##  [Review exercise: Diction](/hypergrammar-2/review-diction)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

Decide whether the highlighted word or [phrase](building-phrases#bldphr) in each of the following examples is appropriate in formal writing.

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1\. Some believe **bleeding-heart liberals** have caused Canada’s debt problems.

appropriate

inappropriate

## Oops!

**Question:** Some believe **bleeding-heart liberals** have caused Canada’s debt problems. **Answer:** The answer *appropriate* is not correct. **Explanation:** The phrase *bleeding-heart liberals* is a [cliché](catchphrases#cliche). It also has a strongly negative [connotation](connotation-and-denotation#connotation), while formal writing should have a neutral tone.

## Good work!

**Question:** Some believe **bleeding-heart liberals** have caused Canada’s debt problems. **Answer:** The answer *inappropriate* is correct. **Explanation:** The phrase *bleeding-heart liberals* is a [cliché](catchphrases#cliche). It also has a strongly negative [connotation](connotation-and-denotation#connotation), while formal writing should have a neutral tone.

2\. The "**sacred heart**" is a common depiction of Jesus.

appropriate

inappropriate

## Good work!

**Question:** The "**sacred heart**" is a common depiction of Jesus. **Answer:** The answer *appropriate* is correct. **Explanation:** *Sacred heart* is the name of the type of depiction, not a cliché or catchphrase, so it is appropriate here.

## Oops!

**Question:** The "**sacred heart**" is a common depiction of Jesus. **Answer:** The answer *inappropriate* is not correct. **Explanation:** *Sacred heart* is the name of the type of depiction, not a cliché or catchphrase, so it is appropriate here.

3\. The Internet has become **very successful** over the past decade.

appropriate

inappropriate

## Good work!

**Question:** The Internet has become **very successful** over the past decade. **Answer:** The answer *appropriate* is correct. **Explanation:** The phrase *very successful* is common, but it does not attempt to be clever or different.

## Oops!

**Question:** The Internet has become **very successful** over the past decade. **Answer:** The answer *inappropriate* is not correct. **Explanation:** The phrase *very successful* is common, but it does not attempt to be clever or different.

4\. In 1812, General Brock was the **hero of the day**.

appropriate

inappropriate

## Oops!

**Question:** In 1812, General Brock was the **hero of the day**. **Answer:** The answer *appropriate* is not correct. **Explanation:** Although General Brock was a *hero* in the traditional, military sense, the once clever phrase *hero of the day* has been used so often that it has become a cliché.

## Good work!

**Question:** In 1812, General Brock was the **hero of the day**. **Answer:** The answer *inappropriate* is correct. **Explanation:** Although General Brock was a *hero* in the traditional, military sense, the once clever phrase *hero of the day* has been used so often that it has become a cliché.

5\. The government will **slash spending** by three billion dollars.

appropriate

inappropriate

## Oops!

**Question:** The government will **slash spending** by three billion dollars. **Answer:** The answer *appropriate* is not correct. **Explanation:** *Slash spending* is an especially low-grade journalistic [catchphrase](catchphrases#catchp) (the worst of them alliterate). The word *slash* has a strongly negative connotation, while formal writing should keep a neutral tone. The verb *reduce* would be a better choice in this case.

## Good work!

**Question:** The government will **slash spending** by three billion dollars. **Answer:** The answer *inappropriate* is correct. **Explanation:** *Slash spending* is an especially low-grade journalistic [catchphrase](catchphrases#catchp) (the worst of them alliterate). The word *slash* has a strongly negative connotation, while formal writing should keep a neutral tone. The verb *reduce* would be a better choice in this case.

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##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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