Seminars &
email courses
Take the grammar, proofreading, and punctuation challenges.
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
Ten commonly abused words and expressions
as
identified by Minneapolis Star Tribune writer Bill Dawson,
with assistance from “some of the newsroom’s pickiest wordsmiths”:
John Addington, Ben Welter, Bill Hammond, Paul Walsh, and Sarah T. Williams
Exercise by Stephen Wilbers
Also see
confusing word pairs
and
word choice errors.
1. It feels good to be back on
my old stomping grounds.
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Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
Yes!
1. It feels good
to be back on my old
stamping grounds.
|
Now it’s
correct. |
It was
incorrect. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
No!
1. It feels good to be back on my
old stamping
grounds.
|
Now it’s
correct. |
It was
incorrect. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
2. She worked quickly to staunch
the flow of blood.
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
Yes!
2. She worked quickly to
stanch
the flow of blood.
|
Now it’s
correct. |
It was
incorrect. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
No!
2. She worked quickly to
stanch
the flow of blood.
|
It was
incorrect. |
Now it’s
correct. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
3. He desperately poured over
his notes in preparation for the exam.
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
Yes!
3. He desperately
pored
over his notes in preparation for the exam.
|
Now it’s
correct. |
It was
incorrect. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
No!
3. He desperately
pored
over his notes in preparation for the exam.
|
Now it’s
correct. |
It was
incorrect. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
4. By a fluke I neglected to
check my calendar and so missed the appointment.
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
No!
4. By a
fluke
[meaning a stroke of good luck]
I checked my calendar and saw
I had an appointment.
|
Now it’s
correct. |
It was
incorrect. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
Yes!
4. By a
fluke
[meaning a stroke of good luck]
I checked my calendar and saw I
had an appointment.
|
Now it’s
correct. |
It was
incorrect. |
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
5. I know you’re champing at the
bit to get this one right!
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
Yes!
5. I know
you’re champing
at the bit to get this one right!
Next
|
Take the
Word Choice
Challenge!
|
No!
5. I know
you’re champing
at the bit to get this one right!
Next
|
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