Which statement best describes Puritan plain writing style?

• A. It stressed clarity and plainness
• B. It valued ornate, florid language
• C. It relied heavily on satire
• D. It used experimental grammar

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that Puritan plain writing aims for straightforward, unadorned expression. Puritans valued honesty, accessibility, and moral seriousness, so their prose is direct, uses everyday vocabulary, and sticks to clear syntax. The goal was to teach, exhort, and convict readers rather than to dazzle them with fancy language, so they avoided elaborate rhetoric and ornate turns of phrase. This emphasis on clarity and plainness is exactly what defines the Puritan plain style. By contrast, ornate language would undercut that aim, satire isn’t typical of their religious prose, and experimental grammar would make their messages harder to grasp for ordinary readers.