A runbook step reads: "__ the container is running, attach to it with docker exec -it <id> bash." Which connector fits best?
Option B is correct. "Once" expresses a conditional-temporal relationship: "after a preceding condition becomes true, do the next action." This is exactly the right connector when a step depends on a prior state being achieved. "First" introduces the first action, not a precondition. "Subsequently" links two actions that both happen, not a condition and its result. "Finally" signals the last step in a sequence, not a prerequisite. In runbooks and procedures, "once" is the standard signal for dependency-triggered steps.
2 / 24
Reorder these deployment steps into natural procedural English: "Run npm run build. __ copy the dist/ folder to the server. __ restart nginx."
Option C is correct. "Then" is the natural, low-friction connector for the second step in a sequence, and "finally" closes the procedure, signalling the last action. This first→then→finally arc is the standard pattern in technical documentation because it gives readers a clear sense of position within the procedure. "Subsequently" is more formal and better suited to post-mortems or reports than hands-on runbooks. "Afterwards" is acceptable but less precise — it does not carry the "last step" signal that "finally" does.
3 / 24
Which sentence uses "subsequently" correctly in an incident report?
Option B is correct. "Subsequently" is a formal adverbial connector meaning "after that, as a result of the preceding event." It follows a full stop or semicolon and introduces the next sentence or clause. Option A uses the incorrect preposition "to" (the correct idiom is "subsequent to", not "subsequently to"). Options C and D are ungrammatical. In incident reports and post-mortems, "subsequently" adds appropriate formality and makes the causal-temporal chain explicit for stakeholders reading the timeline.
4 / 24
A CI/CD pipeline description reads: "__ lint the code, __ run unit tests, __ build the Docker image, and __ push it to the registry." Choose the correct connector set.
Option B is correct. The first → then → then → finally pattern is the clearest for numbered or ordered steps in pipeline documentation. "First" establishes the starting point, "then" advances each step, and "finally" closes the sequence. Repeating "then" is perfectly acceptable in procedural writing — it avoids the cognitive overhead of varied connectors. Option A's "once" is conditional, not sequential. "Also" (Option D) implies parallel execution, not sequence. Consistency and simplicity are virtues in runbooks: readers scan quickly under pressure.
5 / 24
A senior dev comments on a PR description: "Change 'after that' to something more formal." The original sentence: "Migrate the schema. After that, restart the application server." Which replacement is most appropriate for formal documentation?
Option B is correct. "Following this" is a formal sequence connector equivalent to "after that" but appropriate for internal documentation and technical wikis. It clearly signals the next required action without the informality of "next up" or the colloquial tone of "then you wanna." Starting a sentence with a bare "And" is acceptable in some modern style guides but is generally avoided in formal technical documentation. "Following this", "Subsequently", and "Thereafter" are the three preferred formal replacements for "after that" in procedural writing.
6 / 24
During a troubleshooting session, the support team needs to quickly access logs from a running application. The following sequence connector best describes this action: 'Once the application is running,…'
This connector accurately reflects a logical sequence. It begins with a condition (the application is running) before proceeding to the action (connecting). Options A and D incorrectly prioritize immediate execution without verifying the prerequisite. Option B's phrasing is less precise than necessary for technical documentation.
7 / 24
The team needs to document a procedure for deploying new code. The following sentence demonstrates proper use of the connector 'Subsequently':
This option correctly utilizes 'Subsequently' to indicate a chronological order of events following an initial action. It highlights that running tests is a step *after* the deployment process has been completed. Options A and D invert the logical sequence.
8 / 24
Complete the following API response snippet, using the appropriate connector to describe the status of a failed request:
{
"status": "error",
"message": "Invalid credentials"
}
The completed sentence is:
'After encountering this error…' is the most appropriate connector here. It clearly indicates that the subsequent information (the error message) is a consequence of the initial status being 'error'. The other options are less precise in conveying the causal relationship.
9 / 24
During a standup meeting, a developer says: 'I finished implementing feature X. Subsequently, I started working on feature Y.' What is the best way to expand this statement for a more formal update?
Option 2 uses 'After' which is a more formal and precise connector than the other options. It clearly establishes a chronological sequence of actions without ambiguity. The phrasing is suitable for a slightly more detailed update than a casual standup statement.
10 / 24
During a troubleshooting session, the support team needs to quickly access logs from a running application. The following sequence connector best describes this action: 'Once the application is running,…'
This connector accurately reflects a logical sequence. It begins with a condition (the application is running) before proceeding to the action (connecting). Options A and D incorrectly prioritize immediate execution without verifying the prerequisite. Option B's phrasing is less precise than necessary for technical documentation.
11 / 24
The team needs to document a procedure for deploying new code. The following sentence demonstrates proper use of the connector 'Subsequently':
This option correctly utilizes 'Subsequently' to indicate a chronological order of events following an initial action. It highlights that running tests is a step *after* the deployment process has been completed. Options A and D invert the logical sequence.
12 / 24
Complete the following API response snippet, using the appropriate connector to describe the status of a failed request:
{
"status": "error",
"message": "Invalid credentials"
}
The completed sentence is:
'After encountering this error…' is the most appropriate connector here. It clearly indicates that the subsequent information (the error message) is a consequence of the initial status being 'error'. The other options are less precise in conveying the causal relationship.
13 / 24
During a standup meeting, a developer says: 'I finished implementing feature X. Subsequently, I started working on feature Y.' What is the best way to expand this statement for a more formal update?
Option 2 uses 'After' which is a more formal and precise connector than the other options. It clearly establishes a chronological sequence of actions without ambiguity. The phrasing is suitable for a slightly more detailed update than a casual standup statement.
14 / 24
During a troubleshooting session, the support team needs to quickly access logs from a running application. The following sequence connector best describes this action: 'Once the application is running,…'
This connector accurately reflects a logical sequence. It begins with a condition (the application is running) before proceeding to the action (connecting). Options A and D incorrectly prioritize immediate execution without verifying the prerequisite. Option B's phrasing is less precise than necessary for technical documentation.
15 / 24
The team needs to document a procedure for deploying new code. The following sentence demonstrates proper use of the connector 'Subsequently':
This option correctly utilizes 'Subsequently' to indicate a chronological order of events following an initial action. It highlights that running tests is a step *after* the deployment process has been completed. Options A and D invert the logical sequence.
16 / 24
Complete the following API response snippet, using the appropriate connector to describe the status of a failed request:
{
"status": "error",
"message": "Invalid credentials"
}
The completed sentence is:
'After encountering this error…' is the most appropriate connector here. It clearly indicates that the subsequent information (the error message) is a consequence of the initial status being 'error'. The other options are less precise in conveying the causal relationship.
17 / 24
During a standup meeting, a developer says: 'I finished implementing feature X. Subsequently, I started working on feature Y.' What is the best way to expand this statement for a more formal update?
Option 2 uses 'After' which is a more formal and precise connector than the other options. It clearly establishes a chronological sequence of actions without ambiguity. The phrasing is suitable for a slightly more detailed update than a casual standup statement.
18 / 24
Reviewer: 'The build failed after the deployment. Subsequently, we rolled back to the previous version.' Is this a suitable phrasing for a technical report?
'Subsequently' suggests a direct cause-and-effect relationship. While technically correct, it can imply a stronger connection than is warranted when simply describing a sequence of actions. The reviewer's comment highlights this potential misinterpretation; options B and C are better because they avoid implying causality.
19 / 24
API Response:{
"status": "error",
"message": "Invalid credentials"
}
What connector would be most appropriate to add *before* this response to describe the outcome of a user login attempt?
'As a result' is the most suitable connector here. It directly communicates that the 'error' status represents the consequence of an invalid login attempt – a common and expected outcome in API responses. The other options introduce concepts (logical conclusion, reason for failure) that aren't relevant to describing the response itself.
20 / 24
PR Description: 'We've updated the database schema. Subsequently, we restarted the application server.' Imagine you're explaining this to a junior developer who isn't familiar with deployment workflows. Which of the following additions would provide the *most* context and ensure understanding?
Context is vital for non-native speakers. While all options are partially correct, option 2 provides the most essential information – *why* restarting the server is necessary. Simply stating 'It's crucial…' doesn't explain the underlying technical reason and could lead to misunderstandings. The other options are too focused on the procedural aspect without explaining the consequence.
21 / 24
A senior developer, Sarah, needs to quickly update a configuration file for a new deployment. She uses the following command: sudo bash /opt/deploy/update_config.sh. Which sequence connector best describes this action?
This scenario involves a direct command execution to update a configuration file. 'Once' indicates that the action happens after the initial deployment step is completed. The other options represent different stages of the deployment process where this command wouldn't be used.
22 / 24
The team is documenting a procedure for running automated tests. The following sentence demonstrates proper use of the connector 'Therefore': "After the unit tests pass, therefore, we proceed to integration testing."
'Therefore' is used to show a logical consequence. In this case, passing unit tests leads directly to the next step of integration testing. The other options misinterpret the function of 'therefore' as indicating an alternative or unrelated action.
23 / 24
In a standup meeting, a developer states: 'I fixed the database connection error. Then, I added unit tests for that component.' What connector would best replace 'Then' to improve clarity and formality?
Focus on precise sequencing of tasks.
'After' is the best choice here because it clearly indicates that one action occurred *after* another in a sequential manner. 'Subsequently' can be ambiguous and doesn't necessarily convey the precise order. 'Before' reverses the correct sequence and 'Finally' implies completion of the task.
24 / 24
A developer is writing instructions for deploying code to production: 'We compiled the application. Afterwards, we deployed it to the servers.' Which connector best describes this sequence?
Focus on the order of operations in a deployment process.
'After' is the most appropriate connector because it directly describes one event occurring *after* another in a sequence. 'Subsequently' can be ambiguous and doesn't always indicate the precise order. 'Once' introduces a condition that isn't present here, and 'Due to' implies a reason for action, rather than simply describing the order.
What will I practise in "Sequence Connectors in Technical Procedures — Grammar Exercise"?
Practice using first, then, subsequently, finally, and once correctly in runbooks, deployment guides, and incident reports.
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 24 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account, sign-up, or paywall.
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No account is required. Just click an option to answer — your score for this session is tracked automatically in the progress bar above.
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.
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Yes — use the "Try again" button on the results screen to reset and go through all the questions again.
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No. Progress is tracked only for your current visit; reloading or leaving the page resets the counter. This keeps the exercise simple and account-free.
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.