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UWF GRAMMAR HOTLINE,
MAY I HELP YOU?
Business FAQ's
Taken from the
UWF Grammar Hotline Log
Q: What salutation is
appropriate when a letter is being
sent to two people with Ph.D.'s?
A: Drs. Ronald and Mary Lowe-Evans --
Dear Drs. Evans and Lowe-Evans:
Drs. Gary and Marcia Howard -- Dear
Drs.
Howard:
Q: What is the plural of
these words: statute of
limitations and attorney
general?
A: statutes of limitations; attorney generals OR
attorneys general
(American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed.)
Q: What's correct - Boss's
Day or Bosses' Day,
Secretary's Day or Secretaries' Day,
President's
Day or Presidents' Day?
A: All are plural possessive: Bosses' Day,
Secretaries'
Day, Presidents' Day (and Veterans' Day)
Q: Is it correct to use an
ampersand (&) with a comma in
the name of a company -- Bui, Davis, &
Britnell for
instance?
A: Omit the comma preceding the ampersand.
(Chicago Manual of Style)
Q: Is a colon correct
preceding a vertical or horizontal
list?
Ex. Your portfolio should
include: a cover letter,
resume, and sample of your work
A: Do not use a colon after a verb or a preposition, even
if a list follows.
(Chicago Manual of Style and
Real Good Grammar, Too)
Q: In a business letter,
what salutation is appropriate
when you don't know the addressee's name?
A: Do one of the following: Use a descriptive title (Dear
Human Resources Director); use an attention
line
(ATTENTION: Human Resources Director); use
a
subject line (SUBJECT: Manager Position)
(Write on Target)
Q: Is it all right to make
up a word or to verb a noun?
Ex. The applicant was credentialized.
The DOT has four-laned the highway.
This report will not
annualize well.
I'll calendar
the date.
A: Nonce words/neologisms are acceptable only if no
other word exists to convey the meaning. There is
no
need to create the word publicization
when
publicity already exists. Check a dictionary
of new
words.
(Millward's Handbook for Writers, 3rd Ed).
Q: Which is correct?
We reached a consensus. We
reached consensus.
A: We reached a consensus.
(Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
Q: Are collective nouns
such as committee and jury
singular or plural?
A: Collective nouns may be singular or plural depending
on whether they refer to the groups as a unit or
to the
individual members of the group acting
separately.
The committee has made its decision. Or The
committee disagree concerning the newest
nomination.
(Real Good Grammar, Too)
Q: What's the abbreviation
for the plural of the
following? Mr.
Mrs.
And what is the abbreviation of Association?
A: Mr. - Messrs.
(Scott Foresman Handbook of Usage)
Mrs. - Mmes. or Mmes
(Webster's Secretarial Handbook)
Assoc. or Assn.
(Webster's Dictionary)
Q: How do you make
abbreviations and numbers plural?
A: Form the plural by adding -s alone or -`s.
ATMs or ATM's
There are five 3's in my phone number.
MRIs LPOs
(Chicago Manual of Style)
Q: Is a comma needed in
this date? January 2003
A: No comma is necessary with only two components of
a date.
Q: Is it appropriate to
write, type, or sign a business
document in red ink?
A: Though we could not find a source for this answer, we
know that common practice is to use blue or
black
ink for business documents.
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Business
Vocabulary
1. IT IS IN PROGRESS
- So wrapped in red tape that
the situation is almost hopeless.
2. WE WILL LOOK INTO IT - By the time
the wheel
makes a full turn, we assume you will have
forgotten
about it.
3. A PROGRAM - Any assignment that
can't be
completed by one telephone call.
4. CONSULTANT (or expert) - Any
ordinary person
more than 50 miles from home (must have
briefcase).
5. TO ACTIVATE - To make copies and
add more
names to the memo.
6. TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM - Hire
more
people and expand the office.
7. UNDER CONSIDERATION - Never heard
of it.
8. UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION - We
are
looking in the files for it.
9. A MEETING - A mass mulling by
master minds.
10. TO NEGOTIATE - To seek a meeting of
minds
without a knocking together of heads.
11. RE-ORIENTATION - Getting used to
working
again.
12. RELIABLE SOURCE - The person you just
met.
13. INFORMED SOURCE - The person who told
the
guy you just met.
14. UNIMPEACHABLE SOURCE - The person
who
started the rumor originally.
15. A CLARIFICATION - To fill in the
background
with so many details that the foreground
goes
underground.
16. WE ARE MAKING A SURVEY - We need
more
time to think of an answer.
17. NOTE AND INITIAL - Let's spread
the
responsibility for this.
18. SEE ME OR LET'S DISCUSS - You're in
trouble.
19. LET'S GET TOGETHER ON THIS - I'm
assuming
you're as confused as I am.
20. GIVE US THE BENEFIT OF YOUR PRESENT
THINKING - We'll listen to what you have
to say as
long as it doesn't interfere with what we have
already
decided to do.
21. WILL ADVISE YOU IN DUE COURSE - If
we
figure it out, we'll let you know.
22. TAKE SOME DICTATION - Correctly type
this
document for me.
Business
Bloopers
These errors were taken from actual business
correspondence and advertising materials.
Guessed Speaker
Extinguished guests
References available a pone request
Thank you for your corporation.
Up and atom
Selling and satisfying our customers is our
first priority.
One of the best sailing cars in the
world
Patriotic launch menus
A hand full of employees
Money must be paid before hands.
Supervisors need patients.
A combonation of skill
and intelligence
Car being toad
Next store neighbor
A doggy dog world
Conflict in the dessert
Flags will be flied over
post offices.
Free, private consolation
No dying in washing
machines
We will offer you a prescription to
our magazine.
Proofreading Tip:
Make sure that the placement of titles, headlines, tables, headers and
footers, text, etc. is consistent.
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