Using Precise Language

These worksheets provide students practice using precise language. This means eliminating vague constructions and unnecessary verbiage. For example, the sentence, "Tom is a careless person" gets changed to "Tom is careless."


Directions: rewrite the following sentences to replace vague language with precise language.
 
Example:
     Vague Sentence   --> I think that there should be law against using too much water.
     Precise Sentence --> It should be illegal to waste water.


1. I will start to go at exactly 10:30 in the morning.
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2. We are better than everyone else at checkers.
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3. Karen is wearing boots of the most extremely high quality in the world.
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4. I just can’t believe how incredibly fast time goes by when you are not doing something totally boring.
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5. Tom is a generous guy.
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6. The two twins are like, perfectly identical.
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7. It’s getting near the time that the show is going to start.
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Answers:
1. I will go at 10:30 a.m.
2. We are the best checker players. / We are the best at checkers.
3. Karen is wearing very nice boots.
4. I can’t believe how fast time goes by when you’re doing something entertaining.
5. Tom is generous.
6. The twins are identical.
7. The show is about to start.