Attention to Detail Test Practice Course: Proofreading notices, emails and forms

1. Question 1 of 18

   Which word is spelled correctly?

   • Arecieve
   • Bseperate
   • Cnecessary
   • Ddefinately
   Show answer

   Answer: C. necessary

   "Necessary" has one c and two s's. The others should be receive, definitely and separate.

2. Question 2 of 18

   Find the error: "The meeting is on Thursday at 10 am in the the main boardroom."

   • A"10 am" should be written "ten am"
   • BThe word "the" appears twice in a row
   • C"Thursday" should not have a capital letter
   • D"boardroom" is spelled incorrectly
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The word "the" appears twice in a row

   Repeated words are easy to miss because your eye skips over them. Read slowly, one word at a time.

3. Question 3 of 18

   Find the error: "Please leave you're badge at the front desk."

   • A"leave" should be "live"
   • B"you're" should be "your"
   • C"front" should be "font"
   • D"desk" should be "desks"
   Show answer

   Answer: B. "you're" should be "your"

   "You're" means "you are". The sentence needs the possessive "your" (the badge belongs to you).

4. Question 4 of 18

   Which spelling is the Canadian form?

   • Acolur
   • Bcolor
   • Ccolour
   • Dcoulor
   Show answer

   Answer: C. colour

   Canadian English uses -our in words like colour, labour and honour. "Color" is the American spelling.

5. Question 5 of 18

   In Canadian English, which sentence uses "licence" and "license" correctly?

   • AShe has a driver's licence, and the city will licence the new shop.
   • BShe has a driver's license, and the city will licence the new shop.
   • CShe has a driver's licence, and the city will license the new shop.
   • DShe has a drivers licence, and the city will licenses the new shop.
   Show answer

   Answer: C. She has a driver's licence, and the city will license the new shop.

   In Canadian English, "licence" (with ce) is the noun and "license" (with se) is the verb.

6. Question 6 of 18

   Compare the copy with the original. What changed?

   Original: Deliveries are accepted from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

   Copy: Deliveries are accepted from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Thursday.

   • AThe last day changed from Friday to Thursday
   • BNothing changed
   • CThe end time changed from 4 pm to 5 pm
   • DThe start time changed from 8 am to 9 am
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The last day changed from Friday to Thursday

   The original says "Monday to Friday" and the copy says "Monday to Thursday". The times are the same.

7. Question 7 of 18

   Which sentence is missing a word?

   • APlease be sure all doors are locked before you leave.
   • BPlease check that all doors are locked before you leave.
   • CPlease make sure all doors are locked before you leave.
   • DPlease sure all doors are locked before you leave.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Please sure all doors are locked before you leave.

   "Please sure all doors are locked" is missing a word ("make" or "be"). Missing words are easy to overlook because your brain fills them in as you read.

8. Question 8 of 18

   Find the capitalization error: "Our office in Red Deer is closed on canada Day."

   • A"canada" should be "Canada"
   • B"office" should be "Office"
   • C"closed" should be "Closed"
   • D"Red Deer" should be "red deer"
   Show answer

   Answer: A. "canada" should be "Canada"

   Names of places and holidays, such as Red Deer and Canada Day, start with capital letters. Other words in the middle of a sentence do not.

9. Question 9 of 18

   Find the error: "The company updated it's safety policy last month."

   • A"it's" should be "its"
   • B"month" should be "months"
   • C"updated" should be "update"
   • D"safety" should be "safty"
   Show answer

   Answer: A. "it's" should be "its"

   "It's" means "it is" or "it has". The possessive form, showing the policy belongs to the company, is "its".

10. Question 10 of 18

    Proofread this notice. How many errors does it contain?

    Staff must recieve a parking pass before the end of the month. Passes are available at the security desk on the first floor. Employees who park without there pass may be asked to move there vehicle.

    • A2
    • B3
    • C1
    • D4
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 3

    "recieve" should be "receive", and both uses of "there" should be "their" (their pass, their vehicle).

11. Question 11 of 18

    Proofread this email. What is the error?

    Hello Mr. Kowalczyk,

    Thank you for meeting with us on Tuesday. As discussed, your equipment order will be ready on Friday.

    Please contact me if you have any questions, Mr. Kowalczik.

    Regards,
    Sandra Lee

    • AThe days of the week should not have capital letters
    • BThe customer's surname is spelled two different ways
    • CThe sender's name is missing from the end of the email
    • DThe greeting should be "Dear Sir" instead of a name
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The customer's surname is spelled two different ways

    The email opens with "Kowalczyk" but later says "Kowalczik". Check that every name is spelled the same way throughout a document.

12. Question 12 of 18

    Proofread this reminder. What is wrong?

    Reminder: First aid training will take place on Thursday, March 11, 2026, from 9 am to 4 pm in Room 210. Lunch will be provided.

    • AMarch should be lowercase
    • BMarch 11, 2026 is a Wednesday, not a Thursday
    • CRoom numbers must be written in words
    • DThe time should be written 9:00 to 16:00
    Show answer

    Answer: B. March 11, 2026 is a Wednesday, not a Thursday

    March 11, 2026 falls on a Wednesday. When a notice gives both a day and a date, check that they agree before it goes out.

13. Question 13 of 18

    According to the Government of Canada's Language Portal, what does proofreading mainly look for?

    • ABetter ways to organize the content of the document
    • BA friendlier and more personal tone for the reader
    • CNew facts and information to add to the document
    • DOmissions, grammar mistakes and typographical errors
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Omissions, grammar mistakes and typographical errors

    The Language Portal describes proofreading as a final check for omissions, grammar mistakes and typographical errors. Revision is the broader job of improving a document.

14. Question 14 of 18

    A table has little space for dates. Which date follows the Canada.ca style guide?

    • A04/07/2026
    • B07-04-2026
    • CApril 7th, 2026
    • D2026-04-07
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 2026-04-07

    The Canada.ca style guide says to use the numeric format yyyy-mm-dd only when space is limited, and not to use "st", "nd", "rd" or "th" in dates.

15. Question 15 of 18

    Which sentence follows the Canada.ca style guide for numbers?

    • AWe need twelve volunteers for Saturday.
    • B12 volunteers are needed for Saturday.
    • CWe need three volunteers for Saturday.
    • DWe need 3 volunteers for Saturday.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. We need three volunteers for Saturday.

    The style guide says to write out zero to nine, to use digits for 10 and over, and to avoid starting a sentence with a number.

16. Question 16 of 18

    Compare the draft notice with the approved hours. Which detail in the draft is wrong?

    Approved hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm. Closed Sunday.

    Draft notice: Our service counter is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. We are closed on Sunday.

    • AThe weekday closing time
    • BThe Sunday hours
    • CThe weekday opening time
    • DThe Saturday closing time
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The Saturday closing time

    The approved Saturday hours end at 1 pm, but the draft says 3 pm. Every other detail matches.

17. Question 17 of 18

    Which version of the sentence has no errors?

    • AThe new parking rules will effect all staff starting next week.
    • BThe new parking rules will affect all staff starting next week.
    • CThe new parking rules will affect all staf starting next week.
    • DThe new parking rules will affect all staff starting next weak.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The new parking rules will affect all staff starting next week.

    "Affect" is the verb meaning "to change or influence". The other versions have "effect", "staf" or "weak" instead of "week".

18. Question 18 of 18

    A safety notice says: "Wear you're hard hat at all times, and check that it's strap is tight." How many errors does it contain?

    • A0
    • B2
    • C1
    • D3
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 2

    "you're" should be "your" and "it's" should be "its". Both need the possessive form because the hat and the strap belong to someone or something.

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