Business Writing Principles Posts navigation 1 2

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

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.