Business Writing Quiz: Can You Identify The Wrong Words?

1. It was a little surprising because most teachers say the actual test is easier _______ practice ones, but in this case I didn't think it was that much easier.

Then

Than

then (refers to time)
than (used to make a comparison)

Explanation

then (refers to time)
than (used to make a comparison)

2. Here's some good _________ for students who want to find the perfect internship.

Advise

Advice

advise (recommend)
advice (a noun meaning guidance).

Explanation

advise (recommend)
advice (a noun meaning guidance).

3. Laguna de Apoyo lies 40 minutes outside of town, and no motor boats are allowed on its waters, making the atmosphere very ________ and peaceful.

Quite

Quiet

quite (adverb meaning very)
quiet (adjective meaning silent)

Explanation

quite (adverb meaning very)
quiet (adjective meaning silent)

4. _______ going to be President in 2013?

Whose

Who's

Change the possessive pronoun Whose to the contraction Who's (who is).

Explanation

Change the possessive pronoun Whose to the contraction Who's (who is).

5. I've always said that there's___________ of untapped talent out there.

Alot

A lot

The correct answer is "a lot". This phrase is used to express a large amount or quantity of something. In this context, the speaker is saying that there is a large amount of untapped talent out there. "Alot" is not a word in the English language, so it is not the correct answer.

Explanation

The correct answer is "a lot". This phrase is used to express a large amount or quantity of something. In this context, the speaker is saying that there is a large amount of untapped talent out there. "Alot" is not a word in the English language, so it is not the correct answer.

6. Breaking news from Toy Fair: Barbie and Ken have broken up! After 43 years of dating, ________ all over for the prince and princess of plastic.

Its

It's

its (possessive pronoun )
it's (contraction it is)

Explanation

its (possessive pronoun )
it's (contraction it is)

7. O'Neill made several other statements that are sticking in supply-side craws. For one thing, he seemed to _________ that business people do not respond to lower tax-rate incentives. 'I never made an investment decision based on the tax code,' he said.

Infer

Imply

infer (deduce)
imply (suggest)

Explanation

infer (deduce)
imply (suggest)

8. Adventure Science Center (_____________ known as the Children's Science Museum, as old-timers will remember) offers an endless supply of educational fun with on-going special exhibits.

Formally

Formerly

formally (in a formal way)
formerly (at an earlier time)

Explanation

formally (in a formal way)
formerly (at an earlier time)

9. Over the past ten years, in order to achieve the growth, development, and scale necessary to go from less than 1,000 stores to 13,000 stores and beyond, we have had to make a series of decisions that, in retrospect, have __________ to the watering down of the Starbucks experience.

Lead

Led

led is the past participle form of the verb.
(Also, change less to fewer.)

Explanation

led is the past participle form of the verb.
(Also, change less to fewer.)

10. Some of these events have already been highlighted in the last days; others _________ new to you.

Maybe

May be

maybe (adverb meaning perhaps)
may be (verb phrase meaning showing possibility)

Explanation

maybe (adverb meaning perhaps)
may be (verb phrase meaning showing possibility)

11. I kept dreaming that my fingerprints came up in an investigation for a major crime. The dreams were really disturbing, and I told my husband that I must have a guilty _____________.

Conscious

Conscience

conscious (adjective meaning being aware)
conscience (noun meaning the sense of what is right and wrong)

Explanation

conscious (adjective meaning being aware)
conscience (noun meaning the sense of what is right and wrong)

12. We all have favorite movie quotations from some of our favorite actors. Regrettably, we can't always recall what movie or which actor. The full quote __________ us.

Alludes

Eludes

alludes (make an indirect reference)
eludes (escape the understanding of)

Explanation

alludes (make an indirect reference)
eludes (escape the understanding of)

13. Interns receive _______________ tickets to the Mill Valley Film Festival and the Smith Film Center as well as a CFI membership.

Complementary

Complimentary

complementary (something that completes or brings to perfection)
complimentary (given free)

Explanation

complementary (something that completes or brings to perfection)
complimentary (given free)

14. Visit a lake you're unfamiliar with, and you'll immediately realize you'd better do your homework if you want to hook the _____________ rainbow trout.

Illusive

Elusive

illusive (another word for illusory)
elusive (tending to evade capture or avoid perception)

Explanation

illusive (another word for illusory)
elusive (tending to evade capture or avoid perception)

15. Another survey of 256 people who had been divorced at one time or another asked, 'What was the __________ reason you got a divorce?'

Principle

Principal

principle (noun meaning basic truth or rule)
principal (adjective meaning most important)

Explanation

principle (noun meaning basic truth or rule)
principal (adjective meaning most important)