Review exercise: Diction

Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

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.

Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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