Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?
A)The mediator used some
B)light humor to try to
C)diffuse the situation,
D)but the tension remained.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Diffuse should be changed to defuse. To defuse is to remove the fuse from a bomb, while diffuse, as a verb, is to spread out. It is easy to make a mistake when using these words metaphorically because there is some overlap; you could imagine diffusing the tension in the room, for example. As a test, ask if the object could be meaningfully spread out; tension can, but the situation cannot, so defuse is appropriate here.

Which Section of the Following Passage Needs to Be Edited