WPS Written Test key terms

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number, so a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb, even when words sit between them.

A group of words placed between a subject and its verb, often beginning with a preposition, that does not change the subject's number and should be ignored when checking agreement.

A singular word naming a group, such as team or committee, that usually takes a singular verb when the group acts as one unit but may take a plural verb when members act individually.

Matching a verb to the meaning of a subject rather than its grammatical form, as when a collective noun takes a plural verb because the members are acting separately.

The requirement that a pronoun match the noun it refers back to in number and gender, so a singular antecedent needs a singular pronoun and a plural antecedent needs a plural one.

The noun or noun phrase that a pronoun replaces or points back to, which determines whether the pronoun should be singular or plural and which case it takes.

A pronoun that does not point to a specific person or thing, such as everyone, each, few, or several, and whose number decides whether the verb and later pronouns are singular or plural.

A descriptive phrase at the start of a sentence that fails to attach to the noun it is meant to describe, so the sentence appears to credit the wrong thing with the action.

A descriptive word or phrase positioned too far from the element it modifies, creating confusion about what is being described or changing the intended meaning of the sentence.

A modifier placed between two words it could plausibly describe, so the reader cannot tell which one it is intended to limit, as in a word like only in mid-sentence.

The practice of expressing items in a series or comparison in the same grammatical form, such as all nouns or all gerunds, so the sentence reads smoothly and logically.

A paired connector such as either/or, neither/nor, or not only/but also, whose two halves should be followed by grammatically parallel elements to keep the sentence balanced.

An error in which a comparison is incomplete or illogical, often because it compares unlike things or omits the standard of comparison, leaving the meaning unclear or absurd.

The form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two items, usually made by adding -er or by placing more before the word, as in faster or more efficient.

The form of an adjective or adverb used to single out one item from three or more, usually made by adding -est or by placing most before the word, as in fastest or most efficient.

A verb form used for wishes, hypothetical situations, and formal demands, appearing as were with singular subjects or as the base verb after words like require and insist.

A sentence with an if-clause and a result clause that states what happens or would happen under a given condition, with verb tenses chosen to match real or unreal situations.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action of the verb, generally producing clearer and more direct prose than the alternative construction.

A construction in which the subject receives the action and the doer may be omitted or added in a by-phrase, useful when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

The quality of expressing an idea in the fewest words needed for clarity, achieved by cutting redundancy, empty phrases, and needless repetition from a sentence.

The unnecessary repetition of meaning within a phrase, as when two words say the same thing, which weakens writing and should be trimmed in business prose.

Saying the same thing twice in different words within one statement, so that the second expression adds no new information and merely repeats the first.

The use of more words than necessary to convey an idea, often through padded phrases, nominalizations, or expletive openings that delay the real subject and verb.

Turning a verb or adjective into a noun, as in make a decision for decide, which can make workplace writing stiff, abstract, and longer than needed.

The attitude a writer conveys toward the reader and subject, shaped by word choice and sentence structure and expected to stay professional and courteous in workplace messages.

The level of formality a piece of writing adopts for its audience and situation, ranging from casual internal chat to formal external correspondence.

A writing approach that focuses on the reader's needs and interests rather than the writer's, often by emphasizing benefits and using reader-centered phrasing in business messages.

The process of identifying who will read a document, what they already know, and what they need from it, so that content, tone, and detail level can be adjusted accordingly.

A neutral opening sentence in a bad-news message that softens the impact by establishing common ground before the unfavorable information is presented.

A message organization that states the main point first and follows with supporting detail, preferred when the reader expects the news or the news is neutral or positive.

A message organization that presents explanation and context before the main point, often used for sensitive or negative news so the reader is prepared for it.

An error in which two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, with no coordinating conjunction, leaving the sentence incorrectly punctuated.

Two or more independent clauses fused together without correct punctuation or a conjunction, producing a sentence that should be split or properly joined.

A group of words containing a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

A group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it begins with a subordinating word or lacks a complete thought.

A word such as because, although, or when that introduces a dependent clause and signals how that clause relates to the main idea.

A clause that adds extra, nonessential information about a noun and is set off by commas, meaning the sentence still makes sense if the clause is removed.

A clause that identifies which noun is meant and cannot be removed without changing the sentence's meaning, so it is not set off by commas.

A noun or noun phrase placed beside another noun to rename or explain it, set off by commas when the information is nonessential to identifying the noun.

A punctuation mark used to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or to separate items in a list that already contain internal commas.

A punctuation mark that introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete clause, signaling that what follows will expand on what came before.