15 Questions
You would never say or write 'I ______ hungrily very,'
am
Not all questions of grammar are that ______, of course, but many tangles are easily resolved once you know the rules and conventions.
simple
The number of these disputes—and the passion, indeed, the moral fervor they sometimes inspire—is far greater than you might ______, until you begin to pore over the shelves of grammar and usage books in the library or in a well-stocked bookstore.
imagine
The perplexities are compounded when an author and a ______ have different positions about what constitutes correct English.
copyeditor
And so, with a stack of grammar books and usage manuals close by, we scrutinize every sentence for all possible '______.' But once we decide to follow all the rules, we deprive ourselves of stylistic flexibility.
errors
In part 3 we move beyond mechanics to look at grammar and usage (chapter 14) and selected stylistic and substantive issues (chapter 15). Here, as in mechanical matters, copyeditors are expected to correct or query whatever is incorrect in the manuscript, but the differences between correct and incorrect are sometimes harder to discern. On many points of grammar and usage, for example, even the experts offer conflicting ______.
advice
Thus copyeditors need to be able to distinguish between inviolable rules and personal stylistic preferences, with the goal of enforcing the former and respecting the author's choices in the ______.
latter
Chapter 14 surveys the gaffes most often committed by even good writers as well as the major battles in the grammar and usage ______.
wars
The final challenge for copyeditors is to ensure that the text is clear and unambiguous at all levels—from individual words to sentences, paragraphs, sections, and ______.
chapters
Chapter 15 examines matters pertaining to organization, expository style, and the recent controversies over ______ language.
bias-free
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Stylistic flexibility = The ability to adapt writing style to different contexts and purposes Viable rules = Rules of grammar and usage that must always be followed Expository style = The way in which information is presented or explained Inviolable rules = Rules of grammar and usage that are sacred and must never be broken
Match the following concepts with their implications:
Selective observance = Requires learning which rules to ignore, observe always, or observe in some circumstances Moral fervor = Passionate dedication to correctness and precision in language usage Occupational hazard = Daily challenges faced by copyeditors in making revisions Minor episodes = Small but significant instances of dilemmas faced by copyeditors
Match the following terms with their connotations:
Permissive = Judged as allowing too much freedom or leniency in language usage Fastidious = Excessively particular, critical, or demanding in language usage Ignorant = Lacking knowledge or understanding of the history of language usage Concise = Expressing much in few words; clear and succinct
Match the following terms with their representations:
Common problems of confused English usage = Issues frequently encountered in the use of English language Stack of grammar books and usage manuals = Resources used for scrutinizing sentences for errors Style: Toward Clarity and Grace = A book discussing the plight of honoring and enforcing grammar rules History of our language = The historical development and evolution of the English language
Match the following terms with their characteristics:
Disputed English usage = Instances where experts offer conflicting analyses on language usage Clear and unambiguous text = Writing that is straightforward and not open to interpretation or confusion Goodness in grammar knowledge = Claimed by those who invoke every rule of grammar as dedicated to precision Client-side scripting for web applications = Primary usage of JavaScript programming language
Test your knowledge of grammar, usage, and stylistic issues in editing with this quiz. Explore topics from chapter 14 and 15, including substantive issues and conflicting advice from experts.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
