Test your basic knowledge |

The Business Writing Process

Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject and his or her readers. May range depending on purpose etc.






2. The ____________ of a word are its literal meanings - as defined in a dictionary.






3. Goal and audience






4. Condenses writing by omitting articles - pronouns - conjunctions - and transitions - e.g. ' Per 5/21 email 12 copies of instruction needed asap'






5. The relationships among ideas are clear to readers. A logical sequence of related ideas and clear transitions between these ideas.






6. General ideas - qualities - conditions - acts or relationships-intangible things that cannot be detected by the five senses






7. What is Indirect Order?






8. Places the reader's interest and perspective foremost. It is based on the principle that most readers are naturally more concerned about their own needs than they are about those of a writer or a writer's organization - often means using the words y


9. Conciseness






10. Using words like 'most - much - very' with caution - wthout overdoing it.






11. How do you Plan the message?






12. Letters - memos - email - instant messages - telephone calls - Faxes - Face-to-face meetings - video conferences - web sites






13. How do you begin the message?


14. What is a Memorandum?






15. Introduction; list of equipment and materials; steps for your instructions; warnings - cautions - and notes; conclusion






16. General considerations with Email Messages






17. What are three levels of Revision?






18. A sentence that is so tangled with structural and grammatical problems that it cannot be repaired - often result from trying to include too many ideas in one sentence.






19. They dentify things that can be perceived by the 5 senses - such as diploma - manager - or keyboard






20. The ___________ of a word are its meanings and associations beyond its literal definitions - words often have particular connotations for audiences within professional groups and organizations






21. Use Initialisms






22. Concern policies and regulations found in employee handbooks and other internal corporate communications






23. Words or phrases that suddenly become popular and - because of an intense period of overuse - lose their freshness and precisness - E.g. interface (as a verb) - impact (as a verb) - skill sets - deliverables - slam dunk - bleeding edge - cash cow - 2






24. To set you apart from the others; show that you have customized your resume for that company/job opening






25. What is Direct Order?






26. How do you present information in long messages?






27. When to use Instant Messaging?






28. What is current emphasis on for a Letter?






29. Iitalics - bold type - underlining etc.






30. What types of research is done in gathering information?






31. Provide practical information - give facts not impressions - provide visuals to clarify and condense information - give accurate measurements - state responsibilities precisely - persuade and offer recommendations -






32. Stages can also be summarized as...






33. An inoffensive substitute for a word or phrase that could be distasteful - offensive - or too blunt.






34. Identifying your audience - Establishing your purpose - Formulating your message - and Selecting your style (how something is written rather than what is written) and tone (expresses your attitude toward your topic and audience)






35. Avoid language that attempts to evade responsibility - Avoid deceptive language - Do not deemphasize or suppress important information - Do not emphasize misleading or incorrect information - Avoid using language that is biased - racist - or sexist o






36. Means that extraneous words - phrases - clauses - and sentences have been removed from writing without sacrificing clarity or appropriate detail.






37. Where you put the idea - The first & last words of a sentence - paragraph - doc - stand out in readers' minds.






38. Are these stages recursive or linear?






39. How do you know what to include in your message?






40. What are the activities in the planning stage?






41. Audience's preferences - personal work style - how widely info needs to be distributed etc.






42. Steps to Successful Writing






43. A group of words that has a special meaning apart from its literal meaning. Someone who 'runs for office'






44. When should email NOT be used?






45. Honesty - attractive - carefully organized - concise accurate - current information - relevance






46. Less formal than in the past - Varies from conversational style - The use of personal pronouns is important - In emails etc. something between conversational & business writing should be used - Only use we when it is company policy






47. E.g. 'most important'






48. What is important in the Revising stage?






49. Why Avoid Perfectionism in Drafting?






50. What are Pros of Email?