Chapter 6 BCOM 3950
In general, for complex or analytical business communications, the average written sentence length should be ___ or fewer words.
20
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
For which of these situations would the use of the passive voice be preferable?
When presenting a problem situation to your manager that was created by the accounting department
in business communication, long paragraphs are generally not associated with
a writer who has thought through the points of the message carefully
A sentence written in active voice specifies the doer of the action. This is important because
accountability and coordination are vital in business
Buzzwords should be avoided because they
annoy some readers, are trite...
Passive voice is sometimes the best choice when the writer wants to
avoid blaming anyone, avoid, sounding bossy, be perceived as neutral
when you proofread a document, you
check for accuracy, evaluate whether the document is likely to influence readers
a brochure that is vague will give the impression that the writer lacks
credibility
Which of the following are common sources of inaccurate information in business communication?
errors in typing, miscalculations, poor word choice
During the review process the writer should test the message to ensure that it conforms to standards for
facts, access. impact, respect
Which 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 sentences contain empty phrases?
needless to say, with that said, with all due respect...
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
To write concisely, it is best to
omit unnecessary words, use short sentences, use short paragraphs
in general, business communication should
provide facts in anticipation of the reader's questions
Which of the following are recommended steps in proofreading?
read sentences from the viewpoint of the audience, read each sentence more than once, correct problems with the writing style, spelling, and grammer
paragraphs that discuss only one idea or topic tend to be
shorter, easy to understand
Parallel language is important when
the writing contains a series or list
the important principle in business writing is
to say what needs to be said in as few words as possible
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
What question should the writer ask when deciding whether to reword a sentence that begins with " it is "?
what does "it" refer to?