5 exercises — practise the transitional refocuser "more to the point".
0 / 20 completed
1 / 20
Which sentence correctly uses "more to the point" to redirect from a background remark to the directly relevant issue?
"...popular; more to the point, it is actively maintained..." correctly keeps the fixed word order "more to the point" followed by a comma. The other options scramble the internal word order of the fixed phrase.
2 / 20
Which sentence correctly uses "more to the point" at the start of a sentence to refocus a code review comment on the actual bug?
"More to the point, this function doesn't handle the null case..." correctly keeps the fixed word order followed by a comma. The other options scramble the internal word order of the fixed phrase.
3 / 20
Which sentence correctly distinguishes "more to the point" (refocusing on the more relevant issue) from the unrelated fixed phrase "to the point" (meaning "concise") while keeping both grammatically intact?
"...was to the point; more to the point, it correctly identified..." correctly uses "to the point" for conciseness and "more to the point" for the refocusing transition, each in its standard word order. The other options scramble or misuse the two related but distinct fixed phrases.
4 / 20
Which sentence correctly uses "more to the point" mid-paragraph to shift from a minor detail to the actual blocker?
"...more to the point, the checkout flow is currently broken..." correctly keeps the fixed phrase intact in its standard word order. The other options scramble the internal order.
5 / 20
Which sentence correctly uses "more to the point" to refocus a retrospective from a tangential observation onto the real failure mode?
"...more to the point, the alerts never fired" correctly keeps the fixed transitional phrase in its standard word order, set off by a semicolon and comma. The other options scramble the internal word order.
6 / 20
Context: During a Slack discussion about the new user authentication service, Liam mentioned the slightly delayed response times. Sarah responded with: 'That's interesting, but more to the point, we're seeing a 30% increase in failed login attempts.'
'More to the point' here signals a strategic shift in focus. It's not about acknowledging Liam's observation (which could be valid), but redirecting the conversation towards the most pressing problem – the significant increase in failed login attempts. The options highlight the core function of this phrase: prioritizing critical information.
7 / 20
Context: In a code review comment on a Python script, David wrote: 'The variable name is a bit long, but more to the point, this function isn't handling edge cases properly.'
The phrase 'more to the point' in this scenario indicates that David recognized a more immediate problem – the lack of edge-case handling. It's a common pattern where a less critical observation (variable name) is temporarily sidelined because it doesn't represent the *actual* blocker for the developer. This highlights the strategic use of the phrase.
8 / 20
Context: During a PR description for a new API endpoint, Maya wrote: 'The API documentation is slightly outdated, but more to the point, this endpoint returns incorrect data in some scenarios.'
'More to the point' here emphasizes that while outdated documentation is a concern, it's secondary to the core problem: inaccurate data returned by the API endpoint. This demonstrates how the phrase can be used to strategically highlight the most impactful issue within a larger set of considerations; it's about prioritizing the *real* problem.
9 / 20
Context: In a standup update, Ben said: 'We made progress on feature X, and more to the point, we've encountered a significant database performance bottleneck.'
During a stand-up, brevity and clarity are key. Ben used 'more to the point' to quickly signal that the database bottleneck wasn't just *another* item on his agenda; it was a serious blocker requiring immediate attention. This illustrates how the phrase can be used to highlight urgency within a brief update.
10 / 20
Context: A senior engineer, Elias, was explaining a complex issue during a meeting. He said: 'The root cause is actually quite complicated, involving several layers of the system. But more to the point, we need to address the immediate impact on user experience.'
'More to the point' in this situation indicates a strategic redirection. While understanding the *root cause* is important, Elias immediately prioritized mitigating the *effect* – the negative impact on user experience. This showcases how the phrase can be used to shift focus from analysis to action and problem-solving.
11 / 20
Context: During a Slack discussion about the new user authentication service, Liam mentioned the slightly delayed response times. Sarah responded with: 'That's interesting, but more to the point, we're seeing a 30% increase in failed login attempts.'
'More to the point' here signals a strategic shift in focus. It's not about acknowledging Liam's observation (which could be valid), but redirecting the conversation towards the most pressing problem – the significant increase in failed login attempts. The options highlight the core function of this phrase: prioritizing critical information.
12 / 20
Context: In a code review comment on a Python script, David wrote: 'The variable name is a bit long, but more to the point, this function isn't handling edge cases properly.'
The phrase 'more to the point' in this scenario indicates that David recognized a more immediate problem – the lack of edge-case handling. It's a common pattern where a less critical observation (variable name) is temporarily sidelined because it doesn't represent the *actual* blocker for the developer. This highlights the strategic use of the phrase.
13 / 20
Context: During a PR description for a new API endpoint, Maya wrote: 'The API documentation is slightly outdated, but more to the point, this endpoint returns incorrect data in some scenarios.'
'More to the point' here emphasizes that while outdated documentation is a concern, it's secondary to the core problem: inaccurate data returned by the API endpoint. This demonstrates how the phrase can be used to strategically highlight the most impactful issue within a larger set of considerations; it's about prioritizing the *real* problem.
14 / 20
Context: In a standup update, Ben said: 'We made progress on feature X, and more to the point, we've encountered a significant database performance bottleneck.'
During a stand-up, brevity and clarity are key. Ben used 'more to the point' to quickly signal that the database bottleneck wasn't just *another* item on his agenda; it was a serious blocker requiring immediate attention. This illustrates how the phrase can be used to highlight urgency within a brief update.
15 / 20
Context: A senior engineer, Elias, was explaining a complex issue during a meeting. He said: 'The root cause is actually quite complicated, involving several layers of the system. But more to the point, we need to address the immediate impact on user experience.'
'More to the point' in this situation indicates a strategic redirection. While understanding the *root cause* is important, Elias immediately prioritized mitigating the *effect* – the negative impact on user experience. This showcases how the phrase can be used to shift focus from analysis to action and problem-solving.
16 / 20
Context: During a Slack discussion about the new user authentication service, Liam mentioned the slightly delayed response times. Sarah responded with: 'That's interesting, but more to the point, we're seeing a 30% increase in failed login attempts.'
'More to the point' here signals a strategic shift in focus. It's not about acknowledging Liam's observation (which could be valid), but redirecting the conversation towards the most pressing problem – the significant increase in failed login attempts. The options highlight the core function of this phrase: prioritizing critical information.
17 / 20
Context: In a code review comment on a Python script, David wrote: 'The variable name is a bit long, but more to the point, this function isn't handling edge cases properly.'
The phrase 'more to the point' in this scenario indicates that David recognized a more immediate problem – the lack of edge-case handling. It's a common pattern where a less critical observation (variable name) is temporarily sidelined because it doesn't represent the *actual* blocker for the developer. This highlights the strategic use of the phrase.
18 / 20
Context: During a PR description for a new API endpoint, Maya wrote: 'The API documentation is slightly outdated, but more to the point, this endpoint returns incorrect data in some scenarios.'
'More to the point' here emphasizes that while outdated documentation is a concern, it's secondary to the core problem: inaccurate data returned by the API endpoint. This demonstrates how the phrase can be used to strategically highlight the most impactful issue within a larger set of considerations; it's about prioritizing the *real* problem.
19 / 20
Context: In a standup update, Ben said: 'We made progress on feature X, and more to the point, we've encountered a significant database performance bottleneck.'
During a stand-up, brevity and clarity are key. Ben used 'more to the point' to quickly signal that the database bottleneck wasn't just *another* item on his agenda; it was a serious blocker requiring immediate attention. This illustrates how the phrase can be used to highlight urgency within a brief update.
20 / 20
Context: A senior engineer, Elias, was explaining a complex issue during a meeting. He said: 'The root cause is actually quite complicated, involving several layers of the system. But more to the point, we need to address the immediate impact on user experience.'
'More to the point' in this situation indicates a strategic redirection. While understanding the *root cause* is important, Elias immediately prioritized mitigating the *effect* – the negative impact on user experience. This showcases how the phrase can be used to shift focus from analysis to action and problem-solving.
What will I practise in ""More To The Point" as a Transitional Refocuser — IT Grammar Exercise"?
Practise using the fixed transitional phrase "more to the point" to redirect a discussion from a tangential remark to the directly relevant issue in code
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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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.
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Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.