A functional impropriety is the use of a word as the wrong part of speech. The wrong meaning for a word can also be an impropriety. For example, in this sentence, the impropriety is "trying":

Correct version:

Here is another example:

Correct version:

To help you practice avoiding improprieties, complete the exercise below.

Mark improprieties in the following phrases and correct them. If you find none, write C for "correct" next to the phrase.

Example: (occupation) hazards — occupational

1. reforming institution policies
2. percent aging students by grades
3. dead trees as inhabitants for birds
4. an initiate story about a young girl
5. a recurrence theme in literature
6. a wood chisel
7. a wood baseball bat
8. a frivolity conversation on the weather
9. a utopia hideaway of alpine villas
10. a utilize room complete with workbench
11. the unstable chemical compounds
12. the unschooled labor force
13. the vandals who rapined Rome
14. an erupting volcano crevassing the hills
15. criticism writing which is often abstract
16. abstracted beyond understanding
17. classified as an absorbent
18. a handwriting letter
19. banjoed their way to the top ten
20. a meander stream
21. hoboing across the country
22. holidayed the time away
23. the redirective coming from the officer
24. grain-fed slaughter cattle
25. ivy tendoned to the walls