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Test your basic knowledge |
The Business Writing Process
Start Test
Study First
Subjects
:
writing-skills
,
business-skills
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.
Cliches
Biased Language
Selecting the proper medium
Casual - Informal - or Formal
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
Information needed for short report
Selecting the proper medium
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Connotation
3. To emphasize the performer of an action: make the performer the subject of the verb
Purpose - Format - Composition
Sentence Type
Long - Complicated - Requires Negotiation - Questions/Info need clarification/discussion - Info Confidential/Sensitive - Requires Security - Could be Misinterpreted - Emotionally Charged - Requires Tone of Voice - Sent to Avoid - Contains Sensitive I
Active Voice
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.
Long Dashes
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
Garbled Sentences
5. Using words like 'most - much - very' with caution - wthout overdoing it.
Intensifiers
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Examples of medium s of business communication
Long Dashes
6. Tell and show how to do something
Things to think through when planning a website
Instructions
similar
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
7. Correctness
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
Information the reader will want - put it first.
8. Conciseness
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Direct Statements
Selecting the proper medium
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
9. What is critical to a message's success?
Attractive and Readable Format
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Examples of medium s of business communication
10. When to use Instant Messaging?
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Sentence Variety
Business Writing Style
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
Idioms
Cliches
Emphasis
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
12. What are Cons of Email?
13. Use Initialisms
Outlining
Strategy and Humanness
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way
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
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Abstract words
Figures of Speech
Short report
16. How do you know what to include in your message?
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Instructions
Euphemismss
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
17. What is format of most Memos?
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Mechanical Devices
Climatic Order
Denotaion
18. What is Direct Order?
Purpose - Format - Composition
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Procedures
Goal of a letter of application
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 -
Characteristics of job-related writing
Denotaion
Affectation
Information needed for short report
20. How do you present information in long messages?
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Purpose - Format - Composition
21. What are three levels of Editing?
Information needed for short report
Affectation
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Biased Language
22. What should you know about a Letter?
Coherent writing
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Purpose - Format - Composition
23. An imaginative expression that often compares two things that are basically not alike but have at least one thing in common.
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages
Biased Language
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Figures of Speech
24. What are the activities in the planning stage?
Active Voice
Get Feedback From Others!
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
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
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages
One-third
Ethics in Business Writing
Selecting the proper medium
26. General ideas - qualities - conditions - acts or relationships-intangible things that cannot be detected by the five senses
Outlining
Abstract words
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Attractive and Readable Format
27. Used to show - by the structure of a sentence - the appropriate relationship between ideas of unequal importance.
Subordination
Wordiness
Emphasis
Idioms
28. Purpose - findings - conclusion - and recommendations
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Information needed for short report
'You Viewpoint'
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
29. Casual
Conciseness
Abstract words
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
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
Guidelines for successful group writing
Business Writing Style
Long - Complicated - Requires Negotiation - Questions/Info need clarification/discussion - Info Confidential/Sensitive - Requires Security - Could be Misinterpreted - Emotionally Charged - Requires Tone of Voice - Sent to Avoid - Contains Sensitive I
Position
31. Goal and audience
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
One-third
Things to think through when planning a website
Three P's for success in writing a memo
32. Introduction - list of materials - actual steps - warnings - cautions - and notes - conclusion when necessary
Main parts of instructions
Intensifiers
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Purpose - Format - Composition
33. To set you apart from the others; show that you have customized your resume for that company/job opening
Goal of a letter of application
Wordiness
Repetition
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only
34. How do you present information in message?
Abstract words
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Climatic Order
Buzz Words
35. Letters - memos - email - instant messages - telephone calls - Faxes - Face-to-face meetings - video conferences - web sites
Examples of medium s of business communication
similar
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
36. Sentences can vary in sentence length - word order - loose and periodic sentences
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Long Dashes
Biased Language
Sentence Variety
37. How is formatting important?
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Short report
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
38. Concern policies and regulations found in employee handbooks and other internal corporate communications
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness
Procedures
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Euphemismss
39. What is important in the Revising stage?
Cliches
Sentence Length
Get Feedback From Others!
Characteristics of job-related writing
40. What is Indirect Order?
Repetition
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Biased Language
Euphemismss
41. What is a Memorandum?
Recursive
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
42. Iitalics - bold type - underlining etc.
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Mechanical Devices
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
43. The relationships among ideas are clear to readers. A logical sequence of related ideas and clear transitions between these ideas.
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Business Writing Style
Coherent writing
Position
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
Purpose - Format - Composition
Buzz Words
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only
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)
Four keys to effective writing
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs
Casual - Informal - or Formal
46. Repeating keywords and key phrases
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only
Things to think through when planning a website
Position
Repetition
47. Use to call attention to a particular word or statement --
Long Dashes
Euphemismss
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages
Casual - Informal - or Formal
48. Where you put the idea - The first & last words of a sentence - paragraph - doc - stand out in readers' minds.
'You Viewpoint'
Position
Strategy and Humanness
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
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?
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
Sentence Variety
Business Writing Style
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise