Preferences shape the work
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Anika's prowess became clear when she carved a complex border with exceptional precision during a demonstration. Her penchant for geometric patterns gave many of her designs a recognizable character. Yet she also noticed a proclivity for filling every available space, even when an image would benefit from an open area. A reviewer suggested testing a version with fewer elements, allowing her skill to serve the central idea without letting a familiar habit determine every part of the page.
The simpler version still showed Anika's prowess in the careful alignment of its lines. She did not need to abandon her penchant for geometric patterns; she needed to decide where those patterns helped. Recognizing her proclivity for adding unnecessary detail gave her a useful question to ask during revision. Before carving another border, she now compared a crowded sketch with a more open one and chose the arrangement that directed attention toward the image's main subject.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.