Index
Abstract nouns, 112–113
Abstract words, 113–114
Abstracts, 144
Active verbs, 106–110
Ad hominem attack, 25
Addressee, 40–12
Addresses, format, 40
All right vs. alright, 97
Among vs. between, 97
Amount vs. number, 97
Annual reports, 50
Antecedent, 85
Apostrophe, 127–128
Argument, constructing, 23
Audience, 4–5
organizational level, 6–8
personal characteristics, 8–9
technical expertise, 7
Audit reports, 50
Backup copies, 162
Bandwagon approach, 25
Begging the question, 24
Between vs. among, 97
Block format, 40
Body
proposals, 48–49
Bookmarks, 142
Books, as sources, 147–148
Bring vs. take, 97
Business letters. See Letters
Business records. See Records
Can vs. may, 97
Categorization sequence method, 32
Cause and effect sequence method, 33
Central point, 58
Charts, 47
Chat rooms, 159–160
Chronology sequence method, 31–32
Clear reference principle, 85
Clichés, 116–117
Closing, in letters, 42–43
Cold words, 94
Collaborative writing, 51–52
Colon, 126
Commas, 123–125
Comma splice, 64
Communication paths, 5–7
Communication, electronic 158–165
Compared to vs. compared with vs. contrast with, 97
Comparison sequence method, 33–34
Complex sentences, 59–60
Compound sentences, 58–59
Computers, use in writing, 157–158
Concise writing, 99–103
Conclusion, 49
Concrete language, 110–116
Concrete nouns, 112
Condensing, 101–102
Content, 3
Contrast with vs. compared with vs. compared to, 97
Copyright protection, 163–164
Dangling modifiers, 70–71
Dash, 126–127
Databases, 143–144
Definition, 77
Delivery, of letters, 44
Denotation, 79–80
Details, 26–27. See also Evidence
Developing topic, 22–27
Dictionaries, 76–79
Direct object, 106
Direct organization pattern, 27–28
Directories, online, 143
Disinterested vs. uninterested, 97
E-mail, 158–159
memorandum format, 45
privacy, 162–163
e.g. (for example), 125
Editing, 133–134
Either/or argument, 24
Electronic bulletin boards 159–160
Ellipsis, 130
Emphasis, 62–64
End marks, 122–123
Evidence. See also Details
criteria, 23
organizing, 29–35
Exclamation point, 123
Executive summary, 48
External proposal, 48
External readers, 7
Facts. See Evidence False analogy, 24
Faulty reasoning, 24
Feedback questions, 140
Fewer vs. less, 98
Figuratively vs. virtually vs. literally, 98
Fillers, 99–100
Fonts. See Layout
Formal outline, 20–21
Formal tone, 82
Formal writing style, 6
Format
letters, 40–43
memorandum, 45–46
Forms of address, 42
Forums, online, 159–160
Generalizations, 24–25
Good writing, criteria for, 2–3
Government documents, 146–147
Grading policy, xiv
Grammar
computerized checkers, 78
resources, 89
rules, 83–88
Graphics. See Layout
Headings, 47
Higher-level readers, 6
Homonyms, 96
HTTP. See Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), 142
i.e. (that is), 125
Ideas, emphasizing, 62–64
Image, 92–95
Imply vs. infer, 98
Indexes, 144
Indirect organization pattern, 29
Indirect questions, 140
Infer vs. imply, 98
Inflected forms, 76
Informal outline, 20
Informal tone, 82
Information, technical, 7
Internal address, 40
Internal proposal, 48
Internet
privacy, 162–163
use in research, 141–142
writing on, 158–165
Interviews, 138–141
Intranet
privacy, 162–163
writing on, 158–165
Jargon, 81–82
Less vs. fewer, 98
Letters, 40–15
delivery method, 44
example, 41
format, 40–43
Libraries, 144–145
locating information, 150
reference librarians, 145
Library of Congress (LC) classification system, 148
Links, 142
Lists, 47
Literally vs. figuratively vs. virtually, 98
Loaded words, 93
Logic
outline as test, 21–22
reading for, 95
validity, 24–26
Lower-level readers, 6
Main clauses, 58
May vs. can, 97
Meeting notes. See Minutes
Memorandum, 45–48
content, 46–47
example, 46
format, 45–46
protocol, 45–46
purpose, 45
Metaphor, mixed, 96
Minutes, 50–51
Misplaced modifiers, 69–70
Misused words, 97–98
Mixed metaphor, 96
Modifiers
dangling, 70–71
misplaced, 69–70
overuse, 115
Motivation, 10–11
Negative tone, 12–14
Negative words, 93–94
Non sequitur, 25
Nonrestrictive elements, 124
Nouns
abstract, 112–113
concrete, 112
verbized, 114–115
vivid, 112–113
weak, 102
Now vs. presently, 98
Number vs. amount, 97
Object pronouns, 86
Object, direct, 106
Offensive language, 80–81
Offensive material, 163
Online forums, 159–160
Online resources, 142–144
Online writing, 160–161
privacy, 162–163
rules of behavior, 165
Organization hierarchy, relative positions, 5
Organization, of writing, 3
Organizational tools, 61
Organizing material, 19–36
direct and indirect methods, 27–29
sequencing methods, 29–35
Outlines, 20–22
Oversimplification, 24
Paragraphs, 61
Parallel structure, 67–69
Parenthetical expressions, 124
Part of speech, 76
Passive verbs
active vs., 106–110
appropriate use, 110
making active, 109
Peer-level readers, 7–8
Periodicals, as sources, 148–149
Periods, 122
Phrases
redundant, 100
wordy, 102
Plagiarism, 130
Point of view, 11
Positive tone, 12–14
Positive words, 93–94
Post-test, 171–175
Pre-test, xv–xix
Precise writing, 95–98
Prepositions, 86
Presentation. See Layout
Presently vs. now, 98
Primary sources, 146
Privacy, 162–163
Problem/solution sequence method, 32–33
Process analysis sequence method, 34–35
Progress reports, 50
Pronouns
after prepositions, 86
agreement with antecedent, 85
agreement with other sentences, 86–88
in comparisons, 86–87
object, 86
rules, 88
singular and plural, 84
subject, 86
who vs. whom, 87
with verb to be, 87
Pronunciation, 76
Proofreading, 132–133
Proposals, 48–49
locating research information 150
reports vs., 49
Psychology, use of, 10–14
Punctuation, 121–128
Question mark, 122–123
Questions
feedback, 140
indirect, 140
open-ended, 139–140
Quotations, 129–131
ellipsis, use of, 130
plagiarism, 130
Readers
motivation, 10–11
multiple, 9
organizational level, 6–8
personal characteristics, 8–9
point-of-view, 11
Recommendation, 49
Records
meeting minutes, 50–51
using memorandum to record actions, 45
Red herring, 25
Redundant phrases, 100
Reference books, 145–146
Reference librarians, 145
Referent, 112
Relationships, relevance of, 5–7
Repetition, 100–101
Reports, 49–50
locating research information, 150
proposals vs., 49
Research
online, 142–144
other sources, 145–149
using sources, 150–151
Research reports, 50
Researching, 141–149
Restrictive elements, 124
Revising, 131–133
Rules of thumb, for business writing, 22
Salutation, in letters, 40–42
Secondary sources, 146
Semicolon, 125–126
Sentences
building sound structure, 67–71
complex, 59–60
compound, 58–59
creating rhythm/variety, 66
effective use, 60–62
end marks, 122–123
fragments, 58
length, 65–66
patterns, 58–60
selecting pattern, 60
simple, 58
topic, 60–61
Sequencing methods, 29–35
Sexist language, 80–81
Simple sentences, 58
Sources
primary, 146
secondary, 146
Sources, using, 150–151
Specific language, 110–116
Spell checkers, 78
Stereotyping, 25
Style, 3
Style, writing, 57
Subject pronouns, 86
Subject/verb agreement, 83–85
Subordinate clauses, 58
Supporting material, 29–35
Sweeping generalization, 25
Synonyms, 77
Take vs. bring, 97
Team writing, 51–52
Technical expertise, 7
Technical terms, 81–82
Than vs. then, 98
Titles, for addressees, 42
appropriate, 11–14
informal vs. formal, 82
positive and negative
associations, 93–94
positive vs. negative, 12–14
Topic sentences, 60–61
Topic, developing, 22–27
Transitions, 61–62
Uniform Resource Locator (URL), 142
Uninterested vs. disinterested, 97
URL. See Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
Usage notes, 77
Vague generality, 24
Verb/subject agreement, 83–85
Verbs
active, 106–110
nounification, 114–115
passive vs. active, 107
powerful, 111–112
weak, 102
Virtually vs. figuratively vs. literally, 98
Warm words, 95
Web browser, 142
Web pages, 142
Web site, 142
Web, surfing the, 143
Who vs. whom, 87
Word choice
associations with, 92–95
correct usage, 96
fillers, 99–100
frequently misused words, 97–98
minimizing abstract words, 113–114
tired language, 116–117
verbized nouns and nounification of verbs 114–115
wordiness, 156–157
Word packages, 116–117
Word-processing, 157–158
Wordiness, 156–157
Wordy phrases, 102
Writer’s block hints, 35
Writing process, 35
Writing style, 57