Exam 5: Writing Business Messages

List at least three guidelines to follow if you want to achieve a conversational tone in business messages.

You should always avoid using euphemisms, because they are inherently dishonest.

In business messages, using terms such as "if," "hope," and "trust" is

When you are criticizing or correcting, it is best to

Skillful writers use transitional elements to

A standard block of text used in various documents without being changed is called ________.

To avoid embarrassing blunders in language related to gender, race, ethnicity, age, or disability, use ________ language.

The acronyms and shortcuts used in texting and IM are

Most ________ express a concept, quality, or characteristic. Most ________ represent something you can see, touch, or visualize.

Give the definition of a complex sentence, then provide an example of one.

________ ________ is a way of presenting information in a simple, unadorned style so that your audience can easily grasp your meaning.

Terms such as "handicapped employees" are examples of ________ bias.

Adopting a "you" attitude in business writing is simply a matter of using the pronoun "you" as much as possible.

Clichés are a valuable tool in business writing, as readers find such words and phrases to be comfortable and familiar.

When you want to develop a paragraph by showing how a general idea is broken into specific categories, which of these methods would you use?

Use ________ to avoid categorizing or stigmatizing people based on their gender, race, ethnicity, age, level of ability, or other personal characteristics.

The best way to convey the "you" attitude is to express your message in terms of

As you create and refine your messages, evaluate your writing at all of the following levels except

The ________ of a word is its literal or dictionary meaning.

In ________ paragraph, a writer analyzes the reasons for and/or the consequences of an action, an event, or a decision.