BCOM

Which sentence demonstrates the most effective use of action verbs?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Which of the following sentences contain redundant words or phrases?

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

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

What does "it" refer to?

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

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

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

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

be distracted from the message.

To be complete, a business communication should

be specific. provide all relevant information. be accurate.

The purpose of the FAIR test is to ensure that

business communication is conducted ethically

Workplace terms that are used too often are called

buzzwords

Writers should avoid buzzwords because they

can cause negative feelings. are trite.

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.

When sentences begin with "it is" or "there are," they usually

do not specify the subject of the sentence. are longer than necessary.

Bullets and numbering

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

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

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

Writers sometimes finalize their work without reviewing it because

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

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

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

Feedback is helpful because readers who provide feedback can

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

empty phrases in business communication

make sentences unnecessarily long. fill space without adding meaning.

Business writing should be concise in order to

make the message easier to comprehend.

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

misinformation miscalculations errors in typing

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

nouns forms of the verb to be

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

proofreading applying the FAIR test to the document seeking feedback

Redundant words and phrases

repeat the meaning of previously used words and phrases

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

respect. access. impacts. facts.

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

respected colleagues. people who have demonstrated good judgment.

In business communication it is best to use words that are

short and familiar. conversational.

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

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

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

thinking about how the message will affect readers.

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

Why is accuracy an essential element of business communication?

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

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

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

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

skim the text instead of reading each word.

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

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

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

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

Parallel language is important when

the writing contains a series or list

Business writers should avoid using buzzwords because

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

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.

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.

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.

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 of the following sentences contain empty phrases?

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

Which sentences contain wordy prepositional phrases?

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

In business communication, long paragraphs are generally associated with

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

What is the main purpose of navigational design?

to make the message easy to navigate

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.

Navigational design can be improved using

white space. simplicity. headings.

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

write the way the reader thinks and talks.