BUS COM C. 6 HW

Which of the following are recommended steps in proofreading?

Correct problems with the writing style, spelling, and grammar. Read each sentence more than once. Read sentences from the viewpoint of the audience.

When a writer chooses big words that are not common, the reader will most likely

be distracted from the message.

In general, business communications should

be specific in order to answer the reader's questions.

Parallel language is important when

the writing contains a series or list

When composing a document, expert business writers spend most of their time

thinking about how the message will affect readers.

Compared to average business writers, expert business writers spend more time doing which three of the following?

thinking about the effect of the message. reviewing the text. planning the document.

The important principle in business writing is

to say what needs to be said in as few words as possible

When deciding how much white space to leave on a page, it is important to consider that

too much white space makes the text look sparse. too little white space makes the text look cluttered.

When highlighting words or phrases, it is best to

use one type of formatting at a time. use this formatting sparingly.

To make business writing easier to read and comprehend, you should

write the way the reader thinks and talks.

Which of the following sentences should be rephrased to eliminate buzzwords?

-If all team members get on the same page, we believe we can do more with less. -We expect our team to think outside the box and find a win-win solution. -We hire change agents who are agile and believe in synergistic solutions.

Which sentences contain wordy prepositional phrases?

-In the future, we will address these issues with due diligence in hopes of arriving at a solution. -On occasion we have lunch at our place of business. -In order to increase the number of successful sales, take out advertisements in a newspaper.

Why is accuracy an essential element of business communication?

-Inaccuracy causes readers to lose trust in the writer. -People will make important decisions based on the communication.

Which of the following sentences should be rephrased to use parallel language?

-Our success will depend on anticipating market demand, tailoring our product to customer needs, and a cost-effective advertising strategy. -Many entrepreneurs are adventurous and create jobs for others. -A real estate agent will help you search for property, understand the procedures, and paperwork.

For the purpose of business communication, which of the following sentences should be rewritten to replace overblown or stuffy words?

-To facilitate the learning experience, our educators maintain a compendium of each student's accomplishments. -We offer commodious lodgings and ambrosial cuisine.

Which of the following are good principles for determining the amount of information to include in a business communication?

-Too much information is distracting and makes the message harder to comprehend. -The reader might not know how to respond to a message that has too little information.

What are some of the benefits of using the active voice?

-Usually the sentence will be shorter. -The reader can understand it more quickly. -It emphasizes action, which is a key element in business.

Which of the following sentences contain redundant words or phrases?

-We will be happy to aid and assist you with your project. -We base our evaluations on a company's past history. -Each year we sponsor an annual family retreat that includes friends and family members.

Which of the following sentences contain empty phrases?

-With that said, let me summarize our recent accomplishments. -With all due respect, your sales projections are incorrect. -Needless to say, we made no profit last year.

The use of specific facts in your business communication will typically help convince the reader about which of the following?

-You know what you are talking about. -You care about the reader.

Passive voice is sometimes the best choice when the writer wants to

-be perceived as neutral. -avoid blaming anyone. -avoid sounding bossy.

Which of the following words should be avoided in business communication in favor of more familiar expressions?

-bestow -loquacious -opulent

Writers should avoid buzzwords because they

-can cause negative feelings. -are trite.

Which of the following are generally considered to be overused workplace terms?

-do more with less -at the end of the day -think outside the box

When a document is complex or full of information, headings help readers do which of the following?

-find their way through the document and locate areas of interest -identify key concepts -recognize what is in each section

Which two of the following can often be changed into action verbs in an effort to make your writing more dynamic?

-forms of the verb to be -nouns

A sentence written in active voice does which of the following?

-identifies the doer (the subject noun) -includes a strong verb -often includes a direct object

Empty phrases in business communication

-make sentences unnecessarily long. -fill space without adding meaning.

To keep writing precise, business writers should avoid using

-metaphors. -idioms.

Which of the following are common sources of inaccurate information in business communication?

-misinformation -miscalculations -errors in typing

To be complete, a business communication should

-provide all relevant information. -be accurate. -be specific.

In business communication it is best to use words that are

-short and familiar. -conversational.

Paragraphs that discuss only one idea or topic tend to be

-shorter. -easy to understand.

Navigational design can be improved using

-simplicity. -headings. -white space.

In response to a business communication that is vague, people tend to

-start skimming to find the information they want. -feel impatient. -feel that their questions have not been answered.

Certain figures of speech, such as idioms and metaphors, are generally not used in business writing because

-their meaning is not precise. -they have been overused.

Business writers should avoid using buzzwords because

-they are so overused that they have lost their meaning. -they can be annoying to readers. -they can indicate that the writer is out of touch.

When your writing style is similar to the way your readers think and talk,

-they will understand the message despite the many distractions in a work environment. -they will process the information more easily.

In business communication, long paragraphs are generally associated with

-writing that will be confusing to read. -a writer who expects to claim too much of the reader's time. -a writer who is disorganized.

For routine business communications, how many words per sentence should writers aim for?

15 words

In general, for complex or analytical business communications, the average written sentence length should be ______ or fewer words.

20

Which sentence demonstrates the most effective use of action verbs?

At our learning center, teachers nurture each child and monitor individual progress.

Which of the following would best serve as a heading?

Choosing a Good Store Location

What is the most important reason business communication should be complete?

It allows people to effectively act on the message right away.

What is the key to ensuring that a message will include the right amount of information?

Keep asking yourself what information will be necessary to achieve the purpose of the message.

Which sentence is written in active voice?

Mary hired three new employees the week after she approved the new budget.

True or false: Depending on the message, the duration of the review process of business messages ranges from only a few minutes to more than a month.

T

Which of the following statements are true?

The amount of white space helps readers form their first impression of a document. Documents look best when text is balanced with white space. Double-spaced documents are seldom used in business communications.

In the following paragraph, which sentences should be reworded because they fail to provide a specific subject? There are many people who want to purchase our merchandise. There are several reasons for this, including having a large budget for advertising. Advertising is very effective in bringing in shoppers looking for bargains. Consequently, it is our plan to increase sales volume by 10% this year.

There are many people who want to purchase our merchandise. There are several reasons for this, including having a large budget for advertising. Consequently, it is our plan to increase sales volume by 10% this year.

What question should the writer ask when deciding whether to reword a sentence that begins with "it is"?

What does "it" refer to?

For which of these situations would the use of the passive voice be preferable?

When presenting a problem situation to your manager and avoiding placing the blame on anyone.

A sentence written in active voice specifies the doer of the action. This is important because

accountability and coordination are vital in business.

During the reviewing stage of composing a business communication, feedback is usually not needed for which of the following types of business communication?

an everyday message

Bold type, italics, and underlining are used in page design to

attract the reader's attention. hold the reader's attention.

The purpose of the FAIR test is to ensure that

business communication is conducted ethically

The best thing to do with wordy prepositional phrases is usually to

change them into single-word verbs.

When you proofread a document, you

check for accuracy. evaluate whether the document is likely to influence readers.

The most important consideration for written business communication is

conveying a message that is easy to read.

A brochure that is vague will give the impression that the writer lacks

credibility.

Headings and subheadings within a document should

describe the contents of each section.

When designing a document,

do not format it in a way that will distract from the main message.

During the review process the writer should apply the FAIR test to ensure that the message it conforms to standards for

facts. impacts. respect. access.

Readers have a difficult time navigating through paragraphs that are

full of numerals. one long block of text. wordy.

Writers sometimes finalize their work without reviewing it because

human nature prompts people to finish a project and move on to the next one.

Business writing should be concise in order to

make the message easier to comprehend.

Bullets and Numbering

makes items easier to remember. help readers notice each item on a list.

Feedback is helpful because readers who provide feedback can

offer suggestions for improving the text. imagine how the intended reader will respond to the text.

In business communication, how many ideas or topics should a paragraph usually address?

one

When reviewing a business communication, it is best to seek feedback from

people who have demonstrated good judgment. respected colleagues.

Compared to average business writers, expert business writers spend more time doing which three of the following? Multiple select question.

planning the document. thinking about the effect of the message. reviewing the text.

Redundant words and phrases

repeat the meaning of previously used words and phrases

A sentence that begins with "there are" can often be improved by

rewording the sentence to avoid using this phrase.

Which of the following are basic components of the review process in business communication?

seeking feedback applying the FAIR test to the document proofreading

When readers receive a business message that consists of long paragraphs, they typically will

skim the text instead of reading each word.

During the review process, a business writer checks to see if a document conforms to standards for impacts, access, respect, and facts. This is called Multiple choice question.

the FAIR test.

When applying the FAIR test to a document, the writer should make sure that

the message demonstrates respect for the inherent worth of others. the message includes accurate facts that have not been slanted. the message is considerate of people's value and feelings.

The review process in business communication helps ensure that

the message is written in a fair way. the document communicates the correct message and has no errors. feedback from trusted business associates has been considered.

Which two of the following kinds of lists would benefit most from being formatted with bullets or numbering?

the seven steps a person can take to overcome shyness at work the various forms required to apply for a business loan

Reviewing a business communication before sending it is important because the review helps

the writer improve the message. eliminate embarrassing errors. prevent costly mistakes.