Whenever possible, convert nouns ending in -ion or -ment back to verb forms.

• A. Whenever possible
• B. Always
• C. Sometimes
• D. Never

Answer: (B)

Noun forms ending in -ion or -ment are nominalizations that tend to hide who is doing the action and add extra syllables. Replacing them with the matching verb makes the sentence more direct, active, and easier to follow—precisely what clarity and brevity demand in naval communication. If a verb exists that preserves the meaning, use it. For example, instead of saying “the observation was made by the sailor,” say “the sailor observed.” Instead of “the completion of the project,” say “we completed the project.” Similarly, “the calculation was performed” becomes “we calculated the calculation” (or simply “we calculated”). When possible, converting to a verb form keeps the instruction tight and clear, so it’s best to do this consistently—hence always.