Business English: A Complete Guide to Developing an Effective Business Writing Style

by Geffner, Andrea B.

• ISBN13: 9780764102783
• ISBN10: 0764102788
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-01-01
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc

Summary

A longtime Barron's handbook for use in the classroom as well as the office, this newly revised edition of "Business English" is better than ever.

Table of Contents

Table of Model Letters	ix	(2)
Preface	xi
Part One GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE	3	(154)
1. IDENTIFYING VERBS AND SUBJECTS	3	(14)
Recognizing Verbs	3	(5)
Recognizing Subjects	8	(2)
Principal Parts of the Verb	10	(4)
Review Exercises	14	(3)
2. SENTENCE COMPLETERS	17	(12)
Adjectives	17	(3)
Adverbs	20	(4)
Direct Objects	24	(1)
Predicate Nominatives and Adjectives	24	(2)
Review Exercises	26	(3)
3. THE SENTENCE VS. FRAGMENTS VS. RUN-ONS	29	(14)
The Basic Sentence	29	(1)
More Complicated Sentences	30	(2)
The Fragment	32	(1)
Still More Complicated Sentences	33	(3)
The Run-On	36	(2)
Words of Transition	38	(1)
Summary	38	(1)
Review Exercises	39	(4)
4. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT	43	(20)
The Natural S	43	(1)
The Noun S	43	(2)
The Possessive S	45	(1)
The Verb S	46	(14)
Review Exercises	60	(3)
5. VERB FORMS	63	(26)
Tense Recognition	63	(1)
Tense Formation	64	(2)
Irregular Verbs	66	(7)
The Future Tense	73	(3)
Tense Use	76	(4)
Passive Voice	80	(5)
Review Exercises	85	(4)
6. PRONOUNS	89	(18)
Case	89	(8)
Reference	97	(3)
Agreement	100	(3)
Review Exercises	103	(4)
7. ADVANCED SENTENCE STRUCTURE	107	(20)
Parallelism	107	(5)
Misplaced Modifiers	112	(3)
Dangling Modifiers	115	(3)
Indirect Discourse	118	(5)
Review Exercises	123	(4)
8. MECHANICS	127	(30)
Punctuation	127	(15)
Capitalization	142	(4)
Abbreviations	146	(4)
Numbers	150	(2)
Review Exercises	152	(5)
Part Two CORRESPONDENCE	157	(122)
9. BUSINESS STYLE	157	(12)
Tone	157	(2)
Outlook	159	(2)
The "You Approach"	161	(1)
Organization	162	(4)
Electronic Mail	166	(1)
Practice	166	(3)
10. LETTER FORMAT	169	(12)
Parts of a Business Letter	169	(1)
Arrangement Styles	170	(2)
Punctuation Styles	172	(6)
Postscripts	178	(1)
Special Paragraphing	178	(1)
The Envelope	178	(2)
Practice	180	(1)
11. REQUEST LETTERS	181	(6)
Inquiries	181	(3)
Orders	184	(1)
Practice	185	(2)
12. REPLIES	187	(18)
Acknowledgments	188	(1)
Follow-Ups	189	(1)
Confirmations	190	(1)
Remittances	191	(1)
Order Acknowledgments	191	(6)
Stopgap Letters	197	(1)
Inquiry Replies	197	(3)
Referrals	200	(1)
Refusals	200	(2)
Practice	202	(3)
13. CREDIT AND COLLECTION LETTERS	205	(12)
Credit Letters	205	(6)
Collection Letters	211	(3)
Practice	214	(3)
14. COMPLAINTS, CLAIMS, AND ADJUSTMENTS	217	(10)
Complaints	217	(1)
Claims	217	(5)
Adjustments	222	(3)
Practice	225	(2)
15. SALES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS LETTERS	227	(10)
Sales Letters	227	(4)
Public Relations Letters	231	(4)
Practice	235	(2)
16. SOCIAL BUSINESS LETTERS	237	(10)
Letters of Congratulations	237	(2)
Letters of Sympathy	239	(1)
Letters of Appreciation	240	(2)
Invitations	242	(2)
Announcements	244	(1)
Practice	245	(2)
17. EMPLOYMENT CORRESPONDENCE	247	(20)
The Resume	247	(6)
Letters of Application	253	(5)
Follow-Up Letters	258	(1)
Letters of Reference and Recommendation	259	(2)
Letters Declining a Job Offer	261	(1)
Letters Rejecting a Job Applicant	262	(1)
Letters of Resignation	263	(1)
Letters of Introduction	264	(1)
Practice	265	(2)
18. IN-HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE	267	(8)
The Interoffice Memorandum	267	(5)
Practice	272	(3)
19. NEWS RELEASES	275	(4)
Practice	278	(1)
Part Three	279	(70)
20. BUSINESS REPORTS AND PROPOSALS	279	(20)
Reports	279	(11)
Proposals	290	(5)
Practice	295	(4)
WORDS AT WORK	299	(50)
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS	299	(5)
SPELLING PROBLEMS	304	(3)
A GLOSSARY OF BUSINESS TERMS	307	(4)
ANSWERS TO EXERCISES IN "GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE"	311	(38)
INDEX	349