Final answer:
The best word to complete the sentence is 'terse', which indicates a short and possibly brusque response. Eliminating wordiness in writing by making sentences concise is important for clarity and reader engagement. Using direct and purposeful language ensures effective communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that BEST completes the sentence 'His response was so condensed that I thought he must be angry at my question.' is terse. While 'concise' implies that the response was brief and to the point, and 'pithy' means it was full of expressive and meaningful comments, 'terse' carries a connotation of shortness coupled with a tone that could be interpreted as brusque or even angry, matching the context of the question.
When writing, it's crucial to eliminate wordiness to create clear and effective sentences. This means cutting out unnecessary words and phrases that do not add meaning to the text. In many cases, editing sentences to be more concise can drastically improve the readers' understanding and interest.
It is helpful to use language that is direct and uncluttered by excessive wording, ensuring that every word counts towards conveying the intended message.