ACT English — Mastering Knowledge of Language

Precision

Choosing the exact word or phrase that expresses the intended meaning.

Clarity

Making the meaning easy for a reader to understand quickly and with little effort.

Specific, concrete language

Wording that names exact details or actions instead of relying on vague words like things, nice, or a lot.

Intensity mismatch

A word-choice error in which the language is too strong or too weak for what the context actually supports.

Category mismatch

A logical error in which a word describes the wrong kind of thing, such as using a taste word to describe something read.

Standard idiom

The conventional English expression or preposition pairing that sounds most natural, such as capable of or prefer X to Y.

Vague pronoun reference

A clarity problem in which a pronoun like this, that, which, it, or they does not clearly refer to one specific noun or idea.

Misplaced modifier

A descriptive word or phrase placed so that it seems to modify the wrong word in the sentence.

Squinting modifier

A modifier placed in the middle of a sentence so that it could logically modify either what comes before or after it.

Concision

Using no more words than necessary to express an idea clearly.

Redundancy

Unnecessary repetition caused by words or phrases that overlap in meaning, such as final outcome.

Wordy phrase

A long expression that can be replaced with shorter, more direct wording, such as because instead of due to the fact that.

Empty intensifier

A word like very, really, or basically that often adds little meaning in formal writing.

Active voice

A sentence structure in which the subject performs the action, usually making writing more direct and concise.

Style

The overall way a piece of writing sounds through its word choice, sentence structure, and level of sophistication.

Tone

The writer's attitude toward the subject and audience, such as serious, respectful, enthusiastic, or critical.

Formality

The level of casualness or seriousness in language that should match the passage's context and purpose.

Point of view consistency

Keeping the same pronoun perspective or narrative position instead of shifting among forms like I, you, and they.

Verb tense consistency

Maintaining the same tense throughout a passage unless there is a clear, logical reason to shift time.

Connotation

The emotional or attitudinal coloring a word carries beyond its basic dictionary meaning.

Level of technicality

The degree of specialized language used in a passage, which should stay consistent with the subject and audience.

Rhetorical effectiveness

How well writing achieves its purpose by improving flow, focus, emphasis, and logical connection.

Paragraph purpose

The main job a paragraph is doing, such as introducing a topic, explaining an idea, giving an example, or concluding.

Transition

A word or phrase that shows the logical relationship between ideas, such as addition, contrast, cause and effect, or example.

Sentence placement

Putting a sentence where it connects most logically to surrounding ideas and supports the paragraph's flow.