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. Words and expressions that offend because they make inappropriate assumptions or stereotypes about gender - ethnicity - physical or mental disability - age or sexual orientation.






2. 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






3. To emphasize the performer of an action: make the performer the subject of the verb






4. 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.






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






6. Tell and show how to do something






7. Correctness






8. Conciseness






9. What is critical to a message's success?






10. When to use Instant Messaging?






11. Expressions that have been used fro so long that they are no longer fresh but come to mind easily bc they are so familiar. Often wordy as well as vague and cab be confusing - especially to non-native English speakers - E.g. all over the map - run it






12. What are Cons of Email?


13. Use Initialisms






14. How do you begin the message?


15. An organized presentation of relevant data on any topic that a company or agency tracks in its day-to-day operations






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






17. What is format of most Memos?






18. What is Direct Order?






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






20. How do you present information in long messages?






21. What are three levels of Editing?






22. What should you know about a Letter?






23. An imaginative expression that often compares two things that are basically not alike but have at least one thing in common.






24. What are the activities in the planning stage?






25. 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






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






27. Used to show - by the structure of a sentence - the appropriate relationship between ideas of unequal importance.






28. Purpose - findings - conclusion - and recommendations






29. Casual






30. 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






31. Goal and audience






32. Introduction - list of materials - actual steps - warnings - cautions - and notes - conclusion when necessary






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






34. How do you present information in message?






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






36. Sentences can vary in sentence length - word order - loose and periodic sentences






37. How is formatting important?






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






39. What is important in the Revising stage?






40. What is Indirect Order?






41. What is a Memorandum?






42. Iitalics - bold type - underlining etc.






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






44. 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






45. 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)






46. Repeating keywords and key phrases






47. Use to call attention to a particular word or statement --






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






49. 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


50. Why Avoid Perfectionism in Drafting?