Chapter 5 & 6 Reading - Business Comms

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.

In terms of tone, which two of the following do readers respond to most positively?

Concern for others The projection of positivity

Which sentences contain wordy prepositional phrases?

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. On occasion we have lunch at our place of business.

Why is accuracy an essential element of business communication? (Choose every correct answer.)

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

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 of the following sentences contain empty phrases? (Choose every correct answer.)

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

Which of the following sentences should be rephrased to use parallel language? (Choose every correct answer.)

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

Which of the following are recommended steps in proofreading? (Choose every correct answer.)

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

Which of the following statements are true about the use of white space in a business document for the workplace? (Choose every correct answer.)

The amount of white space helps readers form their first impression of a document. Documents with a large amount of white space may appear to be insufficient, lacking substance.

Why should business writers avoid using buzzwords? (Choose every correct answer.)

They have become trite through overuse. They make your writing less engaging. They can distract or annoy readers.

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.

True or false: Business messages can be strengthened to counteract issues concerning low credibility.

True

What are some of the benefits of using the active voice? (Choose every correct answer.)

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? (Choose every correct answer.)

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? (Choose every correct answer.)

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

In business communication, long paragraphs are generally associated with

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

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

accountability and coordination are vital in business.

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

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

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

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

The AIM process includes which of the following steps? (Choose every correct answer.)

audience analysis message development information gathering

To be complete, a business communication should

be accurate. provide all relevant information. be specific.

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

be distracted from the message

Workplace terms that are used too often are called

buzzwords

Business messages usually conclude with a

call to action.

Writers should avoid buzzwords because they

can cause negative feelings. are trite.

In business communication it is best to use words that are

conversational. short and familiar.

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.

An audience's assessment of a business communication message is largely based on the author's

credibility.

Most business messages are crafted using a(n) ______ approach.

deductive

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 you proofread a document, you

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

During the review process the writer should apply the FAIR test to ensure that the message it conforms to standards for which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)

facts impacts access respect

Ron opened the conversation. "TV advertising is increasingly ineffective. Every report I've seen suggests that TV advertising will continue to diminish during the next 5 to 10 years, and we'll even see spending on digital advertising surpass TV advertising pretty soon. I just saw a report that showed that TV advertising only comprises 37 percent of ad spending compared to 33 percent for digital advertising. Soon, digital advertising will overtake TV advertising. (1) As a result, it's clear that digital advertising leads to high returns on investment. (2) We need to shift all of our TV advertising to digital advertising right away." Which logical inconsistency is Ron most likely displaying in statement 1?

faulty cause/effect claims

When a document is complex or full of information, headings help readers do which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)

find their way through the document and locate areas of interest identify key concepts

Which of the following are part of planning the basic message structure? (Choose every correct answer.)

finding and framing the primary message arranging the logic of the primary message

Navigational design can be improved using

headings. simplicity. white space.

When writing a business message, a key component of credibility comes from demonstrating

interest in others.

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.

The underlying, overall message that people get from a business communication is called the _____

message of the communication.

In business communications, which of the following generally enhances the writer's beneficial influence over others?

optimism

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

people who have demonstrated good judgment. respected colleagues.

AIM is a process for ______ the writing of useful business messages.

planning

Which of the following are parts of the process of crafting effective business messages? (Choose every correct answer.)

planning writing reviewing

Redundant words and phrases

repeat the meaning of previously used words and phrases

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

skim the text instead of reading each word.

The latest eMarketer research report about perceiving brand value shows that 70 percent of Millennials say they're influenced by TV advertising. That's higher than any form of digital advertising, including social, online display, and online video. Bottom line is that TV still is our best bet for our target demographic." Which logical inconsistency is Maria most likely displaying in statement 5?

slanting the facts

The purpose of the FAIR test is to ensure which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)

that business communication be conducted ethically

Readers interpret the tone of a business message primarily as a reflection of the writer's attitude toward which two of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)

the message content the readers of the message

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

Parallel language is important when

the writing contains a series or list.

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

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

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. planning the document. reviewing the text.

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

Which of the following are the effects of a positive workplace attitude?

It provides motivation. It improves work performance. It enhances creativity.

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

change them into single-word verbs.

Writing effective messages in business helps with which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)

driving collaboration boosting productivity

2) We need to shift all of our TV advertising to digital advertising right away." Which logical inconsistency is Ron most likely displaying in statement 2?

either/or logic

Which of the following are identified to help create solid business ideas?

gathering relevant information and facts determining the business issues and objectives making sense out of often complex and confusing pieces of information

Bullets and numbering

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

Order the following steps as they typically occur in developing sound business ideas, with the first step at the top and the last step at the bottom.

identification of questions and problems research to gather information making conclusions or finding solutions

Setting up the logic of the message consists of

identifying the call to action. identifying supporting points in the message.

What are readers who provide feedback expected to do? (Choose every correct answer.)

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

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

miscalculations errors in typing misinformation

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

There's no doubt that TV advertising is alive and well." Which logical inconsistency is Maria most likely displaying in statement 3?

unsupported generalization

When highlighting words or phrases, what are two things you should do?

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

TV advertising is no different than cassette tapes—it's on its way to quick extinction. We should invest all of our creative energies and budget allotments to the advertising of the future. Right now, I think we all agree that our focus is on Millennials, so why we're still focusing on TV is confusing to me." Which logical inconsistency is Ron most likely displaying in statement 4?

weak analogy

When the tone of a business message is ______, there is an implied interest in the opinions and needs of the audience.

welcoming

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

write the way the reader thinks and talks.