15 English Writing Interview Questions and Answers

Whether you’re applying for a job as a writer or editor, you’ll likely be asked to demonstrate your writing skills in an interview. This can be done through a writing sample or by answering questions about your writing process.

While each interviewer will have their own specific English writing interview questions, there are some general questions that are commonly asked. Answering these questions well can help you land the job.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common English writing interview questions and answers.

1. What are the main components of an English sentence?

This question is a basic test of your knowledge of the English language. It’s important to show that you have a strong understanding of grammar and sentence structure, which are essential skills for an English writer. When answering this question, make sure to include all five components of an English sentence:

Subject
Verb
Object
Adverbial phrase
Prepositional phrase
Example: “The main components of an English sentence are the subject, verb, object, adverbial phrase and prepositional phrase. The subject is who or what the sentence is about. For example, ‘I’ is the subject in the sentence ‘I am hungry.’ The verb is the action word. In the sentence ‘I am hungry,’ the verb is ‘am.’ The object is the person or thing receiving the action of the verb. In the sentence ‘I am hungry,’ the object is ‘you.'”

2. Can you explain what a lexicon is in context with linguistics and English writing?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the English language and how it’s used in writing. It also shows that you have an understanding of linguistics, which can be important for many positions within an organization. When answering this question, make sure to define what a lexicon is and give examples of when you’ve used one in your own work.

Example: “A lexicon is a dictionary or glossary of terms related to a specific subject. I use them often when researching topics for my articles because they help me understand new words and phrases. In fact, I recently wrote an article about the importance of using proper grammar in business communications. To do so, I researched various sources on the topic and found several useful lexicons that helped me write the piece.”

3. What are some common rules for using commas in written sentences?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of grammar and punctuation. You can answer this question by giving examples of the rules for using commas in written sentences, such as when you are listing items or separating clauses within a sentence.

Example: “Commas are used to separate independent clauses from one another, but they’re also used to separate items in lists that have internal commas. For example, ‘I went to the store to buy milk, eggs and bread.’ Another rule for using commas is that they should be placed before conjunctions like ‘and,’ ‘but’ and ‘for’ if they precede an introductory clause.”

4. How do you decide whether to use a comma or semicolon as a separator between two independent clauses?

Independent clauses are two sentences that can stand alone as a complete thought. The interviewer may ask this question to see how you apply grammar rules and standards in your writing. Use examples from past experiences where you used commas or semicolons correctly to show the interviewer that you have strong English writing skills.

Example: “I use commas when I need to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses, but I use semicolons when I want to connect two independent clauses together with one statement. For example, if I’m writing about an author who wrote several books, I would write ‘Jane Austen, who is known for her romantic novels, also wrote mystery stories.’ In this case, I am connecting two independent clauses because they both describe Jane Austen.”

5. What is the difference between Phrasal Verbs and Idioms?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. It also shows that you have an understanding of how it works and can apply it in real-world situations. When answering this question, make sure to define both terms clearly so the interviewer knows exactly what they are.

Example: “A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb. For example, ‘to break up’ is a phrasal verb because it’s made up of two parts—the verb ‘break’ and the preposition ‘up.’ Idioms are expressions that cannot be understood from their individual words. For instance, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ is an idiom because we don’t know what it means if we take away the expression.”

6. What are the different types of connotation in the English language?

Connotation is a literary term that refers to the implied meaning of words. Employers ask this question to see if you have an understanding of basic English terminology and concepts. In your answer, explain what connotation is and give examples of how it’s used in writing.

Example: “Connotation is when a word has more than one meaning. For example, ‘The sky was blue’ implies that the sky was clear and bright. However, if I said ‘The sky was red,’ then that would imply that the sky was cloudy or stormy. There are three types of connotation in the English language: denotation, connotative and poetic.”

7. Can you explain what a content word is and how it differs from a function word?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the English language and how it’s used in writing. It also helps employers understand whether you have the necessary skills to write content that their audience will find interesting and engaging. When answering this question, try to provide examples of both types of words so that the employer can see what they look like.

Example: “A content word is any word that has meaning or describes something. Content words are usually nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. A function word is a word that doesn’t carry much meaning on its own but instead helps connect other words together. Function words include conjunctions, prepositions and pronouns.”

8. What’s the difference between idiom and jargon?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of writing techniques. It’s also an opportunity for you to show the interviewer that you can apply what you know about writing in English.

Example: “Idiom and jargon are two different types of language, but they’re both used in business communication. Idiom refers to a phrase or expression whose meaning differs from its literal interpretation. For example, ‘to throw someone under the bus’ means to sacrifice them for something else. Jargon, on the other hand, is a type of specialized vocabulary that only people within a certain group understand.”

9. What is the most frequently used noun, verb, pronoun, adjective, adverb, and conjunction in English?

This question tests your knowledge of the most common words in English. It also shows that you have a good understanding of the language and its grammar rules. When answering this question, make sure to list all eight parts of speech and give examples of each one.

Example: “The most frequently used noun is ‘the,’ followed by ‘he’ and ‘she.’ The verb ‘to be’ is the most commonly used verb, while ‘is’ and ‘am’ are the most popular conjunctions. Pronouns include ‘I,’ ‘you,’ ‘we,’ ‘they’ and ‘it.’ Adjectives are ‘good,’ ‘nice’ and ‘bad,’ while adverbs are ‘well,’ ‘fast’ and ‘slow.'”

10. What are some examples of commonly confused words in English?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. It also shows that you are willing to learn and improve yourself as an employee. When answering this question, try to provide examples of words that are commonly confused by native speakers.

Example: “Some common words that people often confuse in English include there/their/they’re, affect/effect, then/than and compliment/complement.”

11. What are prepositions?

This question tests your knowledge of grammar and sentence structure. It also shows the interviewer that you can use proper English writing skills in your work. Use this opportunity to show off your expertise with a clear, concise answer.

Example: “Prepositions are words that connect nouns or pronouns to other parts of speech. They usually indicate location, time or possession. For example, ‘The dog is under the table’ uses prepositions like ‘under’ and ‘of.’ Prepositions are essential for effective communication because they help clarify meaning.”

12. What are compound adjectives? Give me some examples where you would use them?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of grammar and writing style. It’s important that you can explain the concept clearly, but it’s also helpful if you provide an example or two from your own experience.

Example: “Compound adjectives are words that describe something in more than one way. For instance, ‘the red-and-white striped candy cane’ uses compound adjectives because it describes the candy cane as both red and white and also has stripes. I use compound adjectives when describing things in my writing, especially when I’m trying to paint a picture for the reader.”

13. What are the differences between British English and American English spelling?

This question can help an interviewer determine your knowledge of the differences between British and American English. It can also show them how you adapt to different writing styles. In your answer, try to list as many differences as you can remember.

Example: “There are quite a few differences between spelling in British English and American English. For example, Americans spell color with a ‘u’ while Brits spell it without. We use -ize endings for words like realize and organize, but they use -ise endings instead. We say that something is ‘taken aback,’ but they say it’s ‘aback.’ We say ‘gotten,’ but they say ‘got.’ And we say ‘honor’ when referring to someone who has done something good, but they say ‘honour.'”

14. What is the difference between active voice and passive voice? Which one should be preferred over the other?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of writing techniques. You can answer by defining each voice and explaining when you would use them.

Example: “Active voice refers to sentences where the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. For example, ‘The dog ate my homework.’ In this sentence, the subject is ‘the dog’ and it performed the action of eating the homework. Passive voice, on the other hand, uses a form of the verb ‘to be’ along with a past participle to show that something was done to the subject. For instance, ‘My homework was eaten by the dog.'”

15. Can you give me an example of something that was rewritten in such a way that there was no change in meaning but it still sounded better?

This question is a great way to show your ability to edit and rewrite content in a way that makes it more effective. When answering this question, try to provide an example of a time when you rewrote something without changing the meaning but made it sound better.

Example: “I once had a client who was writing a blog post about how to use social media for business. He wrote a sentence that said ‘You can’t be on social media without being on Facebook.’ I suggested he change it to ‘You can’t run a business without using Facebook,’ which he did. It didn’t change the meaning at all, but it sounded much better.”