Creative Editing
Chapter 3
Note: Exercises 5 through 12 are based on the material on correct word usage in this chapter, as well as on the list of frequently misused words in the Appendix.
Exercise 8
8. Delete the incorrect choices in the following sentences.
a. I asked the real estate agent whether she [felt, thought] the property would [deprecate, depreciate] during the next two years.
b. In the movie two men fought a [dual, duel].
c. She hit her attacker with a [cue, queue].
d. We spent a wonderful vacation in [Cypress, Cyprus].
e. The scientist spent much of his career trying to [disapprove, disprove] Einstein's theory.
f. The room has a [distinctive, distinguished] odor.
g. The [desert, dessert] was a perfect [complement, compliment] to the meal.
h. The car has [dual, duel] mufflers.
i. He hurled [epithets, epitaphs] at his opponent.
j. The new law makes a jail term mandatory for [drunk, drunken] drivers.
k. She always feels [eager, anxious] on the night before a big test.
l. The scene [evoked, invoked] memories of his boyhood home.
m. [Fliers, Flyers] were placed throughout the campus to announce the meeting.
n. After many years as a successful newspaper reporter, he became a [flack, flak] for a politician.
o. In his dealings with children in the neighborhood, he was an [erasable, irascible] old man.
p. The mother told her child to be careful at summer camp, [especially, specially] when swimming.
q. They chose this camp [especially, specially] for its musical activities.
r. As part of her physical training program, she walked at least a mile [farther, further] each week.
s. He [figuratively, literally] hit the ceiling when he heard about the ruling.
t. He [flaunted, flouted] his wealth.
u. It was a [flagrant, fragrant] foul, but the referee did not see it.
v. Please cook some [flounder, founder].
w. Please study the matter [farther, further] before deciding what to do.
x. Two [fewer, less] candidates filed for office this year.
y. His colleagues did not think his [factious, factitious, facetious] remarks were amusing.
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