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 9
9. Delete the incorrect choices in the following sentences.
a. His presence seemed to [ferment, foment] trouble.
b. Jim is her [fiance, fiancee].
c. The 400-pound wrestler was a [forbidding, foreboding] opponent.
d. To accomplish the task on time, workers had to [forego, forgo] vacations.
e. He was a [gorilla, guerrilla] in Nicaragua.
f. The reporter became [nauseated, nauseous] when he saw the [grisly, gristly, grizzly] crime scene.
g. [Hopefully, I hope] it will not rain on July 4.
h. If your mother marries my father, we will become [half sisters, stepsisters].
i. He was an [inapt, inept] carpenter.
j. The Bible is a [holey, holy] book.
k. The city wanted to erect a [historic, historical] marker at the site.
l. The commander ordered that all flags on the [naval, navel] fleet should fly at [half-mast, half-staff].
m. The temperature today will be [lower, cooler] than yesterday.
n. After the discussion, the marriage [counselor, councilor] had a better [incite, insight] into the couple's problems.
o. Grease is [insoluble, insolvable, insolvent] in water.
p. Did you [elicit, illicit] a promise from the child?
q. Have you decided [if, whether] you will attend this university?
r. He was [impassable, impassible] during the funeral.
s. She was [incredible, incredulous] at the sales representative's claims for the product.
t. This was the [cite, site] of a World War II [interment, internment] camp.
u. You should be polite to John, [irregardless, irrespective] of your dislike for him.
v. It was an [ingenious, ingenuous] solution to the problem, and she wondered why no one had tried it earlier.
w. The [eminent, imminent] scientist was born in Germany but [emigrated, immigrated] to the United States.
x. He brought [elicit, illicit] drugs into the country.
y. The teachers did everything they could to [insure, ensure] the students' safety.
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