Maintaining Academic Register
Question
In her recent paper, the geneticist got down to the question of how mutations accumulate over generations.
Answer choices
- NO CHANGE
- tackled big-time
- really dug into
- addressed
D Correct answer: D) addressed
The context is a scientist writing a research paper. The formal verb "addressed" matches that register; casual phrases like "got down to" or "tackled big-time" do not.
The other options either introduce a grammatical error or change the intended meaning. The ACT consistently rewards the most concise, grammatically correct option.
Read the sentence with each option substituted in. The version that preserves meaning while obeying the underlying rule is the correct answer; on the ACT, that is almost always the shortest option that still works.
The underlying rule
Academic and scientific writing uses formal verbs ("addressed," "examined," "investigated") rather than colloquial phrases ("got down to," "tackled big-time," "really dug into").
Why each wrong answer is wrong
- A) NO CHANGE: This phrase uses casual or colloquial language inappropriate for the academic context of a scientific paper.
- B) tackled big-time: This phrase uses casual or colloquial language inappropriate for the academic context of a scientific paper.
- C) really dug into: This phrase uses casual or colloquial language inappropriate for the academic context of a scientific paper.
Study tip
Whenever the ACT puts you in an academic, scientific, or professional context, scan answer choices for slang or casual phrasing — those are usually the wrong answers, regardless of whether they are grammatical.
More Hard Style & Word Choice
- Eliminating WordinessThe committee made the decision to come to a conclusion to approve the proposal.
- Removing Redundant WordsThe lecture began at exactly 9 a.m. in the morning on the first day of class.
- Idiomatic Word ChoiceThe new policy will have a significant affect on staffing decisions next quarter.
- Choosing the Most Precise WordThe hiking trail goes through dense forest before opening into a wide alpine meadow
- Maintaining Academic RegisterIn her recent paper, the geneticist got down to the question of how mutations accum