WorkKeys Business Writing flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Sentence fragment

A group of words missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, such as "Because the report was late." It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Comma splice

An error in which two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. Fix it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

FANBOYS conjunctions

The seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Preceded by a comma, they can join two independent clauses.

Parallel structure

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or pair, as in "drafting, editing, and proofreading" rather than mixing verbs and nouns.

Dangling modifier

An introductory phrase whose intended subject is not the subject of the main clause, as in "Walking to the office, the rain began."

Apostrophe for possession

Add 's to a singular noun and to a plural noun not ending in s; add only an apostrophe to a plural noun ending in s, as in employees'.

Its versus it's

Its shows possession, as in "The company raised its prices." It's is a contraction meaning "it is" or "it has" and never shows possession.

Nonrestrictive clause commas

A clause giving extra, nonessential information about a noun is set off by commas; a restrictive clause that identifies the noun takes no commas.

Numerals versus spelled numbers

General business style spells out one through nine and uses numerals for 10 and above, and it avoids starting any sentence with a numeral.

Semicolon with conjunctive adverb

Place a semicolon before however, therefore, or otherwise when it joins two independent clauses, and a comma after the adverb.

Subject-verb agreement

A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb, regardless of prepositional phrases sitting between them.

Indefinite pronoun agreement

Pronouns such as each, everyone, anybody, somebody, and nobody are singular and take singular verbs, as in "Everyone is ready."

Who versus whom

Who is used as a subject and whom as an object, as in "Who called?" and "To whom should I send it?"

Collective noun agreement

Words like team, committee, and staff take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit and a plural verb when members act individually.

Between you and me

The pronoun after the preposition between takes object case, so "between you and me" is correct and "between you and I" is not.

Affect versus effect

Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence; effect is usually a noun meaning a result, as in "The policy affected output" and "the effect was small."

Fewer versus less

Fewer describes countable items such as fewer errors; less describes uncountable quantities such as less time or less money.

Principal versus principle

Principal means main or the head of a school; principle means a rule or belief, as in "a matter of principle."

Compliment versus complement

Compliment means praise; complement means to complete or go well with something, as in "The colors complement each other."

Ensure, insure, assure

Ensure means make certain, insure means buy insurance coverage, and assure means reassure a person, as in "I assure you."

Active voice

The subject performs the action, as in "The manager approved the request." It is shorter, clearer, and more direct than passive voice.

Passive voice use

Use passive voice when the doer is unknown or unimportant, as in "The invoice was mailed yesterday," or to soften blame tactfully.

Reader-focused you attitude

Phrasing that emphasizes the reader's needs and benefits, as in "You will receive your refund within five days."

Redundancy in business writing

Repeating the same meaning in paired words such as advance planning, end result, or null and void; cutting the extra word tightens the sentence.

Topic sentence

The sentence that states a paragraph's main idea, usually placed first so readers immediately know what the paragraph covers.

Paragraph unity

A principle holding that every sentence in a paragraph supports the topic sentence, so unrelated sentences are removed or moved elsewhere.

Direct approach in messages

Stating the main point in the first sentence; standard for routine, good-news, and informational messages where no resistance is expected.

Indirect approach in messages

Presenting explanation and evidence before the main point; used for bad news and persuasive messages to prepare the reader.

Five Ws and how

The questions who, what, when, where, why, and how; answering them makes a message complete and reduces follow-up questions.

Supporting detail

Specific facts, examples, statistics, or reasons that back up a topic sentence or claim rather than restating it in general terms.

Action step

The closing instruction telling the reader exactly what to do, by when, and through what channel, making the message usable.

Concrete versus vague language

Concrete language supplies measurable specifics, as in "cut response time from 48 to 12 hours," while vague language offers only general impressions.