Original: 'The locked cabinet held the records.' A writer deletes 'locked'. What information disappears?

• The cabinet's contents.
• The cabinet's locked condition.
• Where the records were kept.

Which practice combines precision and economy?

• Adding detail to every noun.
• Replacing vague words with longer words in every sentence.
• Choosing exact words and cutting needless repetition.

A writer may invent a specific name to replace 'the thing' when neither the draft nor the notes identifies the object.

Notes say a burst pipe flooded the corridor. A draft says, 'The situation was bad.' Which revision states both the noted cause and place without adding facts?

• The corridor was flooded.
• A burst pipe flooded the corridor.
• A burst pipe flooded the corridor and classrooms.

He shut the door with a sudden, forceful bang. Which verb keeps that manner of shutting it?

• Slammed
• Closed
• Opened

A shorter report has lost a date readers need to follow the events. What should the writer do before accepting the cut?

• Accept the cut because it is shorter.
• Count words without checking the event order.
• Restore the needed date after comparing both versions.

Notes say, 'The repair may take two days.' A student revises this to 'The repair will take two days.' What meaning changed?

• The stated duration changed to a single day.
• The sentence now describes a different repair.
• Uncertainty became a definite prediction.

Original: 'The courier checked the address twice, two times, then left while smiling.' Which shorter revision keeps the count, order and expression?

• The courier checked the address twice, then left smiling.
• The courier checked the address once, then left smiling.
• The courier checked the address twice, then left frowning.