Writing for the Workplace: Business Communication for Professionals

108 WRITING FOR THE WORKPLACE. Omitting comma after introductory phrase. Set off words, phrases, or clauses that introduce a sentence with a comma.
Incorrect: However the system worked.
Correct: However, the system worked.
Incorrect: Because of road closures authorities have had to reroute traffic.
Correct: Because of the road closures, authorities have had to reroute traffic. Comma splice� It is incorrect to use only a comma to separate two independent clauses. Add a coordinate conjunction after the comma.
Incorrect: The committee decided to table the vote, the members dispersed.
Correct: The committee decided to table the vote, and the members dispersed. Commas in lists. Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. Use a comma before and and the last item for clarity.
Incorrect: We have red, black and gray T-shirts.
Correct: We have red, black, and gray T-shirts.
7. Ordinals in dates. Never use ordinals (st, rd, th) when writing a date.
Incorrect: September 11th, Correct September 11, 2001 8. Use of capitalization in titles. Capitalize a title when it precedes a name, but do not capitalize a title when it comes after a name.
Incorrect: The committee was pleased Drew Pearson was reelected
Councilman.
Correct: The committee was pleased Councilman Drew Pearson was reelected. Capitalization of directions. Capitalize geographical areas that are names. Do not capitalize compass directions.
Incorrect: The warehouse is North of the river.
Correct: The Southwest boasts many tourist sites. Confusing lay and lie. In present tense, lay and lie have different meanings. Lay means to place something down. Lie means to assume a horizontal position.
Incorrect: I want to lay down fora nap.
Correct: I want to lie down fora nap.

20 COmmON WRITING ERRORS TO AVOId The past tense for lay is laid. The past tense for lie is lay.
Correct: She
laid down the magazine before checking on the pie.
Correct: After he lay down for his nap, the phone awakened him. Irregardless and regardless. Although irregardless is a word, it is not considered standard English. Use regardless instead.
Incorrect: The play will proceed irregardless of bad reviews.
Correct: The play will proceed regardless of bad reviews. Who and that. Use who when referring to people use that when referring to anything else.
Incorrect: The dog who won in Westminster was from the toy group.
Correct: The dog that won in Westminster was from the toy group.
Incorrect: The woman that showed the dog also raised it.
Correct: The woman who showed the dog also raised it. Then and than. Then refers to time than shows comparison.
Incorrect: The group chose red rather then blue flags.
Correct: Turn left at the first light then proceed three blocks until you reach the dock. Using you. Only use you when speaking directly to the reader.
Incorrect: You can only have one child per couple if you live in
China.
Correct: Couples in China can only have one child. Unnecessary commas. Do not use a comma before a conjunction to set apart a phrase or clause that share the same verb.
Incorrect: These rules apply to every home in the city, and to businesses as well.
Correct: These rules apply to every home in the city and to businesses as well. Pronoun agreement. A pronoun must agree with the noun it replaces.
Incorrect: A candidate will walk among their constituency to poll voters.
Correct: Candidates will walk among their constituency to poll voters.

110 WRITING FOR THE WORKPLACE. Superfluous commas. Never toss in commas without a reason.
Incorrect: Fortunately, the men, and the women, of this neighborhood, will likely, participate in the community activities.
Correct: Fortunately, the men and the women of this neighborhood will likely participate in the community activities. Tense shift. Stay in one verb tense in the same sentence.
Incorrect: When the employee raises the question, the supervisor replied that the decision had already been made.
Correct: When the employee raised the question, the supervisor replied that the decision had already been made. Misplaced modifiers� Place modifiers near the words they modify.
Incorrect: She gave a brochure to the clients with a key to the lodge.
Correct: She gave the clients a brochure and a key to the lodge. Vague pronoun reference. Make sure pronouns such as it, this, these, and those refer to a specific idea or thing.
Incorrect: The recreation facility provided employees with many exercise options for health and fitness training. It was a popular benefit.
Correct: The recreation facility provided employees with many exercise options for health and fitness training. The facility was a popular benefit.

Download 3.09 Mb.

Share with your friends: