Module 15 focuses on the importance of choosing the right words in our business communications. We need to use words that are accurate, appropriate, and familiar, because we want our readers to understand our messages. They should not be trying to figure them out. It is also important to select positive words because they can get a better response from the audience. For instance, car dealerships commonly refer to their used cars as pre-owned. However, we need to remember not to mislead our audience. In addition, the use of short and familiar words is better because they are easier to understand and sound friendlier, but there are exceptions. Some situations will require long words because they have become common in our community, or they express our information better. We can use jargon only when it is essential; otherwise, we are better off using plain English.
In this module, I find useful the list of words that sound similar but have different meanings, such as advice/advise, discreet/discrete, and stationery/stationary.
Module 16 stresses the importance of using good style in our business writing. The lecture states that good business writing is businesslike, friendly, and polite. Also, business writing is less formal and more personal than academic writing. When selecting the right tone for our messages, we need to analyze our audience, our purpose, and the situation. We do not want to sound arrogant or careless.
Another important point is revising our sentences and paragraphs. According to the lecture, it is better to use active verbs. It is also more effective to put the weight of the sentence in the verb, express our ideas in fewer words, and vary the length and structure of the sentences. In the case of paragraphs, the lecture suggests to put the topic sentence at the beginning and use transition words to connect ideas.
I also find useful the advice of asking other people to read our draft out loud. If they stumble in some parts, it means that those parts need to be rewritten.
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