Whose rule is right? Settle disputed usage

Grade 11 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Usage note (written by PencilGo), split infinitives

   A split infinitive puts a word between to and its verb (to carefully check). Older handbooks forbade it. The Chicago Manual of Style has accepted it for decades when it reads more clearly. A few formal readers still object, so a writer for them may recast the sentence when the meaning stays the same.

2. 1.

   Zee scans the usage note before editing a club essay. Which summary matches the note?

   • Accepted when it reads more clearly; a few formal readers object, so recasting can suit them.
   • Accepted when it reads more clearly; formal readers object, so recast it even if the meaning changes.
   • An error that current guides reject, so a writer must recast it for any kind of reader.
   • Accepted when it reads more clearly, and no reader objects to it any longer.

3. Usage note (written by PencilGo), who and whom

   Whom is the object form (the coach whom we thanked); who is the subject form (the coach who thanked us). In speech and casual writing, who often replaces whom, and dictionaries note this. Formal writing keeps whom as an object. Whom as a subject (the coach whom thanked us) is an error in any register. Audience: a formal thank-you letter to the Fernhill museum board.

4. 2.

   Ren reads the note and the audience line. Which sentence suits the letter?

   • We thank Dr. Hale, who invited the board to judge the fair.
   • We thank Dr. Hale, whom the board invited to judge the fair.
   • We thank Dr. Hale, who the board invited to judge the fair.
   • We thank Dr. Hale, whom judged the fair at the board's invitation.

5. Usage note (written by PencilGo), ending with a preposition

   A sentence may end with a preposition (the club I belong to). The Chicago Manual of Style says there is no rule against it. Some formal readers prefer the preposition earlier (the club to which I belong) when that reads smoothly, but forcing it earlier can sound stiff.

6. 3.

   Pia scans the note on final prepositions. Which summary matches it?

   • Standard English; for formal readers, move the preposition earlier even when it sounds stiff.
   • Standard English; Chicago finds no rule against it, though some formal readers move the preposition earlier.
   • An error in edited writing; Chicago says a preposition must come before its object.
   • Standard English, and no reader prefers the preposition earlier, even in formal writing.

7. Use this

   Usage notes (written by PencilGo). Could of: a misspelling of could've (could have); nonstandard in edited writing. Over for "more than": disputed; the AP Stylebook accepts it, but some readers prefer more than. Beginning with And or But: accepted; current guides, including Chicago, allow it. Gonna: informal; fine in casual dialogue, not in formal writing.

8. 4.

   Noah sorts the four forms using the notes. Which sentence uses the nonstandard one?

   • The coach said the club is gonna practice on Friday.
   • And the final question decided the whole contest.
   • The club could of won the trophy with one more point.
   • Over forty teams entered the regional trivia contest.

9. Usage note (written by PencilGo), hopefully

   Hopefully once meant just "in a hopeful way." It is now widely used to mean "it is hoped" (Hopefully, the bus is on time). The AP Stylebook accepted that use in 2012, but some careful readers still object. For them, "we hope" or "I hope" avoids the dispute.

10. 5.

    Luz scans the note on hopefully before editing a club newsletter. Which summary matches it?

    • Widely used for "it is hoped" and accepted by AP since 2012; some careful readers object, so "we hope" avoids it.
    • Widely used for "it is hoped", accepted by AP in 2012, and no careful reader objects now.
    • Wrong when it means "it is hoped"; AP rejected that use in 2012, so it should be avoided.
    • Widely used for "it is hoped"; for careful readers, write "in a hopeful way" instead.

11. Use this

    Usage notes (written by PencilGo). Alot: a misspelling of a lot; nonstandard in edited writing. Less with things you count: disputed; dictionaries record it, but many editors expect fewer. Split infinitives: accepted; Chicago allows them when they read more clearly. Alright: informal; common in casual writing, but many readers prefer all right.

12. 6.

    Kira checks each form against the notes. Which sentence uses a form the notes call nonstandard?

    • The muffins turned out alright after the oven trouble.
    • The bake sale had less volunteers than last year.
    • The bake sale raised alot of money for the trip.
    • The club hopes to quickly sell the last muffins.

13. Usage note (written by PencilGo), comprise

    Traditionally, the whole comprises its parts (The club comprises four teams). Is comprised of is common, and dictionaries record it, but many usage guides object to it. In formal writing, use comprises or is composed of. Comprises of is an error. Audience: an entry for the Millbrook county history book.

14. 7.

    Jun reads the note and the audience line. Which sentence suits the history book?

    • The county comprises four towns along the river.
    • The county comprises of four towns along the river.
    • The county borders four towns along the river.
    • The county is comprised of four towns along the river.

15. Usage note (written by PencilGo), over and more than

    Over for "more than" with numbers (over 300 runners) was long criticized. The AP Stylebook dropped its objection in 2014, and dictionaries treat the use as standard. Some formal readers still prefer "more than."

16. 8.

    Esme scans the note on over and more than. Which summary matches it?

    • Accepted by AP and dictionaries, and formal readers have no preference between the two.
    • Still an error with numbers, so "more than" is required wherever a number appears.
    • Accepted by AP and dictionaries; for formal readers, write "over" in place of "more than."
    • Long criticized, but accepted by AP since 2014 and by dictionaries; some formal readers still prefer "more than."

17. Use this

    Usage notes (written by PencilGo). Theirselves: dictionaries label it nonstandard or dialectal; edited writing uses themselves. Is comprised of: disputed; dictionaries record it, but many guides object. Whose with things (a tree whose leaves): accepted; standard in any register. Like before a clause (like the sign says): informal; formal writing uses as.

18. 9.

    Bo labels each form from the notes. Which sentence uses the form the notes call nonstandard?

    • The volunteers painted the benches theirselves.
    • The park crew is comprised of six volunteers.
    • Like the sign says, the benches are wet.
    • The oak whose branches shade the benches is a century old.

19. Usage note (written by PencilGo), like and as

    Like before a noun (looks like the old one) is standard in any register. Like before a clause (like the survey shows) is common in speech, but many usage guides object to it in formal writing, where as is expected. Swapping a correct like for as (looks as the old one) is an error. Audience: a formal report to the Larkspur transit board.

20. 10.

    Ari reads the note and the audience line. Which sentence suits the transit report?

    • As the survey shows, the new bus looks like the old one.
    • As the survey shows, the new bus looks as the old one.
    • Like the survey shows, the new bus looks like the old one.
    • As the survey shows, the new bus looks unlike the old one.