Business Writing Principles

Internal Quiz

Question 1 of 8
Which choice is a reliable way to ensure that your email will be read?
Use a comma after the recipient’s name to convey respect.
Use a compelling subject line.
Close out the email with a heartfelt expression like “Very truly yours.”
Give all the critical information in one paragraph so the reader will have fewer paragraphs to read.

Use a compelling subject line.

Question 2 of 8
How should you structure your document for easy reading?
Use two or three line paragraphs
Include at least 8 sentences in each paragraph.
Use lists and bullets.
Use long paragraphs.

Use lists and bullets.

Question 3 of 8
Revise the following sentence to be more concise, but have the same meaning:
“The sales figures that we calculate annually will be given to you sometime on the first day of the month of July.”
You will receive our annual sales figures July 1.
We will give the sales figures that we calculate annually to you on July 1.
On the first day of July, you will receive the sales figures that we have calculated.
You will receive from us before the close of our work day on July 1 the annual sales figures.

You will receive our annual sales figures July 1.

Question 4 of 8
Which of the following elements do effective business writers always include in their communications?
a face-to-face component
adjectives and adverbs
topic sentences
compliments to the reader

topic sentences

Question 5 of 8
Which of these is an example of a concrete request?
Please help yourself to several bagels in the conference room.
You’ll need to increase your sales by 20 percent soon.
Try to work harder on your next presentation.
Please have the expense report on my desk by 5 p.m. this afternoon.

Please have the expense report on my desk by 5 p.m. this afternoon.

Question 6 of 8
Which sentence is punctuated properly?
Despite having been before I am excited to attend the conference.
I have been to the conference before, I am excited to go again.
I have been to the conference before, and I am excited to go again.
I have been to the conference before; and I am excited to go again.

I have been to the conference before, and I am excited to go again.

Question 7 of 8
Which of these should you do during the planning stage?
write every random thought that comes into your head
identify five specific topics to include
determine how long the document will be
consider the reader’s needs and wants

consider the reader’s needs and wants

Question 8 of 8
What is one reason to send a handwritten note?
to discipline a subordinate
to express gratitude
to spread awareness about a new policy
to suggest a new meeting time

to express gratitude

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Final Exam

Question 1 of 13
Which of the following is a grammatically correct sentence?

Please put the folders over their.
Your attitude affects your performance.
Everyone already knows what they’re supposed to do.
Kyle and myself would like to request Friday off.

b) Your attitude affects your performance.

Question 2 of 13
How much of your writing time should be spent planning and revising?

50%
80%
none
30%

b) 80%

Question 3 of 13
What question should you ask yourself to write in a conversational style?

What are the most important pieces of content to include in this email?
Would I say this to someone if I were speaking to them face to face?
By when do I need this correspondent to send her reply?
How can I make this email formal enough to sound impressive?

b) Would I say this to someone if I were speaking to them face to face?

Question 4 of 13
Revise to include all the necessary specifics: We will be having a meeting on Tuesday.

Next Tuesday we’ll meet to discuss some items in Room 101.
Our next staff meeting to discuss flextime and childcare will be Tuesday, November 12, in Room 101 in our company annex.
We are writing you to tell you that our Tuesday meeting’s plan is to discuss flextime and child care.
We will have a meeting next Tuesday at 10:00.

b) Our next staff meeting to discuss flextime and childcare will be Tuesday, November 12, in Room 101 in our company annex.

Question 5 of 13
You send an email to your coworkers telling them to meet at the hotel conference room at 9 a.m. for a meeting.

Considering the 10 Cs, what piece of information are you forgetting to tell them?

They should bring writing utensils to take notes.
The meeting’s purpose is to discuss a marketing plan for your new product.
The new hire, Janet, will also be there.
The hotel recently received national recognition.

b) The meeting’s purpose is to discuss a marketing plan for your new product.

Question 6 of 13
Which of the following is indicative of a typical memo?

a clear introduction
a single paragraph
a length over two pages
a signature block

a) a clear introduction

Question 7 of 13
Which of the following is an example of courteous writing?

The room is already booked on the 11th, but it is available on the 12th.
You didn’t remember to include the time.
I will grant you the extension.
No, that won’t work for us.

a) The room is already booked on the 11th, but it is available on the 12th.

Question 8 of 13
Which of these should be included in a report for a client unfamiliar with your company?

opinions
company-specific jargon
superlatives
specific company background information

d) specific company background information

Question 9 of 13
“Please complete the audit report by end of business day, Friday.”

What sort of request is this?

redundant request
considerate request
courteous request
concrete request

d) concrete request

Question 10 of 13
How can you ensure your recipient will read your email quickly when she receives it in her inbox?

Mention the email when you speak to her face to face.
Forward messages as often as possible.
Use a one-word subject line.
Create a specific and compelling subject line.

d) Create a specific and compelling subject line.

Question 11 of 13
Which of these clues indicates that a source is credible?

The source includes answers collected from a few coworkers.
The source comes from an expert in the field.
The source uses materials collected several years ago.
The source was compiled using leading questions.

b) The source comes from an expert in the field.

Question 12 of 13
What is grammatically wrong with this sentence?

“Although I’ve already reviewed the slide deck I am still planning on attending the live presentation.”

The sentence is grammatically correct.
The sentence needs a comma after “deck.”
The sentence should be divided into two separate sentences.
The sentence has a spelling error.

b) The sentence needs a comma after “deck.”

Question 13 of 13
Your employee’s writing skills have improved. Because of this improvement, she is being put on a new account.

Considering coherence, which of the following is the most effective way to inform her of this?

Your writing skills have improved tremendously. Consequently, you are being assigned to the Johnson account.
Your writing skills have improved tremendously. However, you are being assigned to the Johnson account.
Your writing skills have improved tremendously; additionally, you are being assigned to the Johnson account.
Your writing skills have improved tremendously. You are being assigned to the Johnson account.

a) Your writing skills have improved tremendously. Consequently, you are being assigned to the Johnson account.

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