ESP121 Unit 4

Expressions such as enclosed please find and pursuant to your request represent standard business language that trained writers strive to include in their messages.

FALSE

Which of the following is not a technique to use in proofreading complex documents?

a. Print a copy, preferably double-spaced, and set it aside for at least three days.

b. Allow adequate time to proofread carefully.

c. Be prepared to find errors.

d. Read the message at least twice—once for word meanings and once for grammar/mechanics.

A

Which of the following sentences avoids clichés?

a. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this network will perform exactly as promised.

b. Brainstorming involves generating ideas quickly without thinking about negatives.

c. All managers have been urged to think outside the box as we brainstorm for new sales approaches.

d. First and foremost, we want ideas that creatively address techniques for pushing our sales forward in this last quarter.

B

Which of the following sentences contains no jargon, slang, or clichés?

a. This introduction discusses various transmission networks, topologies, and LAN protocols.

b. Plant networking operations totally bomb when transmissions are nearly all asymmetric.

c. An exception to the rule, however, occurs when we create smaller networks.

d. When we introduce smart switches, information can be transmitted in both directions.

D

Jargon, which is special terminology that is related to a particular activity or profession, is acceptable to use within that profession.

TRUE

Redundancies are used to achieve emphasis.

FALSE

Which of the following sentences contains no fillers, repetitious words, or redundancies?

a. There were two people who filled each management position when the companies merged.

b. The survey referred back to the original contract, so it was absolutely essential.

c. Because the housing development was small in size, we combined together two teams to canvass the area.

d. Although several qualified candidates applied, the manager had difficulty hiring someone to fill the open position.

D

Which of the following sentences avoids flabby expressions or long lead-ins?

a. Jennifer will in all probability be offered the position in the near future.

b. You will be interested to learn that we will begin offering cruises in April.

c. When the weather improves, we expect tourists to begin traveling again.

d. This is to inform you that our charter cruises to Alaska will resume May 1.

C

Buried verbs are those that are

a. needlessly transformed into adjectives.

b. converted to wordy noun expressions.

c. not specific or precise.

d. inconspicuous because they replace other parts of speech.

B

Significant design techniques to improve readability include appropriate use of white space, margins, typefaces, numbered and bulleted lists, and headings for visual impact.

TRUE

Rather than wait to complete a document, smart writers proofread as they go so that they catch spelling, grammar, and punctuation problems before it's too late.

FALSE

Which of the following sentences does not include a buried verb?

a. After hearing complaints, the president promised to make an examination of assignments.

b. He soon came to the conclusion that departmental assignments were unfair.

c. One manager offered a recommendation that we change the overtime schedule.

d. The president plans to announce a new schedule after consulting with all managers.

D

Although concise messages require the writer to examine every sentence, the effort is worthwhile because concise messages are easier to read and comprehend.

TRUE

You may proofread and edit PDF (portable document format) files by using Adobe Acrobat Software, which allows you to insert, replace, highlight, delete, and underline material as well as add notes.

TRUE

Proofreading involves ______ of a message.

a. enhancing the content and sentence structure

b. analyzing the purpose

c. profiling the audience

d. improving the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics

D

Although slang is composed of informal words, it is acceptable within some businesses if writers need to show that they are savvy or "hip."

FALSE

Clear writing creates meaningful images in the mind of the reader. Clear writing is sparked by specific verbs, concrete nouns, and

a. vague wording.

b. buried verbs.

c. vivid adjectives.

d. lengthy descriptive phrases.

C

Revising and proofreading are essentially the same process.

FALSE

The Plain Writing Movement requires the federal government to write documents in simple, easy-to-understand language. This law encourages government workers to avoid redundancies and wordy expressions, and

a. use active voice.

b. write short sentences and paragraphs.

c. use parallel phrasing.

d. All of these choices are correct.

D

Which of the following sentences does not include a buried verb?

a. Congress gave authorization for the use of two different systems to track wireless calls.

b. The federal government made a requirement that cell phone carriers provide location data.

c. Unknown to many users, cell phones are capable of quietly tracking the whereabouts of their owners.

d. Law enforcement agencies had a discussion about the use of cell phone tracking systems.

C

Jargon is special terminology that

a. should never be used in business communication.

b. is acceptable and even necessary for accurate communication in certain fields.

c. is used only in geology.

d. is confined to only a few fields

B

Which of the following sentences contains no fillers or redundancies?

a. If you will refer back to the owner's letter, you will see that we have no choice.

b. It was the company owner who insisted on hiring his nephew.

c. There are many qualified candidates who are better suited for the position.

d. Nepotism is a fact of business life in privately owned companies.

D

Which of the following sentences contains no jargon, slang, or clichés?

a. Jeff asked me to complete the budget by January 15, which is easier said than done.

b. Although my part of the proposal is good to go, we are totally whacked if you can't pull off a low-ball budget.

c. The proposal for the Centrex contract must be submitted to its board by February 2.

d. We're trying to squeeze a little more wiggle room into the proposal schedule.

C

If slang is fashionable and you have reason to believe that the receiver of a message will understand it, you may use it in your messages

FALSE

Careful proofreaders check for problems in spelling, grammar, punctuation, names and numbers, and

a. format.

b. flabby expressions.

c. content.

d. trite business phrases.

A

One should never use words such as "extremely" and "totally" in business writing as they sound unbusinesslike.

TRUE

Using phrases from the past such as "as per your request" and "enclosed please find," makes you sound vigorous.

FALSE

Headings are an effective tool for highlighting information and improving readability.

TRUE

Frequently heard phrases such as "at this point in time" and "due to the fact that" illustrate good writing techniques that save the writer's time.

FALSE

In proofreading complex documents, you should

a. read the document slowly on your computer screen, using the cursor to reveal each line.

b. increase your reading speed so that you have time to read the document several times.

c. rely on your computer's grammar, style, and spell checkers to find most of the real errors.

d. print a copy, preferably double-spaced, and set it aside for a day.

D

Frequent use of all caps is a recommended practice in business writing.

FALSE

Which of the following sentences avoids flabby expressions?

a. Although women are underrepresented in all of the world's major legislative bodies, they hold 32 percent of the positions in the Finland national legislature.

b. At the present time in the world, women work more than men, when both paid employment and unpaid household tasks are accounted for.

c. In spite of the fact that the glass ceiling is slowly disappearing, few women hold executive positions in large companies.

d. Despite the fact that women make up 49.5 percent of the world's population, they reportedly own only 1 percent of the world's wealth.

A

Redundant expressions such as "each and every" or "continue on" add emphasis.

FALSE

The safest way to proofread both routine and complex documents is to print a copy because you're more likely to see errors and observe tone in printed material.

TRUE

Buried verbs are those that are needlessly converted to wordy noun expressions such as "we acquired the company" becoming "we made an acquisition of the company."

TRUE

Revision involves ______ of a message.

a. improving the content and sentence structure

b. analyzing the purpose

c. correcting the grammar and mechanics

d. profiling the audience

A

Which of the following are techniques for making your lists look professional?

a. Numbered and bulleted lists.

b. Capitalization and punctuation.

c. Parallelism.

d. All of these choices are correct

D

A typeface defines the shape of text characters. For most business messages, you should choose from serif or sans serif categories.

TRUE

Which of the following sentences contains no long lead-ins or flabby expression?

a. This is to inform you that parking permits for the new lot will be available January 1.

b. A new multilevel parking structure is being designed and should be available within three years.

c. I am writing this letter because a member of the Human Resources Department told me that a position in that department was opening up.

d. The new parking lot will in all probability be ready for use by January 15.

B