and a revised version that only uses one of them.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which coordinating conjunction should you never use...

Question 12

What is the difference between a conjunctive adverb and a coordinating conjunction? What common sentence structure error occurs when we confuse these types of words? Give an example or two.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between a conjunctive...

Question 13

What is the best way to avoid creating a misplaced modifier? Using that method, rewrite the following sentence to eliminate the misplaced modifier: Running towards the moving curtain, Hamlet's rapier struck Polonius.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the best way to avoid...

Question 14

What are the two essential elements of any sentence? What error occurs when a sentence is missing one of these elements? Name at least two ways to fix this error.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the two essential elements of...

Question 15

What is the difference between a run-on sentence and a comma splice? What are the three ways to correct a run-on sentence? Provide an example of a run-on sentence and a corrected version.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between a run-on...

Quiz 7: Grammar and Sentence Structure