Some English test questions will require you to:

• Keep a consistent tone of the passage and avoid reader confusion through appropriate language choice.

Avoiding Ambiguity

Your writing and the writing you see in the English test passages should be as clear and specific as possible. Avoid general, vague terms. Especially avoid using “this,” “that,” and “very.”

incorrect: This shows that Bill is very upset.

This sentence fails to demonstrate the how the author knows that Bill is upset. What, exactly, shows that Bill is very upset? Instead of using the general term “this,” specify the subject in illustrious detail.

correct: Bill’s caustic tone and accusatory glare show that he’s upset.

After reading the second sentence, you have a much better idea of what’s actually going on. Be as clear and specific in your writing as possible; using general terms makes your writing less accurate and harder to understand.

Some Vague/Ambiguous Words to Avoid:

good

bad

happy

sad

this

that

important

special

stuff

thing

a lot

kind of

Wherever possible, replace these words with accurate, specific counterparts.

Word Choice

Choosing appropriate words in the context of each passage is another useful skill. This is definitely another “trust your ear” topic. If it sounds crazy, it is. Don’t say, “That sounds kinda funny, but I must be wrong.” Say, “That sounds weird, so let’s see if the choices give something that sounds better.”