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Use your browser's Find function to look for tips that apply to your particular situation.
Tools to help you include Bull's Eye Business Writing (a
self-paced workbook) and How To Improve Your Business Reading Skills (also on
CD-ROM)--all from Basic Learning Systems, Inc. 888-204-3600 * See our Web
site at http://www.basic-learning.com
| Tip #121: Capitalize abbreviations if the words they
stand for would be capitalized. For example: UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) p. (page) ********************************************************* For this week's exercise, rewrite the following words with the proper capitalization: 1. x-ray, 2..vitamin b, 3. t-square, 4. u-turn, 5. I-beam ********************************************************* Here is last week's exercise: What's wrong with the following use of question marks? 1. "When are we going to receive a raise in salary?." 2. You told me--Didn't you--that Harry had been chosen? 3. The group leader asked if anyone had a question? Here are the answers: 1. "When are we going to receive a raise in salary?" 2. You told me that Harry had been chosen. Didn't you? 3. The group leader asked if anyone had a question. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
| Tip #122: Here are a few Do's and Don'ts about prepositions: 1. Do not use redundant prepositions, such as "off of," "in back of," "inside of," and "at about." Change: The client arrived at about 4:00 p.m. To: The client arrived at 4:00 p.m. 2. Do not omit necessary prepositions. Change: He was oblivious and not distracted by the view from his office window. To: He was oblivious to and not distracted by the view from his office window. 3. If a preposition falls naturally at the end of a sentence, leave it there. Example: I don't remember which file I put it in. 4. When a preposition appears in a title, it is capitalized only if it is the first word in the title or if it has four letters or more. Example: Composition for the Technical World was reviewed recently by the IEEE Journal. ********************************************************* Rewrite the following sentences by either eliminating or adding prepositions: 1. She just could not start in to do her paperwork. 2. Let's divide up the orange. 3. When did they finally get down to the problem? 4. Mr. Lee gained his reputation by hard work and honest dealings with his customers. ********************************************************* Here is last week's exercise: rewrite the following words with the proper capitalization: 1. x-ray, 2..vitamin b, 3. t-square, 4. u-turn, 5. I-beam Answers: 1. X-ray, 2. Vitamin B , 3. T-square, 4. U-turn, 5. I-beam If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
| Tip # 123: When a sentence contains grammatical forms
inconsistent with one another a mixed construction occurs. These constructions can shift the tense, person, number and voice. Change: The pilot lowered the landing gear and is approaching the runway. To: The pilot lowered the landing gear and approached the runway. (Notice the shift from past to present tense). ********************************************************* Please rewrite the following sentences by correcting the mixed construction: 1. The technician should take care in choosing your equipment. (Notice the shift in person). 2. My car, though not as fast as the others, operate on regular gasoline. (Notice the shift in number). 3. I will check your report, and then it will be returned to you. (Notice the shift in voice). ********************************************************* Here is last week's exercise: Rewrite the following sentences by either eliminating or adding prepositions: 1. She just could not start in to do her paperwork. 2. Let's divide up the orange. 3. When did they finally get down to the problem? 4. Mr. Lee gained his reputation by hard work and honest dealings with his customers. Answers: 1. She just could not start her paperwork. 2. Let's divide the orange. 3. When did they finally get to the problem? 4. Mr. Lee gained his reputation by hard work and by honest dealings with his customers. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
| Tip # 124: When using clip art in your business
publications, use a large illustration rather than numerous, small illustrations placed randomly on the page. However, you can use several individual, but related, clip art images grouped together for an effective message. ********************************************************* Eliminate the unnecessary words in the following sentences: 1. There are a large number of applications that involve checking the uncertain data. 2. The larger educational institutions were located in places like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. 3. The United States government is not supplying much in the way of guidance concerning ecological environments. ********************************************************* Here is last week's exercise: Please rewrite the following sentences by correcting the mixed construction: 1. The technician should take care in choosing your equipment. (Notice the shift in person). 2. My car, though not as fast as the others, operate on regular gasoline. (Notice the shift in number). 3. I will check your report, and then it will be returned to you. (Notice the shift in voice). Answers: 1. The technician should take care in choosing his or her equipment. 2. My car, though not as fast as the others, operates on regular gasoline. 3. I will check your report, and then return it to you. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
| Tip #125: I received a good question from one of our
subscribers: Question: How should email salutations such as "Hi Gloria" be punctuated? Hi, Gloria, or Hi Gloria, or ?? Email salutations should be punctuated: Hi,Gloria. However, you would not use a comma when using Dear Gloria. ********************************************************* Please correct the following pronoun errors: 1. My boss is her. 2. In his letter, John mentioned you and I. 3. They and us must discuss the terms of the merger. 4. Two systems analysts, Joe and me, were selected. 5. Between you and I, he is wrong. ********************************************************* This was last week's exercise: Eliminate the unnecessary words in the following sentences: 1. There are a large number of applications that involve checking the uncertain data. 2. The larger educational institutions were located in places like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. 3. The United States government is not supplying much in the way of guidance concerning ecological environments. The answers are: 1. A large number of applications involve checking the uncertain data. 2. The larger educational institutions were located in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. 3. The United States government is not supplying much guidance in ecological environments. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
| Tip # 126: The purpose of writing a proposal is to fill a need.
Therefore, your readers will evaluate your plan according to how well your written presentation answers their questions about what you are proposing to do, how you plan to do it, when you plan to do it, and how much it is going to cost. 1. Tell why you are the best organization for the job. 2. Tell what major steps you will take to meet their needs (a schedule for completing the task). 3. Provide the qualifications of everyone who will be involved. 4. Break the costs down including information about equipment, material, personnel requirements. 5. Proofread. Your document must be perfect. 6. Use professional fonts such as Arial or Times Roman with a 12 pt. size. ********************************************************* Please insert commas wherever necessary. 1. However I am willing to reconsider. 2. Whenever I practice the piano my brother closes the windows. 3. The computer which I bought last week is in the garage. 4. She attended a conference in London England last week. 5. They said they would do the job. ********************************************************* Here is last week's exercise: Please correct the following pronoun errors: 1. My boss is her. 2. In his letter, John mentioned you and I. 3. They and us must discuss the terms of the merger. 4. Two systems analysts, Joe and me, were selected. 5. Between you and I, he is wrong. Here are the answers: 1. My boss is she. 2. In his letter, John mentioned you and me. 3. They and we must discuss the terms of the merger. 4. Two systems analysts, Joe and I, were selected. 5. Between you and me, he is wrong. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
For tip #127, visit http://www.basic-learning.com
| Tip # 128: Use abbreviations and acronyms if you are certain
your reader understands them. In general, use abbreviations only in charts, tables, graphs, footnotes, bibliographies, and other places where space is at a premium. Also, do not place an additional period at the end of a sentence that ends with an abbreviation. Example: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has helped our country develop many new products. NASA has also developed an orbiting space laboratory. Example: The official name of the company is Basic Learning Systems, Inc. ********************************************************* Remove any unnecessary commas in the following sentences: 1. John said that, the company's failure is another's opportunity. 2. The engineering department's director, and the quality-control sector's supervisor were both opposed to the schedule. 3. The meeting was adjourned, but, the members continued to debate. 4. We are ordering new products, such as, computers, scanners, and printers. ********************************************************* Here is last week's exercise: Please insert semicolons wherever necessary: 1. Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country. 2. I used to call him my "web master" it made him laugh. 3. The weather was cold for that time of year (I was shivering wherever I went) nevertheless, we set out to hike. 4. In September a bag of potatoes cost $.79 in December $.99 in February $1.10. I wonder if this inflation will stop. Here are the answers: 1. Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. 2. I used to call him my "web master"; it made him laugh. 3. The weather was cold for that time of year (I was shivering wherever I went); nevertheless, we set out to hike. 4. In September a bag of potatoes cost $.79; in December $.99; in February $1.10. I wonder if this inflation will stop. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
| Tip # 129: Since there is a direct correlation between
paragraph length and comprehension, try to keep your paragraphs about no more than 14 lines (or one-quarter of a page). Long paragraphs, especially in emails, cause comprehension to decrease. ********************************************************* Correct the errors in capitalization in the following: 1. Move toward the Northeastern part of the region during the Summer. 2. The fifties were an interesting Period. 3. Five Company Officials have resigned from our Organization. 4. One of the greatest Inventions is the Aspirin. 5. Region 9 marketing division is located in the south. ********************************************************* Here is last week's exercise: Remove any unnecessary commas in the following sentences: 1. John said that, the company's failure is another's opportunity. 2. The engineering department's director, and the quality-control sector's supervisor were both opposed to the schedule. 3. The meeting was adjourned, but, the members continued to debate. 4. We are ordering new products, such as, computers, scanners, and printers. Here are the correct answers: 5. John said that the company's failure is another's opportunity. 6. The engineering department's director and the quality-control sector's supervisor were both opposed to the schedule. 7. The meeting was adjourned, but the members continued to debate. 8. We are ordering new products, such as computers, scanners, and printers. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
| Tip # 130: Can you explain the difference between affect and effect,
with examples of each being applied?" Here is the explanation: Affect is usually used as a verb meaning "to influence, change, assume." For example: The court's decision will not affect the legal precedent. In psychology, affect is used as a noun to mean "feeling, emotion." For example: We need to analyze the affects (emotions) produced by the conflict. Effect can be either a verb meaning "to bring about" or a noun meaning "result, impression." For example: We must effect (bring about) an immediate improvement. The effect (result) of the computer is enormous. ********************************************************* Try these sentences. Place either the word "affect" or "effect" in the sentence: 1. Sally's suggestion did not _____the decision. 2. The _____ of the new medicine is excellent. 3. She _______ an unsophisticated manner. 4. It was months before the full ______ took place. ********************************************************* Here is the last practice exercise: Correct the errors in capitalization in the following: 1. Move toward the Northeastern part of the region during the Summer. 2. The fifties were an interesting Period. 3. Five Company Officials have resigned from our Organization. 4. One of the greatest Inventions is the Aspirin. 5. Region 9 marketing division is located in the south. Here are the answers: 1. Move toward the northeastern part of the region during summer. 2. The fifties were an interesting period. 3. Five company officials have resigned from our organization. 4. One of the greatest inventions is the aspirin. 5. Region 9 Marketing Division is located in the South. If you would like to receive the FREE weekly tips by e-mail, contact tips@basic-learning.com and write "Sign Me Up" in the subject line. http://www.basic-learning.com |
Writing for Trade Publications | Active Voice | http://www.atozwriting.com
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