5 exercises — choosing the correct connector to introduce examples in design docs, code reviews, and postmortems.
Key patterns:
such as / like — non-exhaustive examples of a category
namely — introduces a complete or definitive list
in particular — highlights one standout instance
including — signals a partial set within a larger whole
0 / 5 completed
1 / 5
A design document introduces a general claim and then needs to give specific instances. Which sentence uses exemplification correctly?
"such as" is the standard way to introduce non-exhaustive examples of a general category in technical writing. "Therefore" signals a conclusion, not an example, so option A is a logical mismatch. "Namely" is used to specify a complete or definitive list, so pairing it with "because" in option C is ungrammatical. Related patterns: "for example", "for instance", "including".
2 / 5
A code review comment reads: "This function has several responsibilities — _____, input validation, logging, and persistence — which violates the single-responsibility principle." Which word correctly introduces a complete, specific list?
"Namely" is used when the examples that follow form the complete list, not just a sample. Since the sentence lists exactly the responsibilities being criticized, namely is precise. "Such as", "like", and "e.g." all imply a partial, non-exhaustive list, which would understate the point about the function doing too much.
3 / 5
An architecture proposal states: "The new gateway reduces operational overhead, _____ eliminating the need for manual certificate rotation." Choose the correct exemplification connector for a single, illustrative instance:
"In particular" is used to zoom in on one specific, notable instance of a broader claim — here, singling out certificate rotation as a standout benefit of reduced overhead. "Such as" and "and the like" introduce lists of multiple items, not a single highlighted example, and "to name a few" requires a preceding list of items, which is absent here.
4 / 5
Which sentence correctly uses "e.g." in a technical specification, following standard punctuation conventions?
"e.g.," (short for exempli gratia, "for example") is conventionally preceded by a comma and followed by a comma before the example list, as in option C. Option A omits the comma after the abbreviation; option B omits the comma before it; option D uses a semicolon and no period after "eg", which is non-standard. In formal technical writing, "e.g." should be reserved for illustrative examples, not exhaustive lists (use "i.e." for the latter case, meaning "that is").
5 / 5
A postmortem draft says: "Several external factors contributed to the delay, _____ vendor API rate limits and an unplanned certificate expiry." Which phrase best introduces two specific contributing examples without claiming completeness?
"Including" introduces examples as part of a larger, possibly incomplete set — appropriate here since "several external factors" implies there may be more than the two named. "Namely" and "that is" both imply the following items are the complete or equivalent restatement of the claim, which would contradict "several." "In other words" signals rephrasing, not exemplification.