Editing for Word Choice: Tornadoes

This exercise asks you to find and replace incorrectly chosen words.

Examples:

i. Michiko has been a student at this college during three years.
Answer: Michiko has been a student at this college for three years.

ii. Their are 850 active volcanoes around the world.
Answer: There are 850 active volcanoes around the world.

iii. Jackson was unable to present the results on Monday due to illness.
Answer: No change

First read the paragraph first for overall meaning.

To open a dictionary in a new window, click a link: [Newbury House Online Dictionary] [Dictionary.com] [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]

1. Tornadoes are the more violent of all windstorms. 2. Usually formed during warm, humid weather and in conjunction as severe thunderstorms, tornadoes are whirlpools of destruction. 3. Their destructive funnels, which stretch downward from dark cumulonimbus clouds too the ground, may travel up to 70 miles per hour. 4. As the storm moves along the ground, high winds that rotate on a counterclockwise direction collect dust and debris. 5. The average tornado path is only a quarter of a mile wide and 16 miles long; however, their have been larger tornadoes whose paths have measured a mile wide and 300 miles long. 6. Tornadoes occur over land and water and may past from one to the other without any change in there appearance. 7. Their destructive effects include demolishing buildings, uprooting trees, and hurling cars, people, and animals for hundreds of yards. 8. A tornado in 1931 picked off a railroad coach that was carrying 117 passengers and carried it 80 feet in the air before dropping it in a ditch. 9. In April 1965, 37 tornadoes struck in the Midwest, killed 271 people, and injured more than 5,000. 10. The tornadoes that month were too destructive. 11. The mathematical chance that a tornado will strike a specific location is quiet small. 12. However, no area is more favorable to their formation then the continental United States during the months of April, May, and June. 13. In addition, their must be a radio operator on duty at all times.

Source: Improving the Grammar of Written English, The Editing Process, Benson and Byrd

Now analyze each sentence for word choice errors. If there is no word choice error, write No change. If there are any word choice errors (1 or more), revise the sentence, typing in the correct word or words. Shortcut: Copy the sentence, paste it in the box, and edit the word or words.There are twelve (12) word choice errors. There are no other error types, so do not make any other changes. When you are finished, click Click here to check your answer to reveal the correct answer for each item.

1. Tornadoes are the more violent of all windstorms.


2. Usually formed during warm, humid weather and in conjunction as severe thunderstorms, tornadoes are whirlpools of destruction.


3. Their destructive funnels, which stretch downward from dark cumulonimbus clouds too the ground, may travel up to 70 miles per hour.


4. As the storm moves along the ground, high winds that rotate on a counterclockwise direction collect dust and debris.


5. The average tornado path is only a quarter of a mile wide and 16 miles long; however, their have been larger tornadoes whose paths have measured a mile wide and 300 miles long.


6. Tornadoes occur over land and water and may past from one to the other without any change in there appearance.


7. Their destructive effects include demolishing buildings, uprooting trees, and hurling cars, people, and animals for hundreds of yards.


8. A tornado in 1931 picked off a railroad coach that was carrying 117 passengers and carried it 80 feet in the air before dropping it in a ditch.


9. In April 1965, 37 tornadoes struck in the Midwest, killed 271 people, and injured more than 5,000.


10. The tornadoes that month were too destructive.


11. The mathematical chance that a tornado will strike a specific location is quiet small.


12. However, no area is more favorable to their formation then the continental United States during the months of April, May, and June.


13. In addition, their must be a radio operator on duty at all times.


[Go to class at cvc.blackboard.com] [marsha_chan@wvmccd.cc.ca.us]


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URL:
http://www.missioncollege.org/depts/esl/