Because the evidence was equivocal, the committee declined to make a definitive recommendation. What does equivocal mean here?

The policy's ostensibly neutral language affected some groups more than others. What does ostensibly mean?

The report disaggregates the data by age, income, and region instead of giving one total. What does disaggregates mean?

The author's claim is tenable only if the reader accepts a narrow definition of fairness. What does tenable mean?

The conclusion is contingent on survey results that have not yet been released. What does contingent mean?

The revised paragraph foregrounds the economic cause after earlier drafts buried it. What does foregrounds mean?

Her critique does not repudiate the theory; it limits where the theory applies. What does repudiate mean?

The case study is illustrative rather than exhaustive. What does illustrative mean?

The paragraph synthesizes three studies into one explanation of the trend. What does synthesizes mean?

The findings are salient to the debate because they address the disputed assumption directly. What does salient mean?

The writer's concession makes the refutation more credible. What does concession mean in argument?

The implications of the statistic are latent until the writer connects it to housing policy. What does latent mean?

The two historical situations are analogous, though not identical. What does analogous mean?

The study's scope is circumscribed: it examines only one city over three years. What does circumscribed mean?

The word carries a pejorative connotation, so it may bias readers against the policy. What does pejorative mean?

The argument hinges on an implicit warrant that the paragraph never states directly. What does implicit mean?

The opening juxtaposes images of luxury and hunger. What does juxtaposes mean?

The proposal would mitigate the harm but not eliminate it. What does mitigate mean?

The second source ____ the witness's account because it was produced independently. Which word is most precise?

The data ____ the hypothesis because several cases depart from its prediction. Which word is most precise?

The author ____ an objection before explaining why it is not decisive. Which word is most precise?

The review should ____ conflicting findings into one interpretation rather than list them separately. Which word is most precise?

The final paragraph ____ the central claim rather than adding new evidence. Which word is most precise?

The survey may ____ the trend, but its sample cannot establish causation. Which word is most precise?

The new evidence forces the critic to ____ her thesis instead of merely repeating it. Which word is most precise?

The transition should ____ the contrast between the two sources. Which word is most precise?

The scholar uses the anecdote to ____ the abstract principle. Which word is most precise?

The conclusion ____ from the premises only if the hidden assumption is accepted. Which word is most precise?

The revised claim should ____, not abandon, the original argument. Which word is most precise?

The critic tries to ____ the author's motives from the tone of the essay. Which word is most precise?

The archive helps researchers ____ the etymology of the term through earlier forms. Which word is most precise?

The repeated phrase ____ the audience's attention on the shared burden. Which word is most precise?

The article ____ two definitions that are often treated as identical. Which word is most precise?

Because the study examines one county, its evidence is too ____ to support a national claim. Which word is most precise?

The narrator's formal diction ____ the casual subject matter, creating irony. Which phrase is most precise?

The final sentence ____ earlier images of confinement by repeating the doorway motif. Which word is most precise?

Although the study is limited, its pattern recurs in three independent datasets. What is although doing?

The policy reduced costs; however, it also narrowed access. What is however doing?

The samples differ in size; therefore, direct comparison requires caution. What is therefore doing?

In 'the evidence is merely suggestive,' what is merely doing?

Insofar as the evidence addresses motive, it supports the claim. What is insofar as doing?

The passage names one cause, namely, unequal access to credit. What is namely doing?

In 'an ostensibly objective report,' what is ostensibly doing?

The issue is not persuasion but rather coercion. What is rather doing?

Moreover, the same pattern appears in a later study. What is moreover doing?

Conversely, when demand falls, prices tend to decline. What is conversely doing?

The claim is plausible; nevertheless, the evidence remains insufficient. What is nevertheless doing?

To that end, the author defines the key term before presenting evidence. What is to that end doing?

Draft: 'The article talks about how zoning policies changed city neighborhoods.' Which revision is most precise for an academic essay?

Draft: 'The small pilot study really proves the app helps.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The evidence is kind of weak.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The writer uses a lot of repetition to make the point stick.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The sources don't all say the same thing about the event.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'This word has a bad feeling.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The numbers go up a lot after 2010.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The author brings up the other side and then knocks it down.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The examples are all over the place.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The policy made the problem less bad.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The introduction gives hints about the argument.' Which revision is most precise?

Draft: 'The quote fits with the claim but doesn't totally prove it.' Which revision is most precise?