What this skill covers
This skill rewards cutting unnecessary words and picking the more precise term among near-synonyms, as long as the sentence's original meaning and tone are preserved.
When a question offers several ways to say essentially the same thing, the shortest option that keeps the meaning fully intact is almost always correct — the ACT consistently rewards concision over elaborate phrasing.
Worked examples
Example 1
Choose the most concise revision: "Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was postponed."
A. Because it was raining, the game was postponed.
B. Due to the fact that it was raining outside, the game was postponed.
C. Owing to the fact of rain, the game was postponed.
D. It was raining, and due to this fact, the game was postponed.
Why: "Because" says exactly the same thing as "due to the fact that" in far fewer words — concision without any loss of meaning.
Example 2
Which word choice fits best? "The committee's decision was ______ by new evidence presented at the hearing."
A. influenced
B. influenced a lot by
C. very influenced by
D. influenced in a big way by
Why: "Influenced" alone is precise and complete; the other options add filler words that don't add meaning.
How to practice this on TSI Practice Prep
Open ACT Practice to answer original ACT questions on aCT Knowledge of Language, get an explanation for every choice, and see this skill tracked separately in your progress and mistake review.
Practice score estimates are learning indicators, not official scores or admission guarantees.
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