key or answer key to the test?

Status
Not open for further replies.

maoyueh

Member
Joined
May 28, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
I often hear English teachers in Taiwan say "the answer key to a test," but in the dictionary "a key" means "the printed answers to a test or to the questions in a textbook." I think the word "answer" in "answer key" is redundant, and the two-word term is simply tautological. Do you think the word "answer" before "key" is absolutely necessary? I would appreciate your opinions.:lol:
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
It's not absolutely necessary, but I'd use it to be sure of being understood.

Rover
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
'The key to a test' could be interpreted as, "How to pass the test".

The key to the TOFFEE test is eliminating the obviously wrong answers first.


ps. TOFFEE - Test Of Fatuously Futile English Expressions.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top