Review: Diction

Decide whether the highlighted word or phrase in each of the following examples is appropriate in formal writing.

1. Some believe bleeding-heart liberals have caused Canada’s debt problems.

Oops!

Question:
Some believe bleeding-heart liberals have caused Canada’s debt problems.
Answer:
The answer appropriate is not correct.
Explanation:
The phrase bleeding-heart liberals is a cliché. It also has a strongly negative connotation, while formal writing should have a neutral tone.

Good work!

Question:
Some believe bleeding-heart liberals have caused Canada’s debt problems.
Answer:
The answer inappropriate is correct.
Explanation:
The phrase bleeding-heart liberals is a cliché. It also has a strongly negative connotation, while formal writing should have a neutral tone.

2. The "sacred heart" is a common depiction of Jesus.

Good work!

Question:
The "sacred heart" is a common depiction of Jesus.
Answer:
The answer appropriate is correct.
Explanation:
Sacred heart is the name of the type of depiction, not a cliché or catchphrase, so it is appropriate here.

Oops!

Question:
The "sacred heart" is a common depiction of Jesus.
Answer:
The answer inappropriate is not correct.
Explanation:
Sacred heart is the name of the type of depiction, not a cliché or catchphrase, so it is appropriate here.

3. The Internet has become very successful over the past decade.

Good work!

Question:
The Internet has become very successful over the past decade.
Answer:
The answer appropriate is correct.
Explanation:
The phrase very successful is common, but it does not attempt to be clever or different.

Oops!

Question:
The Internet has become very successful over the past decade.
Answer:
The answer inappropriate is not correct.
Explanation:
The phrase very successful is common, but it does not attempt to be clever or different.

4. In 1812, General Brock was the hero of the day.

Oops!

Question:
In 1812, General Brock was the hero of the day.
Answer:
The answer appropriate is not correct.
Explanation:
Although General Brock was a hero in the traditional, military sense, the once clever phrase hero of the day has been used so often that it has become a cliché.

Good work!

Question:
In 1812, General Brock was the hero of the day.
Answer:
The answer inappropriate is correct.
Explanation:
Although General Brock was a hero in the traditional, military sense, the once clever phrase hero of the day has been used so often that it has become a cliché.

5. The government will slash spending by three billion dollars.

Oops!

Question:
The government will slash spending by three billion dollars.
Answer:
The answer appropriate is not correct.
Explanation:
Slash spending is an especially low-grade journalistic catchphrase (the worst of them alliterate). The word slash has a strongly negative connotation, while formal writing should keep a neutral tone. The verb reduce would be a better choice in this case.

Good work!

Question:
The government will slash spending by three billion dollars.
Answer:
The answer inappropriate is correct.
Explanation:
Slash spending is an especially low-grade journalistic catchphrase (the worst of them alliterate). The word slash has a strongly negative connotation, while formal writing should keep a neutral tone. The verb reduce would be a better choice in this case.

Copyright notice for HyperGrammar 2

© Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa
A tool made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada

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