Anda di halaman 1dari 18

ADAPTATION AND THE

SELECTION OF WORDS (CH2)

BUS500 (mhb)

The corporation's investment and advances in three unconsolidated subsidiaries (all


in the development stage) and in 50 percent-owned companies was $42,200,000
on December 31, 2010 and excess of the investments in certain companies over net
asset value at dates of acquisition was $ 1,760,000. The corporation's equity in the
net asset as of December 31, 2010 was $41,800,000 and in the results of
operations for years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 was $1,350,000 and
$8887,500 respectively. Dividend income was $750,000 and $388,000 for the years
2009 and 2010, respectively.

Last year your company's total sales were $117,400,000 which was slightly higher
than the $109,800,000 total for the year before. After deducting all expenses, we
had $4,593,000 left over for profits, compared with $2,830,000 for 2009. Because
of these increased profits, we were able to increase your annual dividend
payments per share by 20% than that of last year.

In the interest of ensuring maximum utilization of the subterranean components of


the building currently not apportioned to operations department, it is recommended
that an evaluation of requisites for storage space be initiated. Subject review should
be initiated at the earliest practicable opportunity and should be conducted by
administrative personnel not affiliated with operative department.

The Importance of
Adaptation

Clear writing begins with adapting your messages


to your specific readers.

Readers occupy particular organizational,


professional and personal context. They do not all
have the same kind and level of vocabulary,
knowledge, or values.

You need to use all your knowledge of your


readers to adapt your messages to them.

Adapting to a Multiple
Reader

Writing to a multiple readers can be a challenge.

The solution is to write in such a way that everyone


can find and follow that parts of the message that
are of value to them.

Accommodating non-experts usually does not


impair your communication with experts.

As with other of your message your choice of words


needs to be guided by your audience and purpose.

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Use Familiar Words
Familiar words readily communicate. Use your
judgment to determine what words are familiar.
example
- Company operations for the preceding accounting period
terminated with a deficit.
-?

Difficult words are not all bad. Use them when


they fit your needs and will be understood.

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Prefer Short Words
Generally short words communicate better
example
-

They acceded to the proposition to undertake a


collaborative venture.

Exception exists. Not everyone knows such short


words. Prefer familiar words over less known short
words.

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Use Slang and Popular Clichs (over-used phrase)
with Caution

Use popular slang and clichs only when


appropriate.
- Deal or no deal;
- This is a million-dollar question

Slang and Clichs may achieve a desired effect in


a certain culture and context; but these may make
your writing sound stale or cause
miscommunication.

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Use Technical words and Acronyms with Caution
Technical words are useful when you communicate
with people in your field
example: vital sign, annuity,

Use initials cautiously. Spell out and define as


needed.
- example: SME, SOA .

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Use Concrete Language
Good business communication uses words that
tend to form sharp, clear meaning in readers
mind. These are concrete words not abstract
words.
example:
- A significant lose
- The majority
- Huge improvement
- Substantial amount

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Prefer Active Verb

Of all the parts of speech, verbs do the most to make your


writing interesting and lively. Because verbs contain the
action of the sentence.

Use of active verb make your writing firm, lively and


interesting.

Passive voice is sometimes preferable when the doer of


action is not known or not very important or when you
want to avoid accusing your reader.
- The damage was caused by exposing the material to the
sunlight.

There are over 300 customers served by our help desk each day. The
help desk personnel's main tasks are to answers questions, solve
problems, and educate the clients about the software. Without their expert
work, our customers satisfaction ratings would be much lower than they
are.

Our help desk personnel serve over 300 customers desk each day. They
answer questions, solve problems, and educate the clients about the
software. Without their expert work, our customers satisfaction ratings
would drop significantly.

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Avoid Overuse of Camouflaged Verbs
When a verb is camouflaged, the verb describing
the action in a sentence takes the form of a noun.
Then the other verbs have to be added.
- Amortization of the account was effected by the staff.
-An arrangement was made to meet for breakfast.
-

Suggestions for Selecting


Words
Select the word for precise meaning
Writing well requires sensitivity to word meaning. So
the writer requires considerable knowledge of the
language being used.
- improve, enhance, fix, correct
- money, funds, cash, finances

Avoid confusing similar words


- effect, affect

- Further, farther

Avoid faulty idioms.


- Comply to ?
- In search for ?

Suggestions for non Discriminatory


Writing
Use Gender-Neutral Words
Avoid using masculine pronouns for both sexes.
(he, his, him)

Avoid using words derived from Masculine Words.


(Chairman, Salesman, manpower, man-made)

Do not use words that might imply a lower status because of


gender.
(lady lawyer, authoress, Stewardess, sculptress )

Suggestions for non Discriminatory


Writing
Avoid Words that Stereotype by Race, Nationality, or
Sexual
Orientation.
(An well educated African-American, A Chinese Manager with
excellent accent,)

Avoid Words that Stereotype by age


(Old worker, Young Consultant)

Avoid Words that Typecast those with Disabilities


(Crippled, Retarded)

Class Exercise (Ch 2)


Ex-1: Using Familiar Words (Page 43)
Ex- 2: Limiting Use of passive Voice (Page 43)
Ex:-3: Avoiding Camouflaged Verbs (Page 43-44)
Ex- 34 Avoiding Discriminatory Language ( Page 44)
Group 1: Ex-1 (1- 10), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4
Group 2: Ex-1 (1- 10), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4
Group 3 Ex-1 (1- 10), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4
Group 4: Ex-1 (1- 10), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4
Group 5: Ex-1 (11- 20), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4
Group 6: Ex-1 (11- 20), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4
Group7: Ex-1 (11- 20), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4
Group 8: Ex-1 (11- 20), Ex-2, Ex-3, Ex-4

Anda mungkin juga menyukai