Word Usage Quiz for Writers

When you choose the right word for the right situation, your writing looks polished and professional, but sometimes it’s almost like English is out to get you with all its little pitfalls.

It’s easy to read advice about commonly confused words, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get them right later. Yesterday I started wondering whether seeing the two next to each other and making an active, deliberate choice between them would help people store the information where it can be easily reached the next time the choice needs to be made.

So… I taught myself how to make quizzes embedded in my blog. Here, have a quiz!

You’ll see no preference-based rules like “as” vs. “like” or “that” vs. “which,” because they’re just not worth the worry. In the words of Paul Brians: “Like you care.”

 

Which Word?

 

How well do you know these similar-but-different words? Each question in this short quiz gives you a chance to confront a common writing mistake that I’ve seen in the wild as an editor.

1 / 10

Which word goes in the sentence, "I think this tie will _____ your shirt"?

2 / 10

Which word goes in the sentence "Sometimes I ____ track of my keys"?

3 / 10

Which word is a verb?

4 / 10

Which word refers to leaving your country?

5 / 10

Which word means "unfavorable," as in "The drug had _____ effects on her health"?

6 / 10

Which word is a verb?

7 / 10

If I appreciate a gift, I accept it _______.

8 / 10

Which word means "coming soon"?

9 / 10

Which word is a verb?

10 / 10

Which word refers to a part of your car?

Your score is

 

Note: If you’re concerned that I’ll be able to see your answers, don’t be! This quiz doesn’t collect your name or email address, so I only receive anonymous data.

I’m planning to do a series of these with different word pairs, so if you have any trouble with the quiz functionality, let me know!

© 2014 Sarah Lindholm
© 2023 The Detail Woman LLC

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