Home / English / Printables / Grade 3 / Words Chosen for Effect Words Chosen for Effect is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on choosing the word that does the job you want, aligned to Common Core standard L.3.3. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
One paper per student
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Words Chosen for Effect L.3.3
Name Date
Circle the right answer.
1. Why might a writer choose "whispered" instead of "said"?
A. It is easier to spell B. It tells the reader how the words were spoken C. It is a shorter word 2. Which title tells a reader most about the text?
A. Water B. How a Canal Lock Works C. Some Boats 3. Which verb tells a reader most?
A. Anansi did away B. Anansi went away C. Anansi trotted away 4. Why does "his stomach dropped" work better than "he was scared"?
A. It shows the feeling through the body rather than naming it B. It is more formal C. It uses fewer letters 5. When should a writer choose the plainest word?
A. Never — longer words are always better B. Only in stories C. When being understood exactly matters most 6. Which is the most exact way to say how big the dog was?
A. The dog was as tall as the kitchen table. B. The dog was a size. C. The dog was quite big. 7. Why might a writer choose "stretched thin as thread" over "got thin"?
A. It gives the reader a picture B. It is easier to spell C. It is shorter 8. Which sentence is more precise?
A. The lamp went out at some point. B. The lamp went out at eleven o'clock. C. Something happened to the lamp. LessonPrint · L.3.3 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Words Chosen for Effect Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.
1. It tells the reader how the words were spoken 2. How a Canal Lock Works 3. Anansi trotted away 4. It shows the feeling through the body rather than naming it 5. When being understood exactly matters most 6. The dog was as tall as the kitchen table. 7. It gives the reader a picture 8. The lamp went out at eleven o'clock. More practice for L.3.3 Choose words for effect, and recognize the difference between spoken and written English.
Teaching this next? Choosing Words for Effect is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.
All Grade 3 worksheets
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.3.3 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.