llllllllttlllll

controvenible evidence of an impending business

OUESTIONS FOB DISCUSSION

says, "So I'm not a good

writer. But I have other places to put my study
time. I'm a management major. I'll have secretaries to handle my writing for me." Give this
student your best advice, including the reasoning

l. A fellow student

5. "As

technical language typically consists of acronyms and long, hard words, it contributes to
miscommunication. Thus. it should be avoided in
all business communication." Discuss.

behind it.

2.

3.

Evaluate this comment: "Simplifying writing so

that stupid readers can understand it is for the
birds! Why not challenge readers? Why not give
them new words to learn-expand their minds?"
Explain how you would apply the basic principle
of adaptation to each of the following writing as-

7.
8.

signments:

a. An editorial in a company newspaper.

b. A memorandum to Joan Branch, a supervisor of an assembly department, concerning
a change in assembly operalions.

9.

c. A report

to the chiel engineer on a technical

topic in the engineer's field.

d. A letter to a laborer explaining pension

ben-

to company stockholders explaining

a change in company manufacturing policy.

"Some short words are hard, and some long

words are easy. Thus, the suggestion to prefer
short words doesn't make sense." Discuss.

18,

19.

Percentage return on common stockholders'

equity averaged 23.1 for the year.

Define and illustrate active and passive voice.

Explain when each should be used.

20.

The company's retained earnings last year ex-

l'aiir:i,i::,
:,..: +ii,

'-ll.i:i:

10.

fal
skinny
old
tell
happiness

/.
g.
i.
i.
j.

ceeded $2.500.000.

Instructions: Exercise 2l concerns adaptation and

technical language. As you must find your own sentences for it, this exercise differs from the others.

21.

List synonyms (words with similar meanings) for

each of the following words. Then explain the
differences in shades of meaning as you see

u.
b.
r'.
d.
e.

c. A letter
4.

Using illustrations other than those in the book,

discuss differences in word strength. Be sure to
comment on strength differences in the parts of
speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs).

This antiquated merchandising strategy is ineffectual in contemporary business operations.

can understand

understand
dog
misfortune

l.
2.

We must terminate all deficit financing.

The preponderance of the businesspeople we

consulted envision signs of improvement from
the current siege of economic stagnation.

The most operative assembly-line configuration

is a unidirectional flow.

If Iiquidation becomes mandatory, we shall dispose of these assets first.

4.

Business has an inordinate influence on governmental operations.

12.

5. lt
6.
7.

is imperative that consumers be unrestr:rined

in determining their preferences.

Mr. Casey terminated John's employment as
consequence of his ineffectual performance.
Our expectations are that there will be increments in commodity value.

Mr. Coward will serve

as intermediary

a
15.

PABT

Ms. Smith's idiosyncrasies supply adequate

fication for terminating her employment.

every Friday.

AVOIDING CAMOUFUCED VEBBS

47, It was my duty to make a determination of the
damages.

48.

24.

Many people came into the store during the

period of the promotion.

49.

25,

We are obligated to protect the well-being of the

hired employees.

50,

Companies promoting their products in the medium of the newspaper are advised to produce
verbal messages in accord with the audience
level of the general consuming public.

51.

i.

The unanimity of current forecasts is not in-

:j .:.t

. r.:,:

't;a:

[tr,li,r
l:::.:

ii.,,

32.
33.
34.

We will make her give an accounting of her

activities.
We will ask him to bring about a change in his

work routine.
This new equipment will result in a saving in
maintenance.

52,

Will you please make an adjustment for this

defect?

Implementation of the plan was effected by the

crew.
54.

Acceptance of all orders must be made by the

chief.

She makes good grades.

55.

A committee per{orms the function of determining the award.

cancel.

56.

Profits last year were exorbitant.

Some years ago she made good money.

Adaptation to the new conditions was performed

easily by all new personnel.

57-

His grade on the aptitude test was not high.

Here is a product with very little markup.

Verification of lhe amount is made daily by the

auditor.

58.

The president tried to effect a reconciliation of

the two groups.

John lost a fortune in Las Vegas.

30. If we don't receive the goods

31.

Harold made a recommendation that we fire

Mr. Schultz.

\Ne have found that young men are best for this

work.

justi

The union was represented by Cecil Chambers.

.14. These reports are prepared by the salespeople

Ms. Jordan possesses qualities that are characteristic of an autocratic executive.

28.
29,

Requisites for employment by this company have

been enhanced.

Fundamentals of Business Writing

43.

SELECTING CONCBETE WORDS

,il'.':

by the writer that this company

policy is wrong.

Our decision is based on the belief that the

national economy will be improved.

27,

pending labor-management parley.

t3.

42. It is believed

46.

26.

in the

Our safety is the responsibility of management.

You were directed by your supervisor to complete this assignment by noon.

Success of this project is the responsibility of the

research department.

23.

Recent stock acquisitions have accentuated the

company's current fi nuneirrl crisis.

We are serviced by the Bratton Company.

tences to make them conform to the writing suggestions

discussed in the book. They are grouped by the sug-

our savings.

Discuss this statement: "The boss scolded Susan

in a grandfatherly manner."

9.

ll.

39.
40.
41,

45.

22. I have an idea in mind of how we can enhance

stop

This antiquated mechanism is ineffectual for an

accelerated assembly'line operalion.

tax consumes a determinate

apportionment of one's monetary flow.

union member that

his or her welfare is not considered to be
important by management.

easily.

USING STBONG, VIGOBOUS WOBDS

inquire

8.

3. A proportionate

38. It is believed by the typical

gestion they illustrate.

APPLICATION EXEBC|SES

dience.

it

LIMITING USE OF PASSIVE VOICE

Our action is based on the assumption that the
competition will be taken by surprise.

37.

sen-

rarrrtatlattt
Instructions. Sentences l-20: Assume that your readers
are at about the l0lh-grade level in education. Revise
these sentences for easy communication to this au-

From one of your textbooks, select a paragraph

(at least 150 words long) that would be difficult
for a student less advanced in the sub.ject than
you. Rewrite the paragraph so that this student

Instructions, Sentences 22-58: Revise these

them.

efits.

reasonable.

We will need some new equipment soon.

ing immediately.

Discuss this statement: "When I use |rc, him, or

ftis as a generic, I am not discriminating against
women. For many years these words have been
accepted as generic. They refer to both sexes,
and that's the meaning I have in mind when I
use them. "

The cost of the on-line database search was

People's propensity to consume is insatiable.

The company must desist from its deficit financ-

r: ;i:?i]l:

35.

acceleration.

soon, we will

r
I

CHAPTER

Adaptation and the Selecrion of Words

45

lnstructions, Sentences 59-70: Following is an exerin word precision. Explain the differences in
meaning for the word choices shown. Point out any
words that are wronglY used.
59. Performance during the fourth quarler was (aver-

cise

age) (mediocre).

60.

This merchandise is (old) (antique) (secondhand)

(used ).

61.

62.

The machine ran (continually) (continuously)'

The mechanic is a (woman) (lady) (female person).

63. His action (implies) (infers) that he accepts the

criticism.
64. Her performance on thejob was (good) (topnotch) (excellent) (suPerior).
On July I the company will (become bankrupt)
(close its door) (go under) (fail).
66. The staff (think) (understand) (know) the results
were satisfactory.
67. Before buying any material, we (compare) (contrast) it with competing products.
68. I cannot (resist) (oppose) her appointment.

69.
70,

Did you (verify) (confirm) these figures?

This is an (effective) (effectual) (efficient) plan.

lnstructions, Sentences 7l-80: These sentences use

faulty and correct idioms. Make any changes you think
are necessary.

71. The purchasing officer has gone in search for a

substitute Product.
72. Orr office has become independent from the
Dallas office.
73.

46

74.

75.
76.
77,
78.
79.
80.

This letter is equally as bad.

She is an authority about mutual funds.
When the sale is over with, we

Murphy was equal to the task.

Apparentty, the clock fell off the shelf'

AVA D I N G D I SCNMNATOBY

UN GUAG E

Instructions, Sentences 8l-90: Change these

tences to avoid discriminatory language.

81.
82.

83.
84.
85.
86.

sen-

Any worker who ignores this rule will have his

salary reduced.
The typical postman rarely makes mistakes in
delivering his mail.
A good executive plans his daily activities.
The committee consisted of a businessman, a
lawyer, and a lady doctor.
A good secretary screens all telephone calls for
her boss and arranges his schedule.

An efficient salesman organizes his calls

and

manages his time.

87.

88.
89.

Our company was represented by two sales

representatives, one Hispanic engineer, and one
senior citizen.
Three people applied for thejob, including two
well-groomed black women.
Handicap parking spaces are strictly for use by
the crippled.
He didn't act Iike a Mexican.

The retooling period is over with.

PART

will restock.

Our truck collided against the wall.

We have been in search for a qualified supervisor since August.

Fundamentals ol Business Writing