Appendix B - Writing Correctly

APPENDIX B: WRITING CORRECTLY

1. Description of BAC Appendix B
Appendix B covers grammar, punctuation, writing numbers and dates, word choice, and proofreading
symbols.

2. Strategies for Increasing Student Learning

Many students do not have a firm grasp of the basics of grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation,
but many also resist learning them because they find these things boring. Therefore, trying to go
through this appendix systematically would probably be the worst thing you could do! Besides not being
very interesting for the students, its genuinely difficult to learn the many details in this chapter all at
once.
Probably the best strategy is to let students know that this chapter is there, but to use it on an as-needed
basis. For example, if you feel the need to determine students current level of knowledge, early in the
semester you can assign some of the exercises at the end of the appendix. Then go over relevant material
as its needed for an assignment. Perhaps for the first assignment you might go over the conventions for
writing dates and numbers. Then use the rest of the material to help students learn to overcome the
weaknesses in their own writing.

3. ANSWERS AND ANALYSES FOR EXERCISES AND PROBLEMS IN APPENDIX B

Answers and analyses for each exercise and problem in Appendix B are given below.
B.1 Diagnostic Test on Punctuation and Grammar
The answers below revise the paragraph to eliminate the errors, with the change in bold. (Of course,
some of the sentences could be revised in another way to correct the error. Accept any correct answer
from your students.)
a. Companys are finding it to their advantage to
cultivate their suppliers. Partnerships between a
company and its suppliers can yeild hefty payoffs
for both company and supplier. One example is Bailey
Controls, an Ohio headquartered company. Bailey make
control
systems
for
big
factories.
They
treat
suppliers almost like departments of their own
company. When a Bailey employee passes a laser
scanner over a bins bar code the supplier is
instantly alerted to send more parts.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

Companies are finding it to their advantage to cultivate their suppliers. Partnerships between a
company and its suppliers can yield hefty payoffs for both company and supplier. One example is
Bailey Controls, an Ohio-headquartered company. Bailey makes control systems for big
factories. It treats suppliers almost like departments of its own company. When a Bailey employee
passes a laser scanner over a bins bar code, the supplier is instantly alerted to send more parts.
b. Entrepreneur Trip Hawkins appears in Japanese ads for
the video game system his company designed. It plugs
into the future! he says in one ad, in a cameo
spliced into shots of U.S kids playing the games.
Hawkins is one of several US celebrieties and
business people whom plug products on Japanese TV.
Jodie Foster, harrison ford, and Charlie Sheen
adverstises
canned
coffee
beer
and
cigarette
respectively.
Entrepreneur Trip Hawkins appears in Japanese ads for the video game system his company
designed. fit plugs into the future! he says in one ad, in a cameo spliced into shots of U.S. kids
playing the games. Hawkins is one of several U.S. celebrities and business people who plug
products on Japanese TV. Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, and Charlie Sheen advertise canned coffee,
beer, and cigarettes, respectively.
c. Mid size firms employing between 100 and 1000 peopole
represent only 4% of companies in the U.S.; but
create 33% of all new jobs. One observe attributes
their success to their being small enough to take
advantage of economic opportunitys agilely, but big
enough to have access to credit and to operate on a
national or even international scale. The biggest
hiring area for midsize companys is wholesale and
retail sales (38% of jobs), construction (20% of
jobs, manufacturing (19% of jobs), and services (18
of jobs).
Mid-size firms employing between 100 and 1000 people represent only 4% of companies in the
U.S. but create 33% of all new jobs. One observer attributes their success to their being small
enough to take advantage of economic opportunities agilely but big enough to have access to
credit and to operate on a national or even international scale. The biggest hiring areas for midsize companies are wholesale and retail sales (38% of jobs), construction (20% of jobs),
manufacturing (19% of jobs), and services (18% of jobs).
B.2 Providing Punctuation
The correct punctuation is provided in bold type. An empty box indicates that the box does not require
punctuation.
1. The systems user-friendly design provides screen displays of work codes, rates, and client
information.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

2. Many other factors also shape the organizations image: advertising, brochures, proposals,
stationery, calling cards, etc.
3. Charlotte Ford, author of Charlotte Fords Book of Modern Manners, says, Try to mention
specifics of the conversation to fix the interview permanently in the interviewers mind and be sure
to mail the letter the same day, before the hiring decision is made.
4. What are your room rates and charges for food service?
5. We will need accommodations for 150 people, five meeting roomsone large room and four small
onescoffee served during morning and afternoon breaks, and lunches and dinners.
6. The Operational Readiness Inspection, which occurs once every three years, is an intense, realistic
exercise which evaluates the National Guards ability to mobilize, deploy, and fight.
7. Most computer packages will calculate three different sets of percentages: row percentages, column
percentages, and table percentages.
8. In todays economy, [optional] its almost impossible for a firm to extend credit beyond its regular
terms.
9. The Department of Transportation does not have statutory authority to grant easements; however,
we do have authority to lease unused areas of highway right-of-way.
10. The program has two goals: to identify employees with promise and to see that they get the training
they need to advance.
B.3 Providing Punctuation
The correct punctuation is provided in bold type. An empty box indicates that the box does not require
punctuation.
1. Office work, especially at your desk, can create back, shoulder, neck, or wrist strain.
2. I searched for vacation and vacation planning on Google and Alta Vista.
3. I suggest putting a bulletin board in the rear hallway and posting all the interviewers photos on it.
4. Analyzing audiences is the same for marketing and writing: you have to identify who the audiences
are, understand how to motivate them, and choose the best channel to reach them.
5. The more you know about your audience--who they are, what they buy, where they shop--the more
relevant and effective you can make your ad.
6. The city already has five two-hundred-bed hospitals.
7. Students run the whole organization and are advised by a board of directors from the community.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

8. The company is working on three team-related issues: interaction, leadership, and team size.
9. I would be interested in working on the committee; however, I have decided to do less community
work so that I have more time to spend with my family.
10. You can create your own future, says Frank Montano. You have to think about it, crystallize it
in writing, and be willing to work at it. We teach a lot of goal-setting and planning in our training
sessions.
B.4 Creating Agreement
The corrected sentence follows the sentence as shown in the text.
1. If theres any tickets left, theyll be $17 at the door.
If there are any tickets left, theyll be $17 a piece at the door.
2. A team of people from marketing, finance, and production are
preparing the proposal.
A team of people from marketing, finance, and production is preparing the proposal.
3. Image type and resolution varies among clip art packages.
Image, type, and resolution vary among clip art packages.
4. Your health and the health of your family is very important to
us.
Your health and the health of your family are very important to us.
5. If a group member doesnt complete their assigned work, it slows
the whole project down.
If a group member doesnt complete his or her assigned work, it slows the whole project down.
6. Baker & Baker was offended by the ad agencys sloppy proposal,
and they withdrew their account from the firm.
Baker & Baker was offended by the ad agencys sloppy proposal, and it withdrew its account from
the firm.
7. To get out of debt you need to cut up your credit cards, which
is hard to do.
To get out of debt you need to cut up your credit cards, an act that is hard to do.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

8. Contests are fun for employees and creates sales incentives.

Contests are fun for employees and create sales incentives.
9. The higher the position
their image should be.

person

has,

the

more

professional

The higher the position a person has, the more professional his or her image should be.
10. A new employee should try to read verbal and nonverbal signals
to see which aspects of your job are most important.
A new employee should try to read verbal and nonverbal signals to see which aspects of his or her
job are most important.
B.5 Correcting Case Errors
The error(s) in the original sentence are underlined, the corrections are bolded.
1. I didnt appreciate him assuming that he would be the groups
leader.
I didnt appreciate his assuming that he would be the groups leader.
2. Myself and Jim made the presentation.
Jim and I made the presentation.
3. Employees which lack experience in dealing with people form
other cultures could benefit from seminars in international
business communications.
Employees who lack experience in dealing with people form other cultures could benefit from
seminars in international business communications.
4. Chandra drew the graphs after her and I discussed the ideas for
them.
Chandra drew the graphs after she and I discussed the ideas for them.
or
Chandra drew the graphs after we discussed the ideas for them.
5. Please give your revisions to Cindy, Tyrone, or myself by noon
Friday.
Please give your revisions to Cindy, Tyrone, or me by noon Friday.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

B.6 Improving Modifiers

The error(s) in the original sentence are underlined.
1. Originally a group of four, one member dropped out after the first meeting due to a death in the
family.
One member of our group, which originally had four members, dropped out
after the first meeting due to a death in her family.
2. Examining the data, it is apparent that most of our sales are to people on the northwest side of the
city.
By examining our sales data, we determined that most of our sales are to people on the northwest
side of the city.
3. As a busy professional, we know that you will want to take advantage of this special offer.
We know that, as a busy professional, you will want to take advantage of this special offer.
4. Often documents end up in files that arent especially good.
Often documents that are quite damaging end up in files.
5. By making an early reservation, it will give us more time to coordinate our trucks to better serve
you.
If you make an early reservation, we will have more time to coordinate our
trucks to better serve you.
B.7 Creating Parallel Structure
The errors in the original sentences are underlined, the corrections in the revised sentences are bolded.
1. To narrow a Web search,
Put quotation marks around a phrase when you want an exact term.
Many search engines have wild cards (usually an asterisk) to
find plurals and other forms of a word.
Reading the instructions on the search engine itself can teach
you advanced search techniques.

To narrow a Web search,

Put quotation marks around a phrase when you want an exact term.
Use wild cards (usually an asterisk) to find plurals and other forms of a word.
Read the instructions on the search engine itself to learn advanced search techniques.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

2. Men drink more alcoholic beverages than women.

Men drink more alcoholic beverages than women drink.
3. Each issue of Hospice Care has articles from four different
perspectives: legislative, health care, hospice administrators,
and inspirational authors.
Each issue of Hospice Care has articles from four different perspectives: legislative, health care,
hospice administration, and inspiration.
4. The university is one of the largest employers in the community,
brings in substantial business, and the cultural impact is also
big.
The university is one of the largest employers in the community, brings in substantial business,
and has a significant cultural impact.
5. These three tools can help competitive people be better
negotiators:
1. Think to win
2. Its important to ask enough questions to find out the other
persons priorities, rather than jumping on the first
advantage you find.
3. Protect the other persons self-esteem.
These three tools can help cooperative people be better
negotiators:
1. Can you developing
a specific alternative to use if
negotiation fails?
2.

Dont focus on the bottom line. Spend time thinking about what you want and why you need it.

3. Saying Youll have to do better than that because can help

you resist the temptation to say yes too quickly.
These three tools can help competitive people be better negotiators:
1. Think to win.
2. Ask enough questions to find out the other persons priorities; dont just jump on the first
advantage you find.
3. Protect the other persons self-esteem.
These three tools can help cooperative people be better negotiators:
1. Develop a specific alternative to use if negotiation fails.
2. Dont focus on the bottom line. Spend time thinking about what you want and why you need it.
3. Say Youll have to do better than that because to help you resist the temptation to say
yes too quickly.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

B.8 Correcting Sentence Errors

The errors in the original sentence are underlined, the corrections in the revised sentences are bolded.
1. Members of the group are all experienced presenters, most have
had little or no experience using PowerPoint.
While the members of the group are all experienced presenters, most members have had little or no
experience using PowerPoint.
2. Proofread the letter carefully and check for proper business
format because errors undercut your ability to sell yourself so
take advantage of your opportunity to make a good first
impression.
Proofread the letter carefully, check for proper business format as errors undercut your ability to
sell yourself, and take advantage of your opportunity to make a good first impression.
OR
Proofread the letter carefully. Check for proper business format because errors undercut your
ability to sell yourself. Take advantage of your opportunity to make a good first impression.
3. Some
documents
revisions.

need

just

one

pass_others

need

multiple

Some documents need just one pass while others need multiple revisions.
4. Videoconferencing can be frustrating. Simply because little time
is available for casual conversation.
Videoconferencing can be frustrating because little time is available for casual conversation.
5. Entrepreneurs face two main
business experience.

obstacles. Limited

cash. Lack of

Entrepreneurs face two main obstacles: limited cash and lack of business experience.
6. The margin on pet supplies is very thin and the company cant
make money selling just dog food and the real profit is in
extras like neon-colored leashes, so you put the dog food in the
back so people have to walk by everything else to get to it.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

The margin on pet supplies is so thin that the company cant make money selling just dog food.
The real profit is in extras like neon-colored leashes. Put the dog food in the back so people have to
walk by everything else to get to it.
7. The companys profits jumped 15%. Although its revenues fell 3%.
The companys profits jumped 15% although its revenues fell 3%.
8. The new budget will hurt small businesses it imposes extra fees
it raises the interest rates small businesses must pay.
The new budget will hurt small businesses. It imposes extra fees and raises the interest rates
small businesses must pay.
OR
The new budget will hurt small businesses by imposing extra fees and raising the interest rates
small businesses must pay.
9. Our phones are constantly being used.
calls but also for personal calls.

Not

just

for

business

Our phones are constantly being used, and not just for business calls but also for personal calls.
10. Businesses are trying to cut travel costs, executives are taking
fewer trips and flying out of alternate airports to save money.
Businesses are trying to cut travel costs; executives are taking fewer trips and flying out of
alternate airports to save money.

B.9 Editing for Grammar and Usage

The error(s) in the original sentence are underlined.
1. The number of students surveyed that worked more than 20 hours a week were 60%.
Usage/agreement error

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

The percentage of students surveyed who worked more than 20 hours a week was 60%.
2. Not everyone is promoted after six months some people might remain in the training program a year
before being moved to a permanent position.
Fused sentences
Not everyone is promoted after six months. Some people might remain in the training program a
year before being moved to a permanent position.
OR
Not everyone is promoted after six months; some people might remain in the training program a
year before being moved to a permanent position.
3. The present solutions that has been suggested are not adequate.
Subject-verb agreement error.
The present solutions that have been suggested are not adequate.
4. At times while typing and editing, the text on your screen may not look correct.
Dangling modifier
At times while typing and editing, you may experience issues with your screen text.
5. All employees are asked to cut back on energy waste by the manager.
Predication error
The manager asked all employees to cut back on energy waste.
6. The benefits of an online catalog are
1. We will be able to keep records up to date;
2. Broad access to the catalog system from any networked terminals on campus;
3. The consolidation of the main catalog and the catalogs in the departmental branch libraries;
4. Cost savings.
Parallel structure
The benefits of an online catalog are
1. Up-to-date records;
2. Broad access from any networked terminals on campus;
3. Consolidation of the catalogs from the main and departmental branch libraries;
4. Cost savings.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

7. You can take advantage of several banking services. Such as automatic withdrawal of a house or
car payment and direct deposition of your pay check.
Sentence fragments
You can take advantage of several banking services such as automatic withdrawal of a house or
car payment and direct deposition of your pay check.
8. As a freshman, business administration was intriguing to me.
Dangling modifier
As a freshman, I found business administration intriguing.
9. Thank you for the help you gave Joanna Jackson and myself.
Wrong case of personal pronoun
Thank you for the help you gave Joanna Jackson and me.
10. I know from my business experience that good communication among people and departments are
essential in running a successful corporation.
Subject-verb agreement error
I know from my business experience that good communication among people and departments
is essential in running a successful corporation.
B.10 Writing Numbers
The errors in the original sentences are underlined, the corrections in the revised sentences are bolded.
1. 60% percent of the respondents hope to hold internships before they graduate.
Sixty percent of the respondents hope to hold internships before they graduate.
2. 1992 marked
Community.

the

formal

beginning

of

the

European

Economic

The year 1992 marked the formal beginning of the European Economic Community.
3. In the year two thousand, twenty percent of the H-1B visas for
immigrants with high-tech skills went to Indians.
In the year 2000, 20% of the H-1B visas for immigrants with high-tech skills went to Indians.
4. More than 70,000,000,000 working
sponsored retirement plan.

App B-11

Americans

lack

an

employer-

Appendix B - Writing Correctly

More than seventy billion working Americans lack an employer-sponsored retirement plan.
5. The companys sales have risen to $16 million but it lost five
million dollars.
The companys sales have risen to $16 million but it lost five million dollars.
B.11 Using Plurals and Possessives
The right word for each sentence is in bold type.
1. Many Canadian (companies, companys) are competing effectively in the global market.
2. We can move your (families, familys) furniture safely and efficiently.
3. The (managers, managers) ability to listen is just as important as his or her technical knowledge.
4. A (memos, memos) style can build goodwill.
5. (Social workers, social workers) should tell clients about services available in the community.
6. The (companies, companies) benefits plan should be checked periodically to make sure it continues
to serve the needs of employees.
7. Information about the new community makes the (families, familys) move easier.
8. The (managers, managers) all have open-door policies.
9. (Memos, memos) are sent to other workers in the same organization.
10. Burn-out affects a (social workers, social workers) productivity as well as his or her morale.
B.12 Choosing the Right Word
The right word for each sentence is in bold.
1. Exercise is (good, well) for patients who have had open-heart surgery.
2. This response is atypical but it is not (unique, unusual).
3. The personnel department continues its (roll, role) of compiling reports for the federal government.
4. The Accounting Club expects (its, its) members to come to meetings and participate in activities.
5. Part of the fun of any vacation is (cite, sight, site)-seeing.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

6. The (lectern, podium) was too high for the short speaker.
7. The (residence, residents) of the complex have asked for more parking spaces.
8. Please order more letterhead (stationary, stationery).
9. The closing of the plant will (affect, effect) house prices in the area.
10. Better communication (among, between) design and production could enable us to produce
products more efficiently.
B.13 Choosing the Right Word
The right word for each sentence is in bold type.
1. The audit revealed a small (amount, number) of errors.
2. Diet beverages have (fewer, less) calories than regular drinks.
3. In her speech, she (implied, inferred) that the vote would be close.
4. We need to redesign the stand so that the catalog is eye-level instead of (laying, lying) on the desk.
5. (Their, There, Theyre) is some evidence that (their, there, theyre) thinking of changing (their,
there, theyre) policy.
6. The settlement isnt yet in writing; if one side wanted to back out of the (oral, verbal) agreement, it
could.
7. In (affect, effect), were creating a new department.
8. The firm will be hiring new (personal, personnel) in the next year.
9. Several customers have asked that we carry more campus merchandise, (i.e., e.g.,) pillows and
mugs with the college seat.
10. We have investigated all of the possible solutions (accept, except) adding a turning lane.
B.14 Choosing the Right Word
The right word for each sentence is in bold type.
1. The author (cites, sights, sites) four reasons for computer phobia.
2. The error was (do, due) to inexperience.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

3. (Your, Youre) doing a good job motivating (your, youre) subordinates.

4. One of the basic (principals, principles) of business communication is Consider the reader.
5. I (implied, inferred) from the article that interest rates would go up.
6. Working papers generally are (composed, comprised) of working trial balances, assembly sheets,
adjusting entries, audit schedules, and audit memos.
7. Eliminating time clocks will improve employee (moral, morale).
8. The (principal, principle) variable is the trigger price mechanism.
9. (Its, Its) (to, too, two) soon (to, too, two) tell whether the conversion (to, too, two) computerized
billing will save as much time as we hope.
10. Formal training programs (complement, compliment) on-the-job opportunities for professional
growth.
B.15 Tracking Your Own Mechanical Errors
Difficulty Level: Medium
This problem requires that students not only master whatever system you use to mark mechanical
errors, but also that they understand exactly what the error is and how to fix it. Option (a) is the easiest,
but students often do not correctly fix all the errors. Option (b) is based on theories of attention and
reverse psychology: when errors are caused by carelessness, deliberately making the error may make it
easier for people to avoid it in the future. Students tend to write short, mechanical memos in response to
option (c). If you want students to explain what they have done to improve their mastery of mechanics,
say so, since the problem doesnt explicitly ask them to do this. Option (d) is the most difficult but
potentially the most useful of the four options. Many handbook explanations of grammar (perhaps
including some of those in BAC) are clear only to people who already understand grammar. To do option
(d), students may need help from you or from tutors at the Writing Center on your campus to find clear
explanations if those in BAC or handbooks dont suffice.

4. Choosing Assignments for Appendix B

Even if you use Appendix B solely as a reference, you might consider using Exercise B.1, Diagnostic
Test on Punctuation and Grammar, either for the entire class or as an aid in identifying problem areas
for selected students who are having trouble. Exercise B.15, Tracking Your Own Mechanical Errors,
can be an effective tool for helping students come to terms with the errors in their own writing. You
could require students to analyze the errors in each paper, offer this exercise as an extra-credit exercise,
or use it to help students who have serious problems in their writing. Any exercise in the appendix could
be used to address a particular problem as it arises throughout the term.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

5. Possible Lesson Plans for Appendix B

Early in the term you may want to call students attention to this appendix and give them a brief
overview of its contents; students should be encouraged to use it as a reference. You may want to point
out the sidebar on page 595, What Bothers Your Boss? and let students know your own views on these
issues. Students may not be familiar with the conventions for writing dates and numbers, so you may
want to go over those briefly.
However, as a general practice the conventions for writing standard English are best taught within the
context of students own writing. Mini-lessons can be developed in response to immediate problems that
students are facing in their texts. You may want to refer students to the exercises and problems that
accompany Appendix B as an additional resource for further developing their own editing and
proofreading skills.

6. Question of the Day

To encourage students to read assignments, you may want to begin the class period with a quick quiz
question. Having a quiz at the very beginning of class also encourages students to be on time and
eliminates separate time needed to call the role. To save grading time, you can have students switch
papers and grade someone elses; this doubles the class time needed but saves your time later.
An appropriate question for Appendix B is
List two guidelines for writing numbers.
Any two of the following guidelines would be considered acceptable: Spell out numbers
from one to nine. Use figures for numbers 10 and over in most cases. Spell out any
number that appears at the beginning of a sentence. When two numbers follow each
other, use words for the smaller number and figures for the larger number.
Additional questions can be found in the Test Bank that accompanies BAC.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

7. Key Concepts Quiz

A key concepts quiz on Appendix B begins on the next page. This quiz gives you a quick way to assess
your students understanding of the most important concepts in this appendix. Question #9 is worth 2
points; the rest are worth one each. Answers are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.

T
F
T
F

5.
6.
7.
8.

A
A
B
B

9. Any two of the following should be counted as correct:

1. Plural nouns to refer to everybody, everyone, and each.
2. Split infinitives.
3. Hopefully to mean I hope that.
4. Verbal to mean oral.

Score: _____ of 10 points

Name ________________________

Key Concepts Quiz for Appendix B

1. T F

The word stet is a proofreading symbol that means leave as it was before the
marked change. (1 pt.)

2. T F

Use quotation marks around the titles of newspapers, magazines, and books. (1 pt.)

3. T

A semicolon may be used to join two independent clauses if the ideas are very closely
related. (1 pt.)

4. T

Spell out numbers from one to one hundred. (1 pt.)

5. I loved my business communication course! Because we covered so many things that Ill really
use on the job. What error does the preceding contain? (1 pt.)
A) Sentence fragment
B) Run-on sentence
C) Comma splice
D) Dangling modifier
6. Choose the alternative that corrects any error(s) in the following: The President is about to speak,
take your seats immediately. (1 pt.)
A) The President is about to speak. Take your seats immediately.
B) The President is about to speak take your seats immediately.
C) Because the President is about to speak. Take your seats immediately.
D) The original sentence is correct.

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Appendix B - Writing Correctly

7. Identify the error, if any, in the following: Everyone should bring their draft to the meeting. (1 pt.)
A) Should should be shall.
B) Their should be his or her.
C) Draft should be drafts.
D) The original sentence is correct.
8. Pick the alternative corresponding to the correct use(s), if any, of affect/effect. (1 pt.)
A) The affects of this drug are deadly.
B) The FDA effected a ban on all uses of this drug.
C) Both A and B are correct.
D) Neither A nor B is correct.
9. Identify two matters of usage on which experts currently disagree. (2 pts.)

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