4 Strengthening Language and Voice Free Online FlashCards

What makes a verb precise?

Choose a verb that names the intended action accurately and directly.

How can “made a decision” be made more concise?

Replace the phrase with the direct verb: “The team decided to delay the launch.”

How should you revise a vague verb such as “do” or “make”?

Replace a vague verb with a more exact one when it communicates the intended action better.

Does a strong verb need to sound dramatic?

A strong verb need not be dramatic; it should express the intended action accurately.

What do modifiers do?

Modifiers add information about other words; they include adjectives, adverbs, and descriptive phrases.

When should you keep or remove a modifier?

Keep modifiers that make a detail more exact; remove ones that add no useful information or repeat what the verb conveys.

Where should a modifier usually appear?

Place it close to the word or phrase it describes so its meaning is clear.

What is a dangling modifier, and how can you fix one?

It is an introductory phrase that seems to describe the wrong subject. Name the person who performed the action: “After finishing the report, Maya shut down the computer.”

What defines active voice?

In active voice, the subject performs the action, as in “The editor revised the draft.”

What defines passive voice?

In passive voice, the subject receives the action, as in “The draft was revised by the editor.”

Why is active voice often a useful default?

Active voice often makes the actor and action easier to identify, so it is a useful default for direct prose.

When can passive voice appropriately emphasize the receiver?

Use passive voice when the receiver of the action matters more than the actor.