Exam 4: Writing Business Messages

Rewrite the following paragraph using the "you" attitude: Highstreet Shoes has the best products for the best prices in town. We offer shoes for every possible activity, from casuals to formals, for work or play. Our customers consistently report the highest satisfaction levels. The salespeople at our stores are familiar with the entire range of shoes and can help our customers choose the best option for them. We are located at most major malls and shopping centres and even have an online store, for customer convenience. Our returns policy allows product returns within 90 days of purchase, in their original packaging. Kindly note that no returns will be accepted after 90 days.

Most business messages aim for a conversational tone, using plain language that sounds businesslike without being stuffy, stiff, wordy, or full of jargon.

Using passive voice makes sense in some situations when it allows you to focus on your audience and demonstrate the "you" attitude.

All of the following are techniques for selecting the best words EXCEPT ________.

________ sentences de-emphasize the subject and imply action done by something or someone.

It is not acceptable to use jargon in business writing.

What is the capability of intelligent systems to learn on their own, without being fed explicit instructions?

You can give emphasis to key points by ________.

Placement of ideas is one way to give emphasis to key points.

Identify the voice in the following sentence: When the committee hired Jane, they followed correct procedures.

________ is a way of writing and arranging technical materials so that your audience can understand your meaning.

Even professional editors and grammarians sometimes disagree about correct usage.

In longer reports, transitions that link major sections or chapters are often complete ________ that summarize the ideas presented in the section just ending.

Credibility takes a long time to develop, but it can be wiped out in an instant.

To choose strong words, ________.

In business writing, grammatical correctness is very important because ________.

Identify the type of bias in the sentence "It requires great dedication to be a doctor because a doctor must always put his patient's interests before his own."

Your choice of how to develop an effective paragraph depends on your subject, your intended audience, and your purpose.

What is jargon?

Abstract words should be avoided in all business writing; they are too unclear.