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

by Geffner, Andrea B.

• ISBN13: 9780764124440
• ISBN10: 0764124447
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-15
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc

Summary

This updated edition provides clear, concise instruction on every form of business writing, from traditional business letters to e-mail and other electronic communications.

Table of Contents

Table of Model Letters	ix
Preface	xi
Part One GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE
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	(2)
Tense Use	75	(5)
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	(6)
Misplaced Modifiers	113	(3)
Dangling Modifiers	116	(3)
Indirect Discourse	119	(4)
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
9. BUSINESS STYLE	157	(16)
Tone	157	(2)
Outlook	159
The "You Approach"	16	(146)
Organization	162	(3)
Electronic Mail	165	(1)
E-mail Format	166	(1)
Receiving E-mail	167	(1)
A Word of Caution	168	(1)
Practice	169	(4)
10. LETTER FORMAT	173	(14)
Parts of a Business Letter	173	(1)
Arrangement Styles	174	(2)
Punctuation Styles	176	(6)
Postscripts	182	(1)
Special Paragraphing	182	(1)
The Envelope	182	(1)
Facsimiles	182	(3)
Practice	185	(2)
11. REQUEST LETTERS	187	(6)
Inquires	187	(3)
Orders	190	(1)
Practice	191	(2)
12. REPLIES	193	(18)
Acknowledgments	194	(1)
Follow-Ups	195	(1)
Confirmations	196	(1)
Remittances	197	(1)
Order Acknowledgments	197	(6)
Stopgap Letters	203	(1)
Inquiry Replies	203	(3)
Referrals	206	(1)
Refusals	206	(2)
Practice	208	(3)
13. CREDIT AND COLLECTION LETTERS	211	(12)
Credit Letters	211	(6)
Collection Letters	217	(3)
Practice	220	(3)
14. COMPLAINTS, CLAIMS, AND ADJUSTMENTS	223	(10)
Complaints	223	(1)
Claims	223	(5)
Adjustments	228	(3)
Practice	231	(2)
15. SALES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS LETTERS	233	(10)
Sales Letters	233	(4)
Public Relations Letters	237	(4)
Practice	241	(2)
16. SOCIAL BUSINESS LETTERS	243	(10)
Letters of Congratulations	243	(2)
Letters of Sympathy	245	(1)
Letters of Appreciation	246	(2)
Invitations	248	(2)
Announcements	250	(1)
Practice	251	(2)
17. EMPLOYMENT CORRESPONDENCE	253	(20)
The Resume	253	(7)
Letters of Application	260	(5)
Follow-up Letters	265	(1)
Letters of Reference and Recommendation	266	(2)
Letters Declining a Job Offer	268	(1)
Letters Rejecting a Job Applicant	269	(1)
Letters of Resignation	270	(1)
Letters of Introduction	271	(1)
Practice	272	(1)
18. IN-HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE	273	(6)
The Interoffice Memorandum	273	(3)
Minutes	276	(2)
Practice	278	(1)
19. NEWS RELEASES	279	(4)
Practice	282	(1)
20. BUSINESS REPORTS AND PROPOSALS	283	(24)
Reports	283	(15)
Proposals	298	(5)
Practice	303
Part Three WORDS AT WORK
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS	307	(4)
SPELLING PROBLEMS	311	(3)
A GLOSSARY OF BUSINESS TERMS	314	(3)
ANSWERS TO EXERCISES IN "GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE"	317	(36)
INDEX	353