Which sentence uses a comment clause most effectively in a code review?
Option B is correct. "As expected" is a comment clause — a parenthetical phrase that adds the writer's evaluative stance without interrupting the main statement. Setting it off with commas makes it clearly parenthetical. Option C omits the comma before "as expected", which merges it into the main clause and changes the reading slightly. Option D (fronted) is also acceptable but less common in code review comments where the main finding ("this approach works") should come first. Comment clauses in code reviews signal that the result aligns with the design intent — an important distinction from "it accidentally works".
2 / 20
A technical document includes: "The API rate limit is 1,000 requests per minute. __ this may be insufficient for high-traffic scenarios." Which comment clause opener is most appropriate?
Option D is correct — both "Note that" and "It is worth noting" are valid comment clause openers for flagging a potential concern. "Note that" is more direct and concise, preferred in API docs and READMEs where brevity matters. "It is worth noting" is slightly more formal and hedged, suitable for architecture documents or formal specifications. "As expected" would be wrong here — it implies the insufficiency was anticipated, which may not be the case. Both A and C direct the reader's attention to important supplementary information without making it the main claim.
3 / 20
Identify the sentence where "bear in mind" is used incorrectly.
Option B is the awkward usage. While grammatically permissible, "bear in mind the token" without a "that"-clause creates an ambiguous object. The standard construction is "bear in mind that + clause" — the complement must be a full proposition, not just a noun phrase. Options A and C follow this pattern correctly. Option D uses a colon, which is a slightly informal but acceptable alternative in technical writing (think docs, wikis, Slack posts). In formal documentation, always follow "bear in mind" with a "that"-clause to ensure the reader knows exactly what to keep in mind.
4 / 20
A PR description reads: "The new indexing strategy reduces query time by ~40%. __, the improvement is most significant on tables with more than 1M rows." Which comment clause opener fits best?
Option B is correct. "It is worth noting that" is the appropriate opener here because it introduces a nuance or qualification — the improvement is real, but its magnitude varies. This is a refinement of the main claim, not a warning or a directive. "Bear in mind" suggests the reader must actively remember this for a future action, which is not quite right here. "As expected" would imply this variation was predicted by the design, which may or may not be true. "Note" without "that" is too abrupt before a full clause. "It is worth noting that" is the most natural choice for adding technical nuance to a stated result.
5 / 20
Which of these comment clauses is overused and should be avoided in technical writing according to most style guides?
Option C is correct. "Needless to say" is on the list of phrases most technical style guides (Google, Microsoft, Apple) flag as either condescending or redundant. If something is truly needless to say, don't say it — and if it needs to be said, saying "needless to say" makes the reader feel judged for not already knowing it. In security documentation, this is especially problematic: telling users "needless to say, don't hardcode credentials" implies the warning is trivial, which can cause readers to skip it. The other options are all standard, reader-respecting comment clause patterns.
6 / 20
During a code review of the payment processing service, Sarah comments on the error handling. Which of the following best demonstrates a comment clause used effectively to guide further investigation?
A well-structured comment clause provides specific direction and context. Option 1 suggests a concrete action (logging more information) directly related to the problem identified. The other options offer general advice or reiterate known facts without offering actionable suggestions for moving forward – they don't guide investigation.
7 / 20
Mark is drafting a Slack message to his team about a new feature in the authentication module. Which of these uses a comment clause most appropriately?
Option 2 correctly utilizes a comment clause ('bear in mind') to highlight an important consideration (performance testing) before fully deploying the change. This acknowledges potential issues and encourages further scrutiny. The other options provide instructions or confirmations without acknowledging a potential caveat or risk.
8 / 20
You're writing a PR description for a database schema update. Which of the following uses a comment clause to frame a complex technical detail?
Option 3 correctly uses 'remember' as a comment clause opener to draw attention to a crucial and potentially complex step (data migration). This alerts reviewers to the need for careful consideration of the impact. The other options provide factual details or describe deployment methods without framing any particular concern.
9 / 20
Elena is reviewing a colleague's code and notices a comment: 'The system handles timeouts gracefully.' Which of the following best describes why this statement is problematic as a comment clause?
This comment clause is too vague and doesn't provide actionable information. It lacks specifics about *how* the system handles timeouts, leaving reviewers unsure of its effectiveness. A good comment clause should explain the mechanism, not just offer a general reassurance – it needs to be testable.
10 / 20
Which of these phrases is generally considered an overused and less effective comment clause in technical documentation?
While all options *can* be used appropriately, 'To summarize the key points…' is frequently overused and often doesn't add significant value. It tends to be a generic statement of closure rather than offering new insights or directing attention to specific aspects of the code. More targeted phrasing is usually preferable.
11 / 20
During a code review of the payment processing service, Sarah comments on the error handling. Which of the following best demonstrates a comment clause used effectively to guide further investigation?
A well-structured comment clause provides specific direction and context. Option 1 suggests a concrete action (logging more information) directly related to the problem identified. The other options offer general advice or reiterate known facts without offering actionable suggestions for moving forward – they don't guide investigation.
12 / 20
Mark is drafting a Slack message to his team about a new feature in the authentication module. Which of these uses a comment clause most appropriately?
Option 2 correctly utilizes a comment clause ('bear in mind') to highlight an important consideration (performance testing) before fully deploying the change. This acknowledges potential issues and encourages further scrutiny. The other options provide instructions or confirmations without acknowledging a potential caveat or risk.
13 / 20
You're writing a PR description for a database schema update. Which of the following uses a comment clause to frame a complex technical detail?
Option 3 correctly uses 'remember' as a comment clause opener to draw attention to a crucial and potentially complex step (data migration). This alerts reviewers to the need for careful consideration of the impact. The other options provide factual details or describe deployment methods without framing any particular concern.
14 / 20
Elena is reviewing a colleague's code and notices a comment: 'The system handles timeouts gracefully.' Which of the following best describes why this statement is problematic as a comment clause?
This comment clause is too vague and doesn't provide actionable information. It lacks specifics about *how* the system handles timeouts, leaving reviewers unsure of its effectiveness. A good comment clause should explain the mechanism, not just offer a general reassurance – it needs to be testable.
15 / 20
Which of these phrases is generally considered an overused and less effective comment clause in technical documentation?
While all options *can* be used appropriately, 'To summarize the key points…' is frequently overused and often doesn't add significant value. It tends to be a generic statement of closure rather than offering new insights or directing attention to specific aspects of the code. More targeted phrasing is usually preferable.
16 / 20
During a code review of the payment processing service, Sarah comments on the error handling. Which of the following best demonstrates a comment clause used effectively to guide further investigation?
A well-structured comment clause provides specific direction and context. Option 1 suggests a concrete action (logging more information) directly related to the problem identified. The other options offer general advice or reiterate known facts without offering actionable suggestions for moving forward – they don't guide investigation.
17 / 20
Mark is drafting a Slack message to his team about a new feature in the authentication module. Which of these uses a comment clause most appropriately?
Option 2 correctly utilizes a comment clause ('bear in mind') to highlight an important consideration (performance testing) before fully deploying the change. This acknowledges potential issues and encourages further scrutiny. The other options provide instructions or confirmations without acknowledging a potential caveat or risk.
18 / 20
You're writing a PR description for a database schema update. Which of the following uses a comment clause to frame a complex technical detail?
Option 3 correctly uses 'remember' as a comment clause opener to draw attention to a crucial and potentially complex step (data migration). This alerts reviewers to the need for careful consideration of the impact. The other options provide factual details or describe deployment methods without framing any particular concern.
19 / 20
Elena is reviewing a colleague's code and notices a comment: 'The system handles timeouts gracefully.' Which of the following best describes why this statement is problematic as a comment clause?
This comment clause is too vague and doesn't provide actionable information. It lacks specifics about *how* the system handles timeouts, leaving reviewers unsure of its effectiveness. A good comment clause should explain the mechanism, not just offer a general reassurance – it needs to be testable.
20 / 20
Which of these phrases is generally considered an overused and less effective comment clause in technical documentation?
While all options *can* be used appropriately, 'To summarize the key points…' is frequently overused and often doesn't add significant value. It tends to be a generic statement of closure rather than offering new insights or directing attention to specific aspects of the code. More targeted phrasing is usually preferable.
What will I practise in "Comment Clauses in Technical Documentation — Grammar Exercise"?
Practice using comment clauses like as expected, note that, bear in mind, and it is worth noting in technical writing.
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 20 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
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What happens if I choose the wrong answer?
You'll immediately see which answer was correct, plus a full explanation covering the grammar rule and reasoning behind it — mistakes are where most of the learning happens.
Can I retry the exercises if I want a higher score?
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Where can I find more Grammar exercises?
Browse the full Grammar hub for related drills, or check the "Next up" link below to continue with a connected topic.
How is this different from reading an article on the same topic?
Articles explain grammar rules in prose; this exercise tests and reinforces those rules through active recall with immediate feedback — the two work best together.
Who writes these exercises?
Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.