Writing Application
Overview
Apply your grammar knowledge by revising sentences and paragraphs. Practice making deliberate grammatical choices to improve clarity, style, and effectiveness in writing.
Practice Problems
Question 1: Revise using a semicolon for stronger connection: "The deadline was approaching. Everyone worked overtime."
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Answer: "The deadline was approaching; everyone worked overtime."
The semicolon shows the close cause-effect relationship between the two ideas.
Question 2: Add an appositive to this sentence: "Dr. Smith announced the research results."
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Answer: "Dr. Smith, the lead researcher, announced the research results." (or similar)
The appositive adds identifying or descriptive information about the subject.
Question 3: Revise for parallel structure: "The coach emphasized practicing daily, to stay focused, and teamwork."
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Answer: "The coach emphasized practicing daily, staying focused, and working as a team."
All items in the list should follow the same grammatical pattern (gerund phrases).
Question 4: Use a colon to add emphasis: "She wanted only one thing. She wanted freedom."
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Answer: "She wanted only one thing: freedom."
The colon creates anticipation and makes "freedom" more impactful.
Question 5: Combine into a complex sentence: "The power went out. We continued working by candlelight."
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Answer: "Although the power went out, we continued working by candlelight." OR "When the power went out, we continued working by candlelight."
A subordinating conjunction shows the relationship between the clauses.
Question 6: Revise the dangling modifier: "After finishing the exam, relief washed over the students."
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Answer: "After finishing the exam, the students felt relief wash over them."
The students, not relief, finished the exam, so they must follow the modifying phrase.
Question 7: Add dashes for emphasis: "The answer to the puzzle something no one expected was hidden in plain sight."
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Answer: "The answer to the puzzle - something no one expected - was hidden in plain sight."
Dashes set off the interrupter with more emphasis than commas would provide.
Question 8: Revise for sentence variety (too many short sentences): "The rain stopped. The sun came out. People left their homes. Children began to play."
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Answer: "When the rain stopped and the sun came out, people left their homes, and children began to play."
Varying sentence length and combining related ideas improves flow and readability.
Question 9: Fix the misplaced modifier: "She almost wrote twenty pages for her essay."
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Answer: "She wrote almost twenty pages for her essay."
"Almost" should modify "twenty pages" (the quantity), not "wrote" (the action).
Question 10: Use "not only...but also" to combine: "The project was completed on time. The project was under budget."
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Answer: "The project was not only completed on time but also under budget."
Correlative conjunctions create emphasis and show the double achievement.