ACT English Flashcards: Word Choice

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Word Choice, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for ACT English.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Find the correct word: 'The   of the city was breathtaking.'

Answer: view. Noun meaning sight or visual perspective of something.

Flashcard 2: What is the difference between "farther" and "further" in standard usage?

Answer: Farther for physical distance; further for degree or extent. Farther = measurable distance; further = abstract progress.

Flashcard 3: What is the difference between "emigrate" and "immigrate" in standard usage?

Answer: Emigrate leave a country; immigrate enter a new country. Emigrate = exit from; immigrate = enter into.

Flashcard 4: What is the difference between "who" and "whom" in standard usage?

Answer: Who as subject; whom as object. Test by replacing with he/him: he = who, him = whom.

Flashcard 5: Choose the correct word: 'He   the question with ease.'

Answer: answered. Past tense of 'answer,' indicating a completed response.

Flashcard 6: Identify the more formal word for 'start'.

Answer: Initiate. More formal and precise than 'start'.

Flashcard 7: What is the difference between "ensure," "insure," and "assure" in standard usage?

Answer: Ensure make certain; insure cover risk; assure reassure a person. Ensure = make certain; insure = protect; assure = convince person.

Flashcard 8: Which word is a homophone of 'flour'?

Answer: flower. Noun referring to a plant's colorful reproductive structure.

Flashcard 9: Which word means 'to examine carefully'?

Answer: Scrutinize. Means to examine something closely and critically.

Flashcard 10: What term describes a comparison using 'like' or 'as'?

Answer: Simile. Direct comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

Flashcard 11: What is the difference between "allusion" and "illusion" in standard usage?

Answer: Allusion is a reference; illusion is a false appearance. Allusion = indirect reference; illusion = false perception.

Flashcard 12: Which word completes the sentence: 'The   rose in the east.'?

Answer: sun. Noun referring to the star that provides light and heat to Earth.

Flashcard 13: What is the difference between "fewer" and "less" in standard usage?

Answer: Fewer for countable items; less for uncountable amounts. Count the items: if you can count them, use fewer.

Flashcard 14: What is the difference between "cite," "site," and "sight" in standard usage?

Answer: Cite reference; site location; sight vision. Cite = reference sources; site = location; sight = vision.

Flashcard 15: What is the difference between "its" and "it is" in standard usage?

Answer: Its is possessive; it is is a contraction meaning "it is". Test by expanding: if 'it is' works, use the contraction.

Flashcard 16: Identify the correct word: 'He   the ball into the goal.'

Answer: kicked. Past tense of 'kick,' describing a completed physical action.

Flashcard 17: What is the key rule for idiom questions involving prepositions (for example, different from vs. different than)?

Answer: Choose the standard idiomatic preposition for that expression. Each idiom has its own conventional preposition pattern.

Flashcard 18: Choose the best word: "This solution is more efficient (then/than) the previous one."

Answer: than. Than is used for making comparisons.

Flashcard 19: Identify the correct word: 'He has a   for music.'

Answer: talent. Noun meaning natural ability or skill in a particular area.

Flashcard 20: Which word completes the sentence: 'The cat was   on the mat'?

Answer: lying. Present participle of 'lie' meaning resting in a horizontal position.

Flashcard 21: Choose the correct word: 'He was given a cite/sight/site to review.'

Answer: Site. 'Site' means location; context suggests a website.

Flashcard 22: Find the correct word: 'This painting is very  .'

Answer: valuable. Adjective meaning having worth or importance.

Flashcard 23: Which word completes the sentence: 'The team   the championship.'?

Answer: won. Past tense of 'win,' indicating victory in competition.

Flashcard 24: What is the difference between "their," "there," and "they are" in standard usage?

Answer: Their possessive; there location; they are means "they are". Their shows ownership; there indicates place; they're = they are.

Flashcard 25: Choose the correct word: 'The weather will affect/effect our plans.'

Answer: Affect. 'Affect' is the verb; 'effect' is the noun.

Flashcard 26: What is the difference between "emigrate" and "immigrate" in standard usage?

Answer: Emigrate leave a country; immigrate enter a new country. Emigrate = exit from; immigrate = enter into.

Flashcard 27: Choose the correct word: 'He is   to finish the report.'

Answer: eager. Adjective expressing enthusiasm or strong desire to do something.

Flashcard 28: Choose the correct word: 'She is a member of the counsel/council.'

Answer: Council. 'Council' is a group; 'counsel' is advice.

Flashcard 29: What is the difference between "lay" and "lie" in standard usage?

Answer: Lay takes a direct object; lie does not. Lay requires an object (lay the book); lie stands alone.

Flashcard 30: Identify the correct word: 'She   a letter to her friend.'

Answer: sent. Past tense of 'send,' indicating completed transmission or delivery.

Flashcard 31: Identify the correct word: 'She   a letter to her friend.'

Answer: sent. Past tense of 'send,' indicating completed transmission or delivery.

Flashcard 32: What is the difference between "then" and "than" in standard usage?

Answer: Then relates to time; than is used for comparisons. Then indicates sequence; than shows comparison.

Flashcard 33: Find and correct the error: 'She should of known better.'

Answer: Replace 'of' with 'have'. 'Should have' is correct; 'should of' is wrong.

Flashcard 34: What is the difference between "imply" and "infer" in standard usage?

Answer: Imply: suggest; infer: conclude from evidence. Speaker implies; listener infers from what was implied.

Flashcard 35: Which word means 'to formally give up a position'?

Answer: resign. Verb meaning to quit or step down from a job or office.

Flashcard 36: What is the synonym of 'reduce'?

Answer: Diminish. Means to make smaller or less.

Flashcard 37: Choose the best word: "The coach praised the players (who/whom) the fans supported."

Answer: whom. Whom is the object of the fans' support.

Flashcard 38: What is the best general strategy when two options are grammatically correct but differ in length?

Answer: Prefer the more concise option if meaning is unchanged. Economy of language is valued when clarity is maintained.

Flashcard 39: Choose the best word: "For (further/farther) information, consult the handbook."

Answer: further. Further refers to additional information (abstract extent).

Flashcard 40: Which word completes the sentence: 'The cat was   on the mat'?

Answer: lying. Present participle of 'lie' meaning resting in a horizontal position.

Flashcard 41: What word choice principle requires keeping meaning consistent with the passage's tone and purpose?

Answer: Appropriateness to tone and context. Words must match the passage's formality level and purpose.

Flashcard 42: Choose the appropriate word: 'He has a strong   in mathematics.'

Answer: interest. Noun meaning curiosity or concern about something.

Flashcard 43: Choose the correct word: 'He is an affect/effect of the policy.'

Answer: Effect. 'Effect' is a noun; 'affect' is typically a verb.

Flashcard 44: Choose the best word: "After the hike, he needed to (lie/lay) down for an hour."

Answer: lie. Lie means to recline and takes no direct object.

Flashcard 45: Choose the best word: "The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday; (then/than), we will travel."

Answer: then. Then indicates time sequence (next in time).

Flashcard 46: Which word means 'to officially approve'?

Answer: Ratify. Means to formally confirm or approve.

Flashcard 47: Choose the correct word: 'The principle/principal reason is clear.'

Answer: Principal. 'Principal' means main or chief; 'principle' means rule.

Flashcard 48: What is the synonym of 'increase'?

Answer: Augment. Means to add to or make greater.

Flashcard 49: Choose the best word: "The committee hoped to (effect/affect) meaningful change."

Answer: effect. Effect as a verb means to bring about or cause.

Flashcard 50: What is the difference between "stationary" and "stationery" in standard usage?

Answer: Stationary not moving; stationery writing paper. Stationary = not moving; stationery = writing materials.

Flashcard 51: Which word is a homophone of 'flour'?

Answer: flower. Noun referring to a plant's colorful reproductive structure.

Flashcard 52: What is the term for a word opposite in meaning to another?

Answer: Antonym. A word with opposite meaning, like 'hot' vs 'cold'.

Flashcard 53: Choose the correct word: 'The   of the book was thrilling.'

Answer: plot. Noun referring to the main story or sequence of events.

Flashcard 54: Choose the best word: "The scientist will (infer/imply) a conclusion from the data."

Answer: infer. The scientist draws a conclusion from evidence (infers).

Flashcard 55: Find and correct the error: 'He could of gone to the store.'

Answer: Replace 'of' with 'have'. 'Could have' is correct; 'could of' is wrong.

Flashcard 56: Choose the correct word: 'The principle/principal reason is clear.'

Answer: Principal. 'Principal' means main or chief; 'principle' means rule.

Flashcard 57: Identify the correct word: 'The car's break/brake light is out.'

Answer: Brake. 'Brake' stops a car; 'break' means to damage.

Flashcard 58: Identify the correct word: 'He   the ball into the goal.'

Answer: kicked. Past tense of 'kick,' describing a completed physical action.

Flashcard 59: What is the difference between "complement" and "compliment" in standard usage?

Answer: Complement completes; compliment praises. Complement = complete; compliment = praise.

Flashcard 60: Choose the correct word: 'The weather will affect/effect our plans.'

Answer: Affect. 'Affect' is the verb; 'effect' is the noun.

Flashcard 61: Which word completes the sentence: 'The   dog barked loudly.'?

Answer: angry. Adjective describing an emotional state of rage or displeasure.

Flashcard 62: Choose the best word: "The advertisement may (imply/infer) that the product is safer."

Answer: imply. The advertisement suggests something (implies to the reader).

Flashcard 63: What word choice principle requires keeping meaning consistent with the passage's tone and purpose?

Answer: Appropriateness to tone and context. Words must match the passage's formality level and purpose.

Flashcard 64: What is the antonym of 'success'?

Answer: Failure. Opposite of success; lack of achievement.

Flashcard 65: Find and correct the error: 'The team lost its/it's match.'

Answer: Its. 'Its' shows possession; 'it's' means 'it is'.

Flashcard 66: Identify the correct word: 'He has a   for music.'

Answer: talent. Noun meaning natural ability or skill in a particular area.

Flashcard 67: What is the antonym of 'expand'?

Answer: Contract. Opposite of expand; means to become smaller.

Flashcard 68: What is the difference between "fewer" and "less" in standard usage?

Answer: Fewer for countable items; less for uncountable amounts. Count the items: if you can count them, use fewer.

Flashcard 69: What word describes a humorous play on words?

Answer: Pun. Wordplay based on multiple meanings of words.

Flashcard 70: What is the primary goal of word choice questions on ACT English?

Answer: Select the most precise, clear, and context-appropriate wording. This is the core principle underlying all ACT English word choice questions.

Flashcard 71: Choose the correct word: 'The   was too cold to swim.'

Answer: water. Noun referring to the clear liquid essential for life.

Flashcard 72: What is the difference between "stationary" and "stationery" in standard usage?

Answer: Stationary not moving; stationery writing paper. Stationary = not moving; stationery = writing materials.

Flashcard 73: What is the difference between "principal" and "principle" in standard usage?

Answer: Principal: main/person; principle: rule or belief. Principal = primary; principle = fundamental rule.

Flashcard 74: Select the correct form: 'The book is   than the magazine.'

Answer: heavier. Comparative form of 'heavy' for comparing two objects.

Flashcard 75: What is the difference between "imply" and "infer" in standard usage?

Answer: Imply: suggest; infer: conclude from evidence. Speaker implies; listener infers from what was implied.

Flashcard 76: Choose the best word: "The hikers walked (farther/further) before reaching the cabin."

Answer: farther. Farther refers to measurable physical distance.

Flashcard 77: What word choice principle requires using the most specific accurate term, not a vague one?

Answer: Precision. Choose specific terms over vague ones when both are accurate.

Flashcard 78: What is the key rule for idiom questions involving prepositions (for example, different from vs. different than)?

Answer: Choose the standard idiomatic preposition for that expression. Each idiom has its own conventional preposition pattern.

Flashcard 79: Choose the best word: "The award went to the student (who/whom) led the project."

Answer: who. Who is the subject performing the action of leading.

Flashcard 80: What term describes a word that sounds like its meaning?

Answer: Onomatopoeia. Words that imitate sounds like 'buzz' or 'crash'.

Flashcard 81: Identify the more formal word for 'fix'.

Answer: Repair. More formal and professional than 'fix'.

Flashcard 82: Choose the best word: "The new policy will (affect/effect) student attendance."

Answer: affect. The policy will influence (affect) attendance as a verb.

Flashcard 83: Choose the best word: "The hikers walked (farther/further) before reaching the cabin."

Answer: farther. Farther refers to measurable physical distance.

Flashcard 84: Choose the word that best replaces 'use' in formal writing.

Answer: Utilize. More formal and sophisticated than 'use'.

Flashcard 85: Choose the best word: "To (lay/lie) the book on the table, she cleared a space."

Answer: lay. Lay takes a direct object (the book).

Flashcard 86: Find and correct the redundancy: "The reason is because the road was closed."

Answer: Correct: "The reason is that the road was closed.". 'The reason is because' is redundant; use 'that' instead.

Flashcard 87: Identify the correct word: 'Their going to the store.'

Answer: They're. Contraction of 'they are' fits the sentence meaning.

Flashcard 88: Choose the best word: "The award went to the student (who/whom) led the project."

Answer: who. Who is the subject performing the action of leading.

Flashcard 89: Choose the correct word: 'The   mountain loomed over the valley.'

Answer: tall. Adjective describing great height or elevated stature.

Flashcard 90: Identify the correct word: 'He   the puzzle quickly.'

Answer: solved. Past tense of 'solve,' indicating completed problem resolution.

Flashcard 91: Choose the best word: "For (further/farther) information, consult the handbook."

Answer: further. Further refers to additional information (abstract extent).

Flashcard 92: Choose the best word: "The coach praised the players (who/whom) the fans supported."

Answer: whom. Whom is the object of the fans' support.

Flashcard 93: What is the synonym of 'reduce'?

Answer: Diminish. Means to make smaller or less.

Flashcard 94: What is the difference between "between" and "among" in standard usage?

Answer: Between for two; among for three or more. Between connects two things; among distributes through a group.

Flashcard 95: Choose the correct word: 'The   mountain loomed over the valley.'

Answer: tall. Adjective describing great height or elevated stature.

Flashcard 96: What is the term for words that sound the same but have different meanings?

Answer: homophones. Words with identical pronunciation but different meanings or spellings.

Flashcard 97: Choose the word that best replaces 'use' in formal writing.

Answer: Utilize. More formal and sophisticated than 'use'.

Flashcard 98: What is the difference between "cite," "site," and "sight" in standard usage?

Answer: Cite reference; site location; sight vision. Cite = reference sources; site = location; sight = vision.

Flashcard 99: Identify the more formal word for 'fix'.

Answer: Repair. More formal and professional than 'fix'.

Flashcard 100: What is the best general strategy when two options are grammatically correct but differ in length?

Answer: Prefer the more concise option if meaning is unchanged. Economy of language is valued when clarity is maintained.