Assignment

Instructions:

This assignment is a "refresher" on grammar and sentence skills. These exercises cover skills that are often lacking in business writing and most often apparent to colleagues and clients.

1. Write the corrected version only (you don't need to write the original sentence or the identification of the problem, but do use precise words and action verbs for all sentences, as well as correct grammar and punctuation).

2. Make sure to have an introductory and concluding paragraph.

Instructions: Make corrections to the following 10 excerpts from business writing samples.

Creating Parallel Structure When Listing Items

1. To narrow a Web search:

Quotation marks around a phrase when you want an exact term.

Many search engines have wild cards (usually an asterisk) to find plurals and other forms of a word.

Reading the instructions on the search engine itself can teach your advanced search techniques.

Correcting Sentence Errors: Run Ons, Fragments, Antecedents, and Repetition

2. Zane and me prepared the cover for the annual report and then we forwarded it to Nardo for review when tomorrow she will let us know if there are any revisions.

Fixing Errors in Grammar and Punctuation

3. Company's are find it to their advantage to cultivate their suppliers. Partnerships between company's and their suppliers can yield hefty payoffs for both the company and the supplier. One example is Bailey Controls with Ohio. Bailey make control systems for big factories. They treat suppliers like departments of their company. When a Bailey Controls employee pass a laser scanner over a bins bar code the supplier is instantly alerted to send more parts.

Correcting Errors in Denotation and Connotation

4. For a guy from the south side, Louie speaks pretty good English.

5. For a woman, JoAnn is remarkably stable-she might just have what it takes for management.

Eliminating Jargon and Simplifying Language

6. With regard to the aforementioned letter of July the 15th, we expect to expedite your order to ship not later than July 21.

7. Proffering the appropriate remuneration for services rendered assists in securing the most adroit and capable person for our employ.

Changing Verbs from Passive to Active

8. The car was driven by Lloyd to the airport.

9. A phone call was made by Penelope to the home office.

10. Whenever possible, vacations should be taken by employees during the summer months.