Podcast
Questions and Answers
Before writing a message, you should do which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
Before writing a message, you should do which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
The kind of words used in everyday conversation are ______ words.
The kind of words used in everyday conversation are ______ words.
familiar
Typically, short words are ______ words.
Typically, short words are ______ words.
familiar
Which of the following are potentially positive outcomes of using business clichés? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are potentially positive outcomes of using business clichés? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Which of the following are benefits of using specialized language? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are benefits of using specialized language? (Choose every correct answer.)
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When your message is reader focused, it signifies that you are ______.
When your message is reader focused, it signifies that you are ______.
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Which of the following are the kinds of things that concrete words stand for? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are the kinds of things that concrete words stand for? (Choose every correct answer.)
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According to U.S. government guidelines, a message written in plain language is one that ______.
According to U.S. government guidelines, a message written in plain language is one that ______.
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Nouns that are abstract have ______ meaning.
Nouns that are abstract have ______ meaning.
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The use of long words in communication tends to do which of the following? (Choose each correct answer.)
The use of long words in communication tends to do which of the following? (Choose each correct answer.)
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What is the property of a process that is repeated frequently and regularly?
What is the property of a process that is repeated frequently and regularly?
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What is the property of a process that is repeated without interruption?
What is the property of a process that is repeated without interruption?
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When business clichés are overused, they ______.
When business clichés are overused, they ______.
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When communicating within your field of business, you should avoid using specialized terms and acronyms.
When communicating within your field of business, you should avoid using specialized terms and acronyms.
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Which of the following are forms of verbs that tend to undercut the energy of your writing? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are forms of verbs that tend to undercut the energy of your writing? (Choose every correct answer.)
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In good business communicators, words should convey which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
In good business communicators, words should convey which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
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When you use a dummy subject, the verb comes ______.
When you use a dummy subject, the verb comes ______.
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Which of the following are examples of concrete words? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are examples of concrete words? (Choose every correct answer.)
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What is the result of writing sentences in active voice?
What is the result of writing sentences in active voice?
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Which of the following terms is appropriate to use when referring to a quantity of something that cannot be counted?
Which of the following terms is appropriate to use when referring to a quantity of something that cannot be counted?
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Which of the following are circumstances that call for the use of passive voice? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are circumstances that call for the use of passive voice? (Choose every correct answer.)
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The most important part of speech for making lively and engaging writing is the ______.
The most important part of speech for making lively and engaging writing is the ______.
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Avoiding ______ will help reduce the use of 'to be' verbs.
Avoiding ______ will help reduce the use of 'to be' verbs.
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Sentences are more lively when they are written in ______.
Sentences are more lively when they are written in ______.
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Camouflaged verbs are ______.
Camouflaged verbs are ______.
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Passive voice can be useful when you want to deemphasize ______.
Passive voice can be useful when you want to deemphasize ______.
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When planning to compose a message, your first task will likely be to ______.
When planning to compose a message, your first task will likely be to ______.
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Longer sentences are useful for ______.
Longer sentences are useful for ______.
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When you eliminate a camouflaged verb from a sentence, the sentence typically becomes which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
When you eliminate a camouflaged verb from a sentence, the sentence typically becomes which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Which of the following are true statements about stock phrases? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are true statements about stock phrases? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Which of the following strategies can help deal with surplus words? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following strategies can help deal with surplus words? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Ideas that are repeated using different words that mean the same thing are called ______.
Ideas that are repeated using different words that mean the same thing are called ______.
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Which of the following must be considered when deciding how to compose the sentences of a successful message? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following must be considered when deciding how to compose the sentences of a successful message? (Choose every correct answer.)
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To be an efficient writer, you should always use as few sentences as possible.
To be an efficient writer, you should always use as few sentences as possible.
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What is a ready-made phrase that you would use without careful thought?
What is a ready-made phrase that you would use without careful thought?
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Which of the following are considered to be especially important elements of a message? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are considered to be especially important elements of a message? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Words that add nothing to a sentence's meaning are considered ______.
Words that add nothing to a sentence's meaning are considered ______.
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The ______ clause of a sentence expresses the main point of the sentence.
The ______ clause of a sentence expresses the main point of the sentence.
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Which of the following are potential benefits of repeating words? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are potential benefits of repeating words? (Choose every correct answer.)
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When you treat ideas equally in a sentence, you ______ them.
When you treat ideas equally in a sentence, you ______ them.
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By leaving out supporting information, short sentences ______.
By leaving out supporting information, short sentences ______.
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You can convey the importance of the various elements of a sentence by altering its ______.
You can convey the importance of the various elements of a sentence by altering its ______.
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When you alter the main clause, you necessarily alter a sentence's ______.
When you alter the main clause, you necessarily alter a sentence's ______.
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Why would you use a short sentence at the beginning or ending of messages? (Choose every correct answer.)
Why would you use a short sentence at the beginning or ending of messages? (Choose every correct answer.)
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To subordinate ideas in a sentence, you ______.
To subordinate ideas in a sentence, you ______.
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Which of the following undermine a sentence's unity? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following undermine a sentence's unity? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Compared to long sentences, short sentences contain ______.
Compared to long sentences, short sentences contain ______.
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Which of the following are true of the ideas in a sentence? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are true of the ideas in a sentence? (Choose every correct answer.)
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When a sentence contains too much detail, you risk ______.
When a sentence contains too much detail, you risk ______.
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Mixed construction occurs when you ______.
Mixed construction occurs when you ______.
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Which of the following are good applications for short sentences? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are good applications for short sentences? (Choose every correct answer.)
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When you fail to follow through on the expectations for content that you set up early in a sentence, you create ______.
When you fail to follow through on the expectations for content that you set up early in a sentence, you create ______.
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When a sentence has unity, its components ______.
When a sentence has unity, its components ______.
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A dangling modifier exists when the modifier ______.
A dangling modifier exists when the modifier ______.
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If the ideas in a sentence don't clearly belong together, you should ______.
If the ideas in a sentence don't clearly belong together, you should ______.
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When a modifier confuses the logic of a sentence, it is considered a ______.
When a modifier confuses the logic of a sentence, it is considered a ______.
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When a detail is important but a sentence contains too many details, you should ______.
When a detail is important but a sentence contains too many details, you should ______.
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What does faulty parallelism fail to do?
What does faulty parallelism fail to do?
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What did Della's actions exemplify?
What did Della's actions exemplify?
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What is an incomplete construction?
What is an incomplete construction?
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Paragraphs help readers mentally organize information by indicating ______.
Paragraphs help readers mentally organize information by indicating ______.
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When you include a modifier that doesn't modify anything in the sentence, you have created a(n) ______.
When you include a modifier that doesn't modify anything in the sentence, you have created a(n) ______.
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What did Mr. Tran use in his sentence?
What did Mr. Tran use in his sentence?
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When phrases in a list are not constructed in the same way, a sentence suffers from ______.
When phrases in a list are not constructed in the same way, a sentence suffers from ______.
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The best paragraphs are typically at least seven sentences long.
The best paragraphs are typically at least seven sentences long.
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Which of the following occur when you paragraph strategically? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following occur when you paragraph strategically? (Choose every correct answer.)
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A document made up of long paragraphs is more likely to be ______.
A document made up of long paragraphs is more likely to be ______.
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What would be the recommended way to proceed if you have written a paragraph explaining two job procedures?
What would be the recommended way to proceed if you have written a paragraph explaining two job procedures?
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The criterion you should use for choosing to include any detailed information in a paragraph is if ______.
The criterion you should use for choosing to include any detailed information in a paragraph is if ______.
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Which of the following statements are true about writing a paragraph? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following statements are true about writing a paragraph? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Compared to body paragraphs, opening paragraphs are typically ______.
Compared to body paragraphs, opening paragraphs are typically ______.
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If most of the sentences in a paragraph provide a kind of news story, the topic sentence can be considered that story's ______.
If most of the sentences in a paragraph provide a kind of news story, the topic sentence can be considered that story's ______.
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Which of the following occur as a result of frequent paragraph breaks? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following occur as a result of frequent paragraph breaks? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Which of the following are functions that paragraphs serve? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are functions that paragraphs serve? (Choose every correct answer.)
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When you have reached the fourth sentence of a paragraph but have not exhausted a topic, you should ______.
When you have reached the fourth sentence of a paragraph but have not exhausted a topic, you should ______.
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In terms of the detail you include, your primary goal when constructing a paragraph should be ______.
In terms of the detail you include, your primary goal when constructing a paragraph should be ______.
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The main appeal of starting a paragraph with a topic sentence is that it allows the reader to ______.
The main appeal of starting a paragraph with a topic sentence is that it allows the reader to ______.
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The concept that every part of a paragraph should concern every other part of the paragraph is called _____.
The concept that every part of a paragraph should concern every other part of the paragraph is called _____.
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The main idea of a paragraph is contained in the ______ sentence.
The main idea of a paragraph is contained in the ______ sentence.
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Where does a topic sentence belong?
Where does a topic sentence belong?
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Where would you put a topic sentence if you wanted to begin with supporting details and lead readers to the conclusion?
Where would you put a topic sentence if you wanted to begin with supporting details and lead readers to the conclusion?
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What allows the reader to immediately see how all the sentences in a paragraph will be related?
What allows the reader to immediately see how all the sentences in a paragraph will be related?
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The least common location for a topic sentence is ______.
The least common location for a topic sentence is ______.
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When a reader is able to move easily and directly through your message, it is considered ______.
When a reader is able to move easily and directly through your message, it is considered ______.
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The information in a paragraph is tied together with ______.
The information in a paragraph is tied together with ______.
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The second most common location of a topic sentence is ______.
The second most common location of a topic sentence is ______.
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Which method can be used to smoothly transition through related ideas?
Which method can be used to smoothly transition through related ideas?
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Transitional devices can be used not only within paragraphs but also between paragraphs.
Transitional devices can be used not only within paragraphs but also between paragraphs.
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Which of the following are demonstrative pronouns? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are demonstrative pronouns? (Choose every correct answer.)
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To ensure that a paragraph fulfills a strategic function, ask yourself ______.
To ensure that a paragraph fulfills a strategic function, ask yourself ______.
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Which of the following are commonly used transitional words? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are commonly used transitional words? (Choose every correct answer.)
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To ensure that you are furthering your purpose throughout a document, you should compare what a paragraph ______ and what it does.
To ensure that you are furthering your purpose throughout a document, you should compare what a paragraph ______ and what it does.
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Which of the following are common functions of transitional devices between paragraphs? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are common functions of transitional devices between paragraphs? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Which of the following are typical characteristics of paragraphs written with a strategic purpose in mind? (Choose every correct answer.)
Which of the following are typical characteristics of paragraphs written with a strategic purpose in mind? (Choose every correct answer.)
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Study Notes
Effective Message Crafting
- Organize messages with reader appeal, consider prior correspondence, and understand audience needs.
- Use everyday, familiar words to enhance communication effectiveness.
Word Choice and Clarity
- Short words enhance understanding, while long words can hinder communication and create difficulties.
- Business clichés can increase credibility and convey ideas quickly, but overuse may replace original thought.
Language Specialization
- Specialized language provides efficiency and signals qualifications but should be used judiciously.
- Reader-focused messages demonstrate consideration for the audience.
Concrete vs. Abstract Language
- Concrete words refer to tangible items that can be seen, counted, or smelled, while abstract nouns have general meanings.
- Messages should be written in plain language for immediate comprehension.
Sentence Structure and Verb Usage
- Active voice creates livelier verbs, while passive voice is useful for deemphasizing the actor.
- Avoid dummy subjects; they can weaken the impact of sentences.
Clarity and Conciseness
- Eliminate camouflaged verbs and surplus words to make sentences clearer and concise.
- Stock phrases are ready-made expressions that can often be shortened without losing meaning.
Paragraph Structure
- Effective paragraphs help organize information and indicate the beginning and end of topics.
- Shortened paragraphs with clear main ideas are easier for readers to process and engage with.
Topic Sentences
- A topic sentence clearly states the main idea of a paragraph, often placed at the beginning or end to fit the writer's purpose.
- Unity in paragraphs ensures all components work together to develop a single point.
Transitions and Coherence
- Transitional devices tie information together, using pronouns and transitional words to maintain flow.
- Ensure each paragraph serves a strategic purpose by focusing on what it conveys and accomplishes.
Common Writing Errors
- Dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers disrupt sentence clarity and logic.
- Faulty parallelism occurs when similar content isn't expressed consistently within a sentence.
Overall Writing Effectiveness
- Brainstorm concise ways to convey information and divide complex topics into manageable paragraphs.
- Repetition of key ideas emphasizes points and enhances writing style.
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Description
This quiz covers key strategies for crafting effective messages, focusing on word choice, clarity, and audience consideration. Learn how to enhance your communication skills by utilizing concrete language and appropriate sentence structures. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their professional writing.
