Full name: Lưu Trà My – 14040543

Chapter review 4

6. What tasks are involved in revising a message?

Revision involves improving content, sentence structure, and design. It may include
adding, cutting, recasting, reformatting, and redesigning what writers have written

7. Why is conciseness especially important in business?

In business, conciseness is especially impotant because concise messages save reading

time and thus money. Time is indeed money in business. In addition, messages that are
written directly and efficiently are easier to read and comprehend.

8. What is a long lead-in? Give an original example

A long lead-in which is one of the ways to create concise sentences is to delete
unnecessary introductory words.
Ex: I am sending you this e-mail to announce that a new manager has been hired => A new
manager has beeb hired

9. What is wrong with this sentence: There is no one who can do the job better than you.

This sentence needn’t use “this is” because the expression “this is” function as unnecessary
fillers.

10. What is the redundancy? Give an example

Redundancy is the use of the word whose meanings are clearly implied by other words.
Ex: In the expression true facts, the word true is redundant and should be omitted because
facts implies true

11. What happens when a verb (such as describe) is converted to a noun expression (to
make a description). Give an original example.

A verb is converted to a noun expression, which increases sentence length, drains verb
strength, slows the reader, and muddies the thought.
Ex: The verb establish are made into noun establishment. The suffix ment makes the
sentence increase length.
12. Name five design techniques that can improve readability of printed messages. Be
prepared to explain each

1. Improving document readability with ample white ( empty) space such as use
headings, bulleted or numbered lists, short paragraphs, and effective margins.
2. Understanding margins and text alignment. Business letters and memos usually
have side margin of 1 to 3/2 inches. Using left-justified text and ragged-right
margin without justification.
3. Choosing appropriate typefaces. Times New Roman is a typeface with serifs. Arial
is a typeface without serifs (san serif)
 4. Capitalizing on type fonts and sizes. Fonts include caps, boldface, italic, underline,
outline, and shadow.
5. Adding headings for visual impact. Headings help writers to organize information
and enable readers to absorb important ideas.

13.What is difference between serif and sans serif typefaces? What is the most common
use for each?

Serif typefaces Sans serif typefaces

Difference - have small features at the end - are cleaner and are widely use for
of strokes headings, signs, and material where
- suggest tradition, maturity, and continuous reading is not required.
formality - may seem colder and less accessible
- are frequently used for body than familiar serif typefaces
text in business messages and
longer documents.
Most common Times New Roman Arial
use

14. What five areas should you especially pay attention to when you proofread?

1.Spelling 3. Punctuation
2. Grammar 4. Names and numbers
5. Format

15. How does the proofreading or routine documents differ from that of complex
documents?

Proofreading or routine documents Proofreading of complex documents

- reading from a printed hard copy.
Writers are more likely to find errors
and to observe the tone
- read every sentence again
- use standard proofreading marks
- print a copy, preferably double-spaced and set it
aside for at least a day
- allow adequate time to proofread carefully
- be prepared to find errors
- read the message twice-once for word meanings
and once for grammar/mechanics
- reduce reading speed
- read the message aloud
- use standard proofreading marks